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Barnyard Buddies:  Hummingbirds  |
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bboopster
True Blue Farmgirl
1140 Posts
Betty Jo
West Bend
Wisconsin
USA
1140 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 21 2007 : 2:54:38 PM
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We have been for lack of a better word infested with Hummingbirds. For 9 years we tried to encourage them to visit us and they would come and do a fly by at our feeders and then leave. But for what ever reason this year has been different. Today I came home from work and was buzzed by 6 of them. Then sitting by the computer I looked out the window to see them buzzing the feeders. I went out to the deck and actually had to duck to be missed by two playing tag. It is soooo wonderful to have them by the flock. 
P.S. Yesterday I also had an Oriole feeding on the Hummingbird feeder and while watching the Hummingbird also came to feed. The two fed together on the same feeder. How wonderful to see them.
3 Blue Star Mother and Proud of it!
Pray for our troops to come home safe and soon.
Enjoying the road to the simple life :>) |
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junkjunkie
True Blue Farmgirl
1306 Posts
Judy
Lawrenceville
NJ
USA
1306 Posts |
Posted - Aug 21 2007 : 3:03:33 PM
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How lucky you are to see so many hummingbirds! I rarely see any, although, I did get to see one in my garden a few weeks ago. At first I thought it a big nasty bug, then when it got closer, I was thrilled! I stood still, and it fluttered right by me, then took off. It was very pretty with a irridescent (sp?)green breast. Very cool!
"To have life in focus, we must have death in our field of vision." Benedictine monk John Main |
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Miss Bee Haven
True Blue Farmgirl
4331 Posts
Janice
Louisville/Irvington
Kentucky
USA
4331 Posts |
Posted - Aug 21 2007 : 3:08:20 PM
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If you have to be infested, what better way than with hummingbirds, Betty Jo. I haven't seen very many this year. But I do have lots more butterflies than last year, so I'm grateful for that!
"If you think you've got it nailed down, then what's all that around it?" - 'Brother Dave' Gardner |
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Bee Haven Maven
True Blue Farmgirl
1862 Posts
Beverly
Pennsylvania
USA
1862 Posts |
Posted - Aug 22 2007 : 03:49:31 AM
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Betty Jo,
We have noticed a lot more hummingbirds at our feeders here in PA also....wonder if there is something going on? My bil has seen as many as 9 at one time around their feeder (they are our neighbors on the farm). Gotta keep lots of sugar on hand at that rate! We fill our feeder every couple of days, but my bil says they drain his feeder twice a day!
Keep Smiling.....Bev
Check out my shoppe at www.honeybeez.etsy.com
www.beehavenacres.blogspot.com , www.beehavenmaven.blogspot.com |
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asnedecor
True Blue Farmgirl
1054 Posts
Anne
Portland
Or
USA
1054 Posts |
Posted - Aug 22 2007 : 06:55:53 AM
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We have one that lives year round in our neighborhood. During the summer we then get "immigrants" from southern California - the bright green with red throats. These visitors just irritate our year round guy - he is very territorial He believes the connecting yards are his and his alone - so there are always chases going on. I love to sit out in the early evening and watch them buzz around. The year round guy usually follows me around the yard when I am out weeding, etc. He wants to make sure I take care of things properly I guess
Anne in Portland
"Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them" Eyeore from Winnie the Pooh
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sunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
4877 Posts
Wendy
Utah
USA
4877 Posts |
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Patsy
True Blue Farmgirl
592 Posts
Illinois
USA
592 Posts |
Posted - Aug 22 2007 : 08:15:31 AM
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I have had more the last couple of weeks. They usually leave here in September so I figured they must be fattening up for their trip south. They usually leave at the end of Sept. but maybe they are leaving a little earlier this year. Just a thought.
May God bless those who love the soil,
Patsy
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Patsy
True Blue Farmgirl
592 Posts
Illinois
USA
592 Posts |
Posted - Aug 22 2007 : 08:28:03 AM
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Sunshine,
Love the pics. I used one as a background on my computer. I hope you don't mind.
May God bless those who love the soil,
Patsy
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Aug 22 2007 : 09:15:09 AM
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Wow! What a great year for hummingbirds! I saw some earlier this year when my apple tree was blooming, but haven't seen any since- but then again this year we didn't have many flowers around the place.
Thanks for sharing the pictures ladies!
