Friday Night Photos 2 birds Edition

Submitted by Socialprogressive on Fri, 10/28/2022 - 5:00pm

Happy Friday everyone. Post any photos, memes, or music you like.

I went to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park on Wednesday to photograph the large critters. Turns out the best shots of the day were of the smallest critter there.

Fun Fact: Hummingbirds do not walk.

Female Anna's Hummingbird refueling at a Bird of Paradise

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Submitted by joe shikspack on Fri, 10/28/2022 - 7:58pm

heh...

here's a different hummingbird:

Submitted by Socialprogressive on Fri, 10/28/2022 - 10:06pm

Evening, JS

@joe shikspack
Thanks for the B B King.

—

I'm great at multi-tasking. I can waste time, be unproductive, and procrastinate all at the same time.

Submitted by mimi on Sat, 10/29/2022 - 5:13am

So sad that he is gone, I saw him live

@joe shikspack
in concert at the New Deal Cafe in Greenbelt Md.

Gosh, one more sad news. may he be in peace, his music will survive all other worries, he and us had.

Thank zou much.

—

https://www.euronews.com/live

Submitted by QMS on Fri, 10/28/2022 - 8:39pm

Your capture of the hummers are fantastic

you must have a very fast shutter speed (and an anticipating eye)
we love to watch the little flitters that come around in the summer months
feed them like children suckling nectars
this year there were way many less around
no star wars territorial fights as per normal ;-(

btw, thanks for the BB King tune JS - makes my harmonies hummm too!

in the spirit ..

[video:https://youtu.be/4r5Sl6WouLU]

Submitted by Socialprogressive on Fri, 10/28/2022 - 10:17pm

Hi, QMS

@QMS
The hummers are never in short supply around here even when I don't have the feeders up.
BTW I shot these at a shutter speed of 1/1260 sec.
Almost forgot, thanks for the Seals and Crofts.

—

I'm great at multi-tasking. I can waste time, be unproductive, and procrastinate all at the same time.

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 10/28/2022 - 9:03pm

Hi Social

How sweet your Hummingbird photos are. They bring such a sense of lightness and joy.

What is the title of the music video you posted?

This week of Spring ...

The bush at sunset

A week old Nikau flower

A Cabbage Tree in flower

Thank you Social for your beautiful and delightful photography.

I will be away for a few weeks enjoying time with my daughter and granddaughter. Please keep my seat warm.

Be well all.

Submitted by QMS on Fri, 10/28/2022 - 9:16pm

the blues of your bush

@janis b

at sunset are amazing!
makes me wanna singaling thing but

[video:https://youtu.be/-wDHvmCVRxU]

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 10/28/2022 - 9:35pm

Thanks QMS

@QMS

for spinning a beautiful song I haven't heard for so long, and am glad to be reminded of.

Submitted by peachcreek on Sat, 10/29/2022 - 2:29am

Hey QMS,

@QMS A little off topic perhaps but thanks for the Question? music. Perfect.
And. The videography though. Wow. They got it. So nice. It might be me, but it didn't feel like MTV or staged. It just felt like the guys behind the camera were big fans and were artists using their talent to show the band and the emotion behind the song. The artistry there seems rare to me. (So not completely off topic?)..

Submitted by snoopydawg on Fri, 10/28/2022 - 9:43pm

Very nice Janis

@janis b

Enjoy your visit with your daughter. We’ll keep the lights on.

—

Was Humpty Dumpty pushed?

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 10/28/2022 - 10:09pm

Thank you snoopy

@snoopydawg

My 18 month old granddaughter loves dogs, so I'm taking a dog hand puppet with me ; )

A hug for you and Sam

Submitted by dystopian on Fri, 10/28/2022 - 10:15pm

great greens Janis!

@janis b Hi Janis! GREAT greens as always!

Beautiful stuff. That Cabbage Tree is a weird thing. That is a neat palm the Nikau. Love the scenic with the contrast in the sun, perfectly framed. Very nice. Thanks! Hope all is well!

—

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 10/28/2022 - 10:27pm

Thank you dystopian

@dystopian

The Cabbage Tree.

Submitted by Socialprogressive on Fri, 10/28/2022 - 10:25pm

Hi, Janis

@janis b
When your trees flower they don't mess around do they?
The title of the song is Hummingbird. The group is Ondatropica.
Enjoy your time with your daughter and granddaughter.

—

I'm great at multi-tasking. I can waste time, be unproductive, and procrastinate all at the same time.

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 10/28/2022 - 10:36pm

Thank you Social, I am quite excited to be with them

@Socialprogressive

In reality there are only a handful of natives that have showy flowers. Almost all are practically invisible, but you're right, some don't mess around.

I enjoyed the rhythms of the music you posted very much.

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 10/28/2022 - 10:41pm

Thank you for Ondatropica

@janis b

You tube continues to play their music, and it's impossible to keep still.

