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2 Jul Pix of VCHU in Virginia [Robert Protz ] 30 Jun Re: Violet-crowned Hummingbird in Virginia! ["John C. MacGregor" ] 30 Jun Re: Humlit/Lalit [Carol Foil ] 30 Jun Humlit/Lalit ["Ingold, James" ] 29 Jun Re: Violet-crowned Hummingbird in Virginia! [Jayne Amico ] 28 Jun Re: Violet-crowned Hummingbird in Virginia! [Lanny Chambers ] 28 Jun Violet-crowned Hummingbird in Virginia! [Nancy L Newfield ] 28 Jun Looking for a house in Oregon? [Lanny Chambers ] 24 Jun hummer moth [jwnix ] 24 Jun Re: HUMLIT: new data on speed of hummingbird dives [Cathie Hutcheson ] 24 Jun Re: HUMLIT: new data on speed of hummingbird dives [] 24 Jun Re: HUMLIT: new data on speed of hummingbird dives [Gene Dettmann ] 24 Jun Re: HUMLIT: new data on speed of hummingbird dives [] 23 Jun Re: HUMLIT: new data on speed of hummingbird dives [Curtis Croulet ] 23 Jun HUMLIT: new data on speed of hummingbird dives ["James V. Remsen" ] 19 Jun Hummer stuff here in eastern PA [DAVID KOCH ] 19 Jun Re: No posts [DAVID KOCH ] 19 Jun Re: Okay, I'll share a post [Haji Warf ] 19 Jun Re: Okay, I'll share a post [Lanny Chambers ] 19 Jun Re: Okay, I'll share a post [Nancy L Newfield ] 19 Jun Okay, I'll share a post [Haji Warf ] 19 Jun Hummers and woodpeckers [Susan Orwig ] 19 Jun Thirsty birds! [Melissa Pappas ] 19 Jun Re: No posts [Carol Foil ] 18 Jun Re: No posts [BR ] 18 Jun Re: No posts ["Allen T. Chartier" ] 18 Jun Re: No posts [matt bagley ] 18 Jun Re: No posts [LMarkoff ] 18 Jun Re: No posts [Nancy L Newfield ] 18 Jun No posts [DAVID KOCH ] 12 Jun Harry's Back! [Dottie ] 4 Jun Philadelphia in September [Lanny Chambers ] 31 May Re: Juvies peep [Annette Pulliam ] 31 May Re: Juvies peep [Jane Patterson ] 31 May Juvies peep [KC Foggin ] 31 May Re: Observations [Lizz and David ] 29 May Re: Observations [Nancy L Newfield ] 29 May Observations [Lizz and David ] 28 May Tom's Retirement. [Maurice Duvic ] 28 May Re: Tom Sylvest Retiring [Maurice Duvic ] 27 May Re: Tom Sylvest Retiring [birdwatcher ] 27 May Re: Tom Sylvest Retiring [Kevin Morgan ] 27 May Tom Sylvest Retiring [Tom & Eloise ] 26 May Re: contact info for local bander [Ann Adams ] 26 May contact info for local bander [Penny Durnin ] 22 May "First Flight" video [Lanny Chambers ] 20 May Re: slow motion hummingbird video ["Allen T. Chartier" ] 20 May Re: slow motion hummingbird video [Cathie Hutcheson ] 20 May slow motion hummingbird video [HW ] 18 May Lotsa Birdies [Lanny Chambers ] 18 May Re: Identifiable individuals [Me ] 18 May Re: Identifiable individuals (nesting material) [Curtis Croulet ] 18 May Re: Identifiable individuals (nesting material) [Patrick Wiggins ] 18 May Re: Identifiable individuals (nesting material) [HW ] 18 May Re: Identifiable individuals [Lanny Chambers ] 18 May Re: Identifiable individuals ["Bill Hilton Jr., Operation RubyThroat" ] 18 May Re: Identifiable individuals ["Gene R. Trapp" ] 18 May Identifiable individuals [HW ] 18 May Re: First Nature feeders -- glass jar alternative? [Lanny Chambers ] 18 May Hummingbird Trips to Costa Rica & Belize ["Bill Hilton Jr., Operation RubyThroat" ] 18 May Re: First Nature feeders -- glass jar alternative? [HW ] 17 May Re: [HUMNET-L & LABIRD-L] Shrike invasion ["Allen T. Chartier" ] 17 May Re: First Nature feeders -- glass jar alternative? [Penny Durnin ] 17 May Re: First Nature feeders -- glass jar alternative? [Lanny Chambers ] 17 May Re: First Nature feeders -- glass jar alternative? [KC Foggin ] 17 May Re: First Nature feeders -- glass jar alternative? [Penny Durnin ] 17 May Re: First Nature feeders -- glass jar alternative? [Lanny Chambers ] 17 May Re: First Nature feeders -- glass jar alternative? [Lanny Chambers ] 17 May Re: [HUMNET-L & LABIRD-L] Shrike invasion [Tom & Eloise Sylvest ] 17 May Re: [HUMNET-L & LABIRD-L] Shrike invasion [Cathie Hutcheson ] 17 May Re: [HUMNET-L & LABIRD-L] Shrike invasion [Nancy L Newfield ] 16 May Re: Shrike invasion [BR ] 16 May Re: First Nature feeders -- glass jar alternative? [Penny Durnin ] 16 May Shrike invasion [Ken Prestenbach ] 16 May Re: First Nature feeders -- glass jar alternative? [John and Paulette Biles ] 16 May First Nature feeders -- glass jar alternative? [HW ] Subject: Pix of VCHU in Virginia From: Robert Protz <robertprotz AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 11:01:21 -0700 7/2/09   Dear Humnetters,   If you're interested in seeing some pix of the Violet-Crowned Hummer in Va. . .   