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora!
http://home.test-afl.tulix.com/aleeandnora/ |
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sunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
4877 Posts
Wendy
Utah
USA
4877 Posts |
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mommatracy
True Blue Farmgirl
490 Posts
Tracy
My. Olive
NC
USA
490 Posts |
Posted - Aug 22 2007 : 1:33:29 PM
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| What a wonderful show of hummingbirds! How lucky to capture those beautiful birds on camera. My sister has a few in her flower garden and we really enjoy watching them flutter from flower to flower. |
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Rosemary
True Blue Farmgirl
1825 Posts
Virginia
USA
1825 Posts |
Posted - Aug 22 2007 : 1:52:50 PM
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| Wow, those are National Geographic-quality photos! Fabulous! Aren't "hummers" wonderful, though? We have a feeder year-'round, since hummers in our area don't migrate (maybe because of all the feeders!) and most times of the year there are also flowers in bloom that they enjoy. They put on quite a show! |
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CountryBorn
True Blue Farmgirl
1545 Posts
Mary Jane
New York
USA
1545 Posts |
Posted - Aug 22 2007 : 2:07:24 PM
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All summer long until about 2 weeks ago we had the most hummingbirds I have ever seen. They were swarming the feeder and all ate together which is something rarely more than 2 did.I couldn't keep the feeders full, they would literally drain a big feeder in one day.We have this one I call Grumpy,he comes every year he is so funny, he sits atop the holder and puffs himself out with the grumpiest look you can imagine, then he dive bombs the other ones. We always have them but not like that. I was so happy I just love them. Now it is down to the regular few. I know they will be heading south soon. I always look for them in the spring. Those pictures were awesome !!
Mary Jane
There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do. Freya Stark |
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Tina Michelle
True Blue Farmgirl
6948 Posts
Tina
sunshine state
FL
USA
6948 Posts |
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asnedecor
True Blue Farmgirl
1054 Posts
Anne
Portland
Or
USA
1054 Posts |
Posted - Aug 24 2007 : 06:48:02 AM
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What wonderful photos - it is great you were able to capture them. Last night I was out clipping rosemary and a couple "buzzed" me and then later in the evening there was one looking in our front window from the porch. Scared the cat at first, then the cat was interested because the humming bird just hovered there in front of the window checking out our front porch.
Anne in Portland
"Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them" Eyeore from Winnie the Pooh
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Carol Sue
True Blue Farmgirl
4033 Posts
Carol Sue
Washingtonian
USA
4033 Posts |
Posted - Aug 24 2007 : 1:07:30 PM
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I loved the pictures Sunshine. We usually have a couple every year. I don't have a feeder out, they come to the Butterfly bush, my petunias, the luciferious, bright red flower, the trumphet vine. They all bloomed a little later this year so we have only had them around in the last couple of weeks. Sure do enjoy them. Grandma Emma who lives next door finally got to see them and was mesmerized for a bit. It was fun watching her and watching the hummingbird.
Carol Sue
Enjoying life. |
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sheepdream
Farmgirl in Training
15 Posts
Diane
Bloomington
Indiana
USA
15 Posts |
Posted - Aug 25 2007 : 5:37:45 PM
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Well, here in Indiana, I have hummingbirds, but they sure don't share the sugar water. They are quite territorial and will be aggressive when feeding. I don't think I've ever seen two feed at one time, let alone 6 or more! A couple of years ago, when I 'forgot' to bring my feeder in at the end of October, I noticed a hummingbird. Long story short is that it was a migratory Rufous hummingbird that should have been headed towards the west coast in California, Oregon,& Washington State. I rigged up a heavy-duty outdoor rated lamp bulb that generated enough heat to keep the sugar water from freezing well into December. The last day I saw this Rufous was December 21st. I had an expert from southern Illinois come and band/document the Rufous and a biologist from Indiana University came to photograph it, as Rufous hummingbirds ususally don't make it this far east. I only hope my December Rufous made it down to Missouri to catch the southern winds to carry her down to Texas. It was for me quite an experience to see a hummingbird outside my window with snow on the ground!
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls & looks like work." Thomas Edison |
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asnedecor
True Blue Farmgirl
1054 Posts
Anne
Portland
Or
USA
1054 Posts |
Posted - Aug 27 2007 : 06:59:48 AM
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This weekend I saw something strange in my butterfly bush from the office window. So I went out to investigate and what do I find, but a baby hummingbird. First I have ever seen, momma was not too far away either - so we let her and the new baby (who was testing his wings) be in the bush. He/she was so cute - still kinda downy and a bit wobbly on the branch, but seemed to be getting the flying down.
Anne
"Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them" Eyeore from Winnie the Pooh
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Barnyard Buddies: Hummingbirds |
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Hummingbirds