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Sat, 10/29/2022 - 11:05am

Good morning Janis. Great pics! I especially

@janis b

like the first one.

Enjoy your journey.

be well and have a good one

—

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by CB on Fri, 10/28/2022 - 9:24pm

I fed the hummingbirds last winter

when the temperatures were well below freezing. I had six feeders that I would bring in every night to prevent freezing. I had to make sure that I put them out at daybreak because they congregated by the dozens expecting nourishment. I also had to ensure I replaced each one within an hour or two because they would freeze up. I went through about ten pounds of sugar in the three weeks of extremely cold weather.

It's just started to cool to the low 50's and high 40's and I'm already feeding them about 4 to 6 bottles per day. My SO had planted dozens of flowers that were hummingbird friendly so it had attracted a significant crowd during the summer. If I'm late in feeding them, they buzz around and scold me. I think I created a monster.

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 10/28/2022 - 9:41pm

Wonderful of you CB

@CB

It's more like 'a beautiful collision' than a monster you have created, from my perspective at least.

[video:https://youtu.be/Vpn1K-0sQeM]

Submitted by QMS on Fri, 10/28/2022 - 9:48pm

sweet melody

@janis b

and wonderful lyrics
thank you Janis

there

seems to be an endlessly
fascination of perspective

here

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 10/28/2022 - 10:03pm

Interesting to consider

@QMS

what the initiation of photography contributed to perspective in art.

Submitted by dystopian on Fri, 10/28/2022 - 10:12pm

the frozen feeder swap! ;)

@CB good work CB! I have had to spend days doing the frozen feeder swap every hour as well. We would keep one or two in the house ready to go, and quick swap them out. We had an Anna's Hummingbird here a couple winters ago that made it through 10F and 15F temps! With lots of feeder changes. Some in the Andes in S.A. freeze every night. A lady here in town has a hanging bowl of water under the feeder (on patio so covered) which she has an aquarium heater in, keeping the water just warm enough that the rising heat keeps the feeder thawed. Others I have seen use lights for that. Good on ya!

—

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

Submitted by Socialprogressive on Fri, 10/28/2022 - 10:31pm

Hi, CB

@CB
You're a hero for keeping the hummers feed during the winter.
I had to take my feeders down a few months ago because of the ants. It's the first time in a dozen years I've had feeders up they have been a problem. Once the temps cool off and the ants go away I'll be able to hang them up again.

—

I'm great at multi-tasking. I can waste time, be unproductive, and procrastinate all at the same time.

Submitted by CB on Sat, 10/29/2022 - 10:46am

I also get an infestation of ants.

@Socialprogressive
They would even get sucked up into the feeder bottle. I think that was because they were feeding in the nipple and got pulled inside with an air bubble.

I got rid of carpenter ants with a mixture of sugar and borax:

One part borax (ex: 1 tbsp)
Three parts sugar (ex: 3 tbsp)
Mix ingredients thoroughly
Slowly stir in hot water until you have a syrup-y consistency

I put a couple of teaspoons in the top of the feeder (designed to be a water trap to keep creepy crawlers out) and also in a plastic lid (placed in a small cardboard box to prevent other critters from eating). I run a trail to the bait by dipping my finger in the solution.

They were completely gone in about 3-4 days. It apparently gets to their nest. I only have to do this about 2-3 times a year. Forget the commercial ant baits - they have never worked for me.

Submitted by Socialprogressive on Sun, 10/30/2022 - 12:18pm

In the past

@CB
the commercial ant bait has worked for me. This year it didn't. I'll mix up some sugar and borax and see if that does the trick.

—

I'm great at multi-tasking. I can waste time, be unproductive, and procrastinate all at the same time.

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Sat, 10/29/2022 - 11:26am

Good morning sp. Thanks for the column, the

@Socialprogressive

photos and for hosting.

You can buy ant traps that go between the feeder and whatever it hangs from. It it hangs from a pole, you can also stop ants with a few rings of petroleum jelly. I think toothpaste works too but can't recall for sure.

We've seldom needed t resort to such, our yard seems to have a lot of ant predators, which is another solution.

be well and have a good one

—

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by Socialprogressive on Sun, 10/30/2022 - 12:56pm

Hi, EL

@enhydra lutris
The only time ants are a problem is during the summer heat. In the last few days the temps have cooled off and the ants have gone back to wherever they go when it's not blazing hot. If they do become a problem again after I hang the feeders back up, I'll try a little petroleum jelly and see if that keeps them away from the feeders.

—

I'm great at multi-tasking. I can waste time, be unproductive, and procrastinate all at the same time.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Fri, 10/28/2022 - 9:46pm

Great photos of the little hummers

I see so few here anymore. So you’ve never seen one walk?

The birds that raise their families in my patio have returned and instead of griping that they wake me up I love listening to them. There used to be so much bird song when I was younger….