See   http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/GalleryPages/VioletCrownedHummingbird_Gallery.html   Note: this link was wrong on VA Birds list.   and   http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffamy/   from Jeff Davis in PA   Enjoy!   Rob   Rob Protz Pittsburgh area PA City of Champions Once Again! http://pahummers.tripod.com Subject: Re: Violet-crowned Hummingbird in Virginia! From: "John C. MacGregor" <jonivy AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:53:38 -0700 Things are popping up all over! I thought this might be of interest to Humnuts: From: calbird AT kiwi.net Subject: [CALBIRDS] Fw: RE: [kerncobirding] FW: [tularekingsbirds] Unknown Hummingbird at KRP with TCAS Date: June 30, 2009 10:47:27 AM PDT To: CALBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com Reply-To: ctaylor AT kiwifoto.com ----- Forwarded message from John Sterling ----- Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:44:14 -0700 From: John Sterling Subject: RE: [kerncobirding] FW: [tularekingsbirds] Unknown Hummingbird at KRP with TCAS To: 'Steve & Priscilla Summers' , kerncobirding AT yahoogroups.com X-Mailer: Microsoft Office Outlook 12.0 Message-ID: <0f8301c9f9aa$62a1b090$27e511b0$ AT com> Holy crap!!!! This is a Blue-throated Hummingbird. John Sterling From: kerncobirding AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:kerncobirding AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Steve & Priscilla Summers Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 10:09 AM To: kerncobirding AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [kerncobirding] FW: [tularekingsbirds] Unknown Hummingbird at KRP with TCAS I'm forwarding this message just posted on the Tularekingsbirds. The photos are on the Tularekings groups photos under the Birds_I_Vue folder. They do look very interesting! I think someone close by ought to check this out. I believe the bird was photgraphed on Sat.(June 27). Steve Summers Porterville, CA -----Original Message----- From: tularekingsbirds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:tularekingsbirds AT yahoogroups.com ] On Behalf Of birds_i_vue Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 9:40 AM To: tularekingsbirds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [tularekingsbirds] Unknown Hummingbird at KRP with TCAS This past weekend the TCAS visited Kern River Preserve. While at the hummingbird feeder. I caugt these photos of the larger than the Anna's and Blackchinned Hummingbirds at the same feeder. Note white undertail and large size. I have the same feeder at home so tried to approximat comparative size to Anna's and Blackchinned hummers. This individual is definitley larger. Bird was at feeder for only a few seconds before being chased away by Anna's male. First picture was out of focus since I was focusing on closer individual. Pictures are posted under Birds_I_Vue since I knew John wouldn't want them in Tulare Kings file. Please help ID. I believe it to be a Blue-throated Hummingbird. On Jun 28, 2009, at 8:01 PM, Nancy L Newfield wrote:s > Howdy Y'All, > > This just came to me from other sources: http://birdingonthe.net/ > mailinglists/VABD.html#1246136029. WOW! Wish it were here. > > Green with envy, > > NLN > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Nancy L Newfield > Casa Colibrí > Metairie, Louisiana USA > nancy AT casacolibri.net > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Subject: Re: Humlit/Lalit From: Carol Foil <clfoil225 AT COX.NET> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:21:15 -0400 Link to abstract http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122408619/abstract On Tue, Jun 30, 2009 at 11:20 AM , Ingold, James wrote: > Sorry for the cross posting. > > > Bassett, F. and D. Cubie. 2009. Wintering hummingbirds in Alabama and > Florida: species diversity, sex and age ratios, and site fidelity. > Journal of Field Ornithology 80(2):154-162. > > > Jim Ingold > > > This message is intended only for the use of the Addressee(s) and may > contain information that is PRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIAL, and/or EXEMPT > FROM DISCLOSURE under applicable law. If you are not the intended > recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, > distribution, or use of the information contained herein is STRICTLY > PROHIBITED. If you received this communication in error, please > destroy all copies of the message, whether in electronic or hard copy > format, as well as attachments and immediately contact the sender by > replying to this email. Subject: Humlit/Lalit From: "Ingold, James" <James.Ingold AT LSUS.EDU> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:20:36 -0500 Sorry for the cross posting. Bassett, F. and D. Cubie. 2009. Wintering hummingbirds in Alabama and Florida: species diversity, sex and age ratios, and site fidelity. Journal of Field Ornithology 80(2):154-162. Jim Ingold This message is intended only for the use of the Addressee(s) and may contain information that is PRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIAL, and/or EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the information contained herein is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. If you received this communication in error, please destroy all copies of the message, whether in electronic or hard copy format, as well as attachments and immediately contact the sender by replying to this email. Subject: Re: Violet-crowned Hummingbird in Virginia! From: Jayne Amico <recoverywing AT COX.NET> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:38:51 -0400 Hello my favorite hummingbird friends! Wow! crazy!!! Hope it keeps heading north! :)))))))))) I have decided it is just a matter of time before I see alll these uncommon vagrant hummingbirds in CT. Although I worry why they are moving around like this. Jayne Amico who is wayyyy too busy with bird rehab to post to her favorite bird lists but still reads them when she has a chance! Southington, CT Zone 6 - Subject: Re: Violet-crowned Hummingbird in Virginia! From: Lanny Chambers <lannychambers AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:28:26 -0500 On Jun 28, 2009, at 22:01 , Nancy L Newfield wrote: > This just came to me from other sources: http://birdingonthe.net/ > mailinglists/VABD.html#1246136029. WOW! Wish it were here. You ain't alone, Nan! Either AAA gave that bird the wrong TripTik, or it hit a window hard enough to knock its compass clean off its bearings. An astonishing report. Lanny Chambers St. Louis, MO lanny AT hummingbirds.net Subject: Violet-crowned Hummingbird in Virginia! From: Nancy L Newfield <nancy AT CASACOLIBRI.NET> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:01:10 -0500 Howdy Y'All, This just came to me from other sources: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/VABD.html#1246136029. WOW! Wish it were here. Green with envy, NLN ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nancy L Newfield Casa Colibrí Metairie, Louisiana USA nancy AT casacolibri.net ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Subject: Looking for a house in Oregon? From: Lanny Chambers <lannychambers AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 16:57:02 -0500 Humnetters, See this website for info about a home with acreage for sale due to illness: http://www.birdsamore.com I don't know anything more than is on the site, except that the owner asked if I had any ideas to make sure it ends up in good hands. Lanny Chambers St. Louis, MO lanny AT hummingbirds.net Subject: hummer moth From: jwnix <jwnix AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:16:50 -0500 10 min ago I was rinsing off the plants from a day full of dust due to sewer work on my street. up popped a hummer moth by a huge cashmere bouquet blossom----it totally disregarded me, and I was intrigued to watch it hover above the blossoms and use its very long tongue to probe the various little blossoms..... worked it over a good 5 min or so. of course, when i slipped away to get camera, it left as well. the light was good in that it reflected on the long tongue, making it shine. just a magical moment in baton rouge!!! josephine Subject: Re: HUMLIT: new data on speed of hummingbird dives From: Cathie Hutcheson <hutche AT SIU.EDU> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:37:51 -0500 > > .... Thus the pendulum dance > that so impresses us > humans would be largely irrelevent to the female- it is simply the > way the > male generates a loud sound, and the louder the sound the more > likely the > female is to mate. > I once experienced this directly myself: I happened to be in the > branches > of a tree near where (presumably) a female was located..... > > - Paul Adams (lihummer.org) I had some concern as to where this statement was leading. Cathie Hutcheson Makanda, IL Subject: Re: HUMLIT: new data on speed of hummingbird dives From: padams AT NOTES.CC.SUNYSB.EDU Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:09:39 -0400 Some of the information I included in my email was contained in the original article in Proc. Royal Society B (I happen to be a member of that antediluvian organization), not in James Remsen's post. The paper also contains frames from fast video sequences that clearly show that just before the fastest part of the dive, the hummer briefly folds his wings, thus decreasing air resistance. Then he rapidly decelerates (experiencing slightly greater than 9G) by opening his tail. The author suggests that the whole point of this exercise may be to increase the volume of sound that is generating by the ensuing rapid airflow through the tail: the female would solely evaluate the male's performance based on the intensity of this sound. Thus the pendulum dance that so impresses us humans would be largely irrelevent to the female- it is simply the way the male generates a loud sound, and the louder the sound the more likely the female is to mate. I once experienced this directly myself: I happened to be in the branches of a tree near where (presumably) a female was located. A male did his pendulum dance over my head and I was located near the nadir of the dance: the sound was incredibly loud! - and I am practically deaf (I have never hear the chipping call of a hummingbird, even when the bird was very close). I will try to get permission to post the entire paper at lihummer.org. In any case, the paper will be freely avalable to the general public 1 year from now. - Paul Adams (lihummer.org) Subject: Re: HUMLIT: new data on speed of hummingbird dives From: Gene Dettmann <gdett2 AT TAYLORTEL.NET> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 10:23:29 -0500 I did not see any reference to a space shuttle in the post. The reference to the military jet has to do with the centrifugal force exerted on the occupants, not the linear speed of the aircraft. The pilots are generally limited to 9 G's during any turn to remain conscious. Gene Dettmann http://www.taylortel.net/~gdett2/ -----Original Message----- From: BB for Hummingbirds and Gardening for them in the Southeast [mailto:HUMNET-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU] On Behalf Of padams AT NOTES.CC.SUNYSB.EDU Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 8:30 AM To: HUMNET-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU Subject: Re: [HUMNET-L] HUMLIT: new data on speed of hummingbird dives Humnetters: the notation "s21" means "per second". The original abstract has "s-1" where the -1 is a superscript, but in automatically converting it to email format the superscripted -1 became "21" These dive speeds are very impressive. The author notes this is twice as fast as either the maximum forward speed of the hummingbird, or the dive of the peregrine falcon. He also notes it is slightly greater than the dive speeds attained by swallows, a military jet with afterburners on, or the re-entry of the space shuttle! However, one must remember these speeds are all expressed relative to body length. - Paul Adams lihummer.org Subject: Re: HUMLIT: new data on speed of hummingbird dives From: padams AT NOTES.CC.SUNYSB.EDU Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:30:18 -0400 Humnetters: the notation "s21" means "per second". The original abstract has "s-1" where the -1 is a superscript, but in automatically converting it to email format the superscripted -1 became "21" These dive speeds are very impressive. The author notes this is twice as fast as either the maximum forward speed of the hummingbird, or the dive of the peregrine falcon. He also notes it is slightly greater than the dive speeds attained by swallows, a military jet with afterburners on, or the re-entry of the space shuttle! However, one must remember these speeds are all expressed relative to body length. - Paul Adams lihummer.org Subject: Re: HUMLIT: new data on speed of hummingbird dives From: Curtis Croulet <calypte AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:32:43 -0700 > s21 (27.3 m s21). What are these numbers telling me? What is "s21?" -- Curtis Croulet Temecula, California calypte AT verizon.net Subject: HUMLIT: new data on speed of hummingbird dives From: "James V. Remsen" <najames AT LSU.EDU> Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:24:25 -0500 HUMNET: FYI below, just published -- by one metric, Anna's Hummingbird is world's fastest bird. Van Remsen: Clark, C. J. (2009). "Courtship dives of Anna’s hummingbird offer insights into flight performance limits." Proceedings Royal Society B online. Abstract: Behavioural displays are a common feature of animal cour tship. Just as female preferences can generate exaggerated male ornaments, female preferences for dynamic behaviours may cause males to perform cour tship displays near intrinsic performance limits. I provide an example of an extreme display, the cour tship dive of Anna’s hummingbird (Calypte anna). Diving male Anna’s hummingbirds were ï¬�lmed with a combination of high-speed and conventional video cameras. After powering the initial stage of the dive by flapping, males folded their wings by their sides, at which point they reached an aver- age maximum velocity of 385 body lengths s21 (27.3 m s21). This is the highest known length-speciï¬�c velocity attained by any ver tebrate. This velocity suggests their body drag coefï¬�cient is less than 0.3. They then spread their wings to pull up, and experienced centripetal accelerations nearly nine times greater than gravitational acceleration. This acceleration is the highest reported for any vertebrate under- going a voluntary aerial manoeuvre, except jet ï¬�ghter pilots. Stereotyped courtship behaviours offer several dvantages for the study of extreme locomotor performance, and can be assessed in a natural context. ***************************** J. V. Remsen Museum of Natural Science Foster Hall 119 LSU Baton Rouge, LA 70803 225-578-2855 najamesLSU.edu Subject: Hummer stuff here in eastern PA From: DAVID KOCH <davilene AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:27:05 -0700 Thanks for the responses to my "no posts" posting. I figured nothing was wrong. I know that when things are getting busy up here they slack off down there. I'm just beginning to see more visits to the feeders and flowers from females and young. It's always this way. The large monarda patch out front (20 X 12) will be open in about a week and suddenly rubythroats appear. Of course, there have been some around since the end of April, mostly males chasing each other. Females are always hard to see here during May and most of June when they're nesting. A 6 X 6 salvia guaranitica patch is just now opening off the kitchen window. It's quite impressive and increases in size each year. The salvias Waverly, Silke's Dream, and Indigo spires have been blooming for a few weeks, as have different greggii sp. Cuphea David Verity is, as always, a good draw but thanks to Nancy Newfield I also have a cuphea schumannii (sp?) that's even better.  Some of you may find this amusing. A novice hummingbirder (is that a word?), asking me questions about things I've learned from HUMNET people, Nancy, Bob Sargent, etc., took to arguing with me about hummingbird behavior and a myriad of other things. I didn't care, knowing that eventually I'd cut him off at the knees. And that time came when he said that the best hummer photos he ever saw were in the UK. "They," he said, " love their hummers over there as much as we do over here." Gotcha!   Arlene Koch Easton, PA Northampton County davilene AT verizon.net Subject: Re: No posts From: DAVID KOCH <davilene AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:57:34 -0700  Arlene Koch Easton, PA Northampton County davilene AT verizon.net ________________________________ From: Nancy L Newfield To: HUMNET-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 8:45:01 PM Subject: Re: [HUMNET-L] No posts Arlene, At 07:14 PM 6/18/2009, Arlene KOCH wrote: > I haven't gotten a post for days - listserv problem or mine? Birdingonthe.net shows the last post before yours as 12 June.  It is a quiet time of year for some of us and it seems even quieter than usual.  Of course, I've been busy and preoccupied with other matters. NLN ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nancy L Newfield Casa Colibrí Metairie, Louisiana USA nancy AT casacolibri.net ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Subject: Re: Okay, I'll share a post From: Haji Warf <hajiwarf AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:08:29 -0700 Lanny, Nancy:   Oops, my bad. You are right, as always. I think half of the hummers we novices try to help would perish from our kindness, if it weren't for your vigilance and advice.   I already passed on the recommendation to my friend NOT to hang a feeder nearby momma.   Thanks again! Haji Warf Kalikai Farm Upper Lake, CA   --- On Fri, 6/19/09, Lanny Chambers wrote: From: Lanny Chambers Subject: Re: [HUMNET-L] Okay, I'll share a post To: HUMNET-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU Date: Friday, June 19, 2009, 10:31 AM On Jun 19, 2009, at 11:59 , Nancy L Newfield wrote: >> My friend says she's not seen momma leave the nest at all. I suggested she hang a feeder nearby for quick sips. > > Respectfully, I'll suggest that you rescind your suggestion to your friend. I agree with Nancy. If the hen hadn't thought the location was already perfect, she would have built her nest somewhere else. Don't change a thing. If your friend hasn't seen this bird leave to feed, it's possible she isn't watching closely enough. Lanny Chambers St. Louis, MO lanny AT hummingbirds.net Subject: Re: Okay, I'll share a post From: Lanny Chambers <lannychambers AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:31:42 -0500 On Jun 19, 2009, at 11:59 , Nancy L Newfield wrote: >> My friend says she's not seen momma leave the nest at all. I >> suggested she hang a feeder nearby for quick sips. > > Respectfully, I'll suggest that you rescind your suggestion to your > friend. I agree with Nancy. If the hen hadn't thought the location was already perfect, she would have built her nest somewhere else. Don't change a thing. If your friend hasn't seen this bird leave to feed, it's possible she isn't watching closely enough. Lanny Chambers St. Louis, MO lanny AT hummingbirds.net Subject: Re: Okay, I'll share a post From: Nancy L Newfield <nancy AT CASACOLIBRI.NET> Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:59:00 -0500 Haji, At 11:45 AM 6/19/2009, Haji Warf wrote: >I have a friend here in Upper Lake who showed me >a hummer sitting on a nest a couple of nights >ago. The nest is 10 feet up and tucked into a >young plum tree a few feet in front of her front >porch. Because the porch has steps and is >elevated about 5 feet, we were able to see >momma's head pretty clearly. My friend says >she's not seen momma leave the nest at all. I >suggested she hang a feeder nearby for quick sips. Respectfully, I'll suggest that you rescind your suggestion to your friend. Years ago, I was working on someone else's project and he told me that food sources near the nest are a bad idea because they will draw other hummers into the female's territory and aggressive males may actually harass the female, causing nest failure - as happened to one of his study nests. Most nests that I have found have no nectar sources in the core of the female's territory. NLN ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nancy L Newfield Casa Colibrí Metairie, Louisiana USA nancy AT casacolibri.net ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Subject: Okay, I'll share a post From: Haji Warf <hajiwarf AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:45:12 -0700 I have a friend here in Upper Lake who showed me a hummer sitting on a nest a couple of nights ago. The nest is 10 feet up and tucked into a young plum tree a few feet in front of her front porch. Because the porch has steps and is elevated about 5 feet, we were able to see momma's head pretty clearly. My friend says she's not seen momma leave the nest at all. I suggested she hang a feeder nearby for quick sips.   It all seems such a personal experience when babies are involved.   Haji Warf Kalikai Farm Upper Lake, CA Lake County, Northern California  39.19°N 122.9°W (Elev. 1391 ft)   Subject: Hummers and woodpeckers From: Susan Orwig <s.orwig AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:13:00 -0500 Here in Houston I have a few rubythroats, female, around each day, so there is a little action! What has been most interesting, however, is the increased sightings of red-headed woodpeckers this summer in our neighborhoods. Perhaps this has something to do with the many Ike damaged trees? Susan Orwig Subject: Thirsty birds! From: Melissa Pappas <ftknoxfox53 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:16:58 -0700 After a much cooler and wetter spring than normal, my 14 feeders are beginning to see lots of action. There are still the occasional Baltimore Orioles and Black-capped Chickadees, but more and more of the activity involves both sexes of Ruby-throated Hummingbird.   We have three very aggressive males who have staked out certain feeders/areas as theirs. Females may be allowed to imbibe from their feeders, but these bullies must be otherwise occupied for the many additional males to get a slurp.   It's thrilling to hear the wings whirring and the squeals again. I've noted that just in the last week, numbers have really started to escalate. I'm hoping to get a time set up with Allen soon so that he can start our 2009 season numbers. I actually get some vacation time this year, so I might even get to help. Just hope that we don't accidentally end up banding a mosquito or two. They really HAVE gotten big this year. Melissa Pappas Hamburg Township, Livingston County, MI Subject: Re: No posts From: Carol Foil <clfoil225 AT COX.NET> Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:02:22 -0400 Seems as though all we have to talk about is that we have nothing to say. The listserv is working fine, though. Carol Foil Humnet-L (volunteer) list manager for more information about Humnet-l visit our website http://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/HUMNETintro.html On Thu, Jun 18, 2009 at 5:01 AM , matt bagley wrote: > Arlene, > I haven't received a post in several days myself. It must be a > listserv > problem. > Matt Bagley > Auburndale, FL > Zone: 9a > > -----Original Message----- > From: BB for Hummingbirds and Gardening for them in the Southeast > [mailto:HUMNET-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU] On Behalf Of DAVID KOCH > Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 8:15 PM > To: HUMNET-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU > Subject: [HUMNET-L] No posts > > I haven't gotten a post for days - listserv problem or mine?   >  Arlene Koch > Easton, PA > Northampton County > davilene AT verizon.net Subject: Re: No posts From: BR <iprhummers AT STI.NET> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:39:49 -0700 Hi all... FYI, on the west coast, in the Sierra Foothills, we are going through upwards of 2 gallons of sugar-water a day. This time of year we have mostly Anna's and Black-chinned. In July we will see more species. This year thus far has been amazing - more birds than normal perhaps because of the cooler temperatures. We have already banded almost 1,000 hummers in about 10 hours per month or 5 hours every other week per the protocol for HMN. Our banding season goes from March through October, Thus far we have banded 5 species this year. Life is good in the foothills.... Barbara Hummingbird Monitoring Network - central California site <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Duane and Barbara Robinson Managing Owners Indian Peak Ranch MountainTop Hideaway Mariposa, CA - Home of Yosemite e-mail: indianpeakranch AT sti.net web site: http://www.indianpeakranch.com Subject: Re: No posts From: "Allen T. Chartier" <amazilia1 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:08:06 -0400 Nancy, When it gets quiet for y'all in Louisiana, it gets busy for me, so I don't post much. In the next few days I'll be responding to requests to band the hordes of hummers at several locations that are consuming upwards of a gallon a week (or day) of sugar water... Allen T. Chartier amazilia1 AT comcast.net Inkster, Michigan, USA ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Website: www.amazilia.net HummerNet: www.amazilia.net/MIHummerNet Blog: http://mihummingbirdguy.blogspot.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Every day, the hummingbird eats its own weight in food. You may wonder how it weighs the food. It doesn't. It just eats another hummingbird. -- Steven Wright ========================================= ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nancy L Newfield" To: Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 8:45 PM Subject: Re: [HUMNET-L] No posts > Arlene, > > At 07:14 PM 6/18/2009, Arlene KOCH wrote: > >>I haven't gotten a post for days - listserv problem or mine? > > Birdingonthe.net shows the last post before yours as 12 June. It is a > quiet time of year for some of us and it seems even quieter than usual. > Of course, I've been busy and preoccupied with other matters. > > NLN > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Nancy L Newfield > Casa Colibrí > Metairie, Louisiana USA > nancy AT casacolibri.net > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Subject: Re: No posts From: matt bagley <mbagley3 AT TAMPABAY.RR.COM> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:05:47 -0400 Arlene, I haven't received a post in several days myself. It must be a listserv problem. Matt Bagley Auburndale, FL Zone: 9a -----Original Message----- From: BB for Hummingbirds and Gardening for them in the Southeast [mailto:HUMNET-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU] On Behalf Of DAVID KOCH Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 8:15 PM To: HUMNET-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU Subject: [HUMNET-L] No posts I haven't gotten a post for days - listserv problem or mine?    Arlene Koch Easton, PA Northampton County davilene AT verizon.net Subject: Re: No posts From: LMarkoff <canyoneaglej AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:41:15 -0500 Thank you for posting this, same here....I wondered what happened too. Lori Markoff, Austin, TX -----Original Message----- From: BB for Hummingbirds and Gardening for them in the Southeast [mailto:HUMNET-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU] On Behalf Of DAVID KOCH Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 7:15 PM To: HUMNET-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU Subject: [HUMNET-L] No posts I haven't gotten a post for days - listserv problem or mine?    Arlene Koch Easton, PA Northampton County davilene AT verizon.net Subject: Re: No posts From: Nancy L Newfield <nancy AT CASACOLIBRI.NET> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:45:01 -0500 Arlene, At 07:14 PM 6/18/2009, Arlene KOCH wrote: >I haven't gotten a post for days - listserv problem or mine? Birdingonthe.net shows the last post before yours as 12 June. It is a quiet time of year for some of us and it seems even quieter than usual. Of course, I've been busy and preoccupied with other matters. NLN ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nancy L Newfield Casa Colibrí Metairie, Louisiana USA nancy AT casacolibri.net ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Subject: No posts From: DAVID KOCH <davilene AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:14:32 -0700 I haven't gotten a post for days - listserv problem or mine?    Arlene Koch Easton, PA Northampton County davilene AT verizon.net Subject: Harry's Back! From: Dottie <yumyumkatts AT VOYAGER.NET> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:54:43 -0400 Harry the R/T hummer is finally back and guarding his feeder like he never left. However, the hairy woodpeckers are giving him fits and the other hummers as well as they take over the feeders. They love that nectar. They look up at the hummers as if to say, "Well, what do you think you are going to do about it?" haha I have a few more R/T hummers now also. Dottie, Hickory Hollow Brown County, Indiana (50 miles south of Indianapolis) Lat: 39.371N Lon: 86.261W Zone 5 Elevation: 680 ft Subject: Philadelphia in September From: Lanny Chambers <lannychambers AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 17:20:07 -0500 Hi, Humnetters. I received this inquiry from Italy: > I am writing to you because I have the chance to be in the States > in Philadelphia next September (around 12-13) for work. > I have always hoped to take pictures hummingbirds. Then I am > asking if you know if and in case where I can find a place (or > photographic tour) where I can take pictures of hummingbirds in > that period. Any suggestions are welcome! I know mid-September is a bit late in the season, but does anyone in the Philadelphia area have suggestions? Please respond directly to me, and I'll pass them along to our Italian friend. Lanny Chambers St. Louis, MO lanny AT hummingbirds.net Subject: Re: Juvies peep From: Annette Pulliam <gilitydog AT CANTERLC.COM> Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 21:01:41 -0500 Cool picture! I'll have to watch my trees a little closer. I'm new to watching hummers, but I noticed a decline at the feeder which I take to mean that the females are now nesting. The males still come around to fight! Annette Udall, Kansas > >>> Well, first juvie hummer arrived in the yard today. I was on the front porch and heard this >>> constant peeping. Once I located the source, I was amazed that it was a juvie hummer. >>> Must have perched on this branch for a half-hour > >>> http://upload.pbase.com/image/113191993 > >>> K.C. Subject: Re: Juvies peep From: Jane Patterson <cocamila AT COX.NET> Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 18:23:59 -0500 Man, K.C., you need to use the video capture on your camera for these occasions! I have never heard a baby hummer "peeping"! Too cool! --Jane Patterson Baton Rouge, LA -----Original Message----- From: BB for Hummingbirds and Gardening for them in the Southeast [mailto:HUMNET-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU] On Behalf Of KC Foggin