[Grovenet] GroveNet Digest, Vol 53, Issue 7 Hummingbirds

[Theresa Carter]

Keith and I are avid bird watchers.  The green ones, with the rosy red chins are Anna's hummingbirds.  They do winter over here.  We keep a light on the feeder to keep the necter fluid when it gets really cold.  We actually had one feeding on our suet feeder when it was really really cold.  I was very surprised.  The other one that is commonly in the area is the roufus hummingbird.  They have been in the area for about a month now.  They are a rust color.  They both seem to really like the wild current, daphne, and the Japanese quince that are in my yard.  We were outside a week ago and saw the male swooning the female.  She was sitting on the very top of the lilac tree chirping, while he would fly way up high to where you could not even identify him.  He would swoop down very fast towards her and then fly way back up again and do it all over again.  This went on for about 15 minutes until a kestral flew over.  
 
By the way, if you have not been out to the wetlands, try to give yourself a gift, because the male birds are in their full plumage, and dancing like crazy for the hens.  The shovelers are already paired up and doing their spinning routine.   The geese are already sitting on eggs too.  Don't forget your binoculars either...  :)  Enjoy the "cheap"  entertainment.  
 
Theresa Carter