—

Was Humpty Dumpty pushed?

Submitted by Socialprogressive on Fri, 10/28/2022 - 10:37pm

Hi, Snoopy

@snoopydawg
If you want to hear bird song, put out a feeder. I have three feeders in my backyard and bird song all day long.

—

I'm great at multi-tasking. I can waste time, be unproductive, and procrastinate all at the same time.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sat, 10/29/2022 - 12:43pm

I have a Charlie Brown feeder

@Socialprogressive

I’ve had a feeder up for 5 years but the only ones who visit it are the resident birds. And they are very snooty because they only eat out of the green feeder while leaving the yellow one alone. Even when the green one is empty. Rats!

—

Was Humpty Dumpty pushed?

Submitted by dystopian on Fri, 10/28/2022 - 10:05pm

Hi pixelators

Hi SP! GREAT hummer photos! Outstanding.
Pretty amazing little tykes they are.

Southern AZ is the hummingbird capital of the U.S. for species diversity. East of the Mississippi River there is generally one species, Ruby-throated. Though in the last few decades Rufous has become regular in the winter, as well as a few other species, mostly in Gulf coast states. It was not a thing 50 years ago. I have been lucky with some vagrants where I am and my (prior - to this place of last decade) yard list here had 11 species on it! Including Mexican Violetear, White-eared, and Lucifer, all species from south of the border.

Rufous Hummingbird, male

Ruby-throated Hummingbird, male

Ruby-throated female or immature

Calliope Hummingbird, immature male. America's smallest bird.

We get up to a few hundred here at once at peak migration periods. There are people that maintain banks of feeders and get thousands. I have spent a few days with hummer banders, you need a special add-on to your banding permit for them, as in waterfowl. They are really small in the hand.

There are some good hummingbird cams on the intertubes. Look up West Texas Hummingbird Cam - it is a Cornell live cam in the Davis Mtns., west Texas. Also Tucson Audubon I think has a live hummer cam somewhere, maybe at Patagonia which is great.

Hope all are well!

—

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 10/28/2022 - 10:24pm

Hi dystopian

@dystopian

What a wonderful collection of Hummingbirds you have enjoyed the presence of. The Calliope looks especially beautiful in its modest and sedate appearance. What kind of voices do Hummingbirds have?

I think it's wonderful that gentleness is a prerequisite for handling. I will check out the Cams.

Thank you.

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Sat, 10/29/2022 - 11:01am

Good morning Janis. They're generally non-melodic,

@janis b

making noise like tsee or tsee-tsee, tseet, tee-it, cheese-it, chit, and the like

here's a sample

be well and have a good one

—

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by Socialprogressive on Fri, 10/28/2022 - 10:47pm

Hi, dystopian

@dystopian
Thanks for the variety of Hummers. We get the Allen's, Anna's, Black-chinned, Costa's, and Rufus Hummingbirds here. Mostly all I see are the Anna's. Thanks for the tip on the live hummer cams. I'll have to check them out.

—

I'm great at multi-tasking. I can waste time, be unproductive, and procrastinate all at the same time.

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Sat, 10/29/2022 - 11:36am

Hola Dysto, great pics. Thanks.

@dystopian

be well and have a good one

—

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by orlbucfan on Sun, 10/30/2022 - 11:12am

My sister lives up in the FL Panhandle

on 9 cleared acres about 30 minutes inland from Panama City. She has hummingbird feeders and loves to watch them. She told me they get into fights over who gets the goodies. I don't know the species, but I do recall seeing them one time on a visit years ago. They were pretty good sized. They can't walk--what a fascinating fact. Enjoyed my weekly visit.
Rec'd!!

—

Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.

Submitted by Lookout on Sun, 10/30/2022 - 11:20am

in the panhandle...

@orlbucfan

It would be the Ruby-Throated

Medium to long-distance migrant. Most Ruby-throated Hummingbirds spend the winter in Central America, and most get there by flying across the Gulf of Mexico. Some birds stay in North America along the Gulf Coast, parts of the southern Atlantic coast, and at the tip of Florida; these are usually birds from farther north rather than birds that spent the summer there.

We've had them over winter with us in mild years.

—

“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Submitted by Socialprogressive on Sun, 10/30/2022 - 1:29pm

Hi, Lookout

@Lookout
Thanks for the distribution map and info on the Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

—

I'm great at multi-tasking. I can waste time, be unproductive, and procrastinate all at the same time.

Submitted by Lookout on Sun, 10/30/2022 - 1:35pm

Hey!

@Socialprogressive

I've got some cool video footage of their nest right outside our window. They build their nests out of lichen and spiderweb in these parts, so the nest expands a bit as the eggs hatch and the fledglings grow. We even caught footage of them fledging.

Thanks for the Friday photo column. Your pics are outstanding.

—

“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Submitted by Socialprogressive on Sun, 10/30/2022 - 5:46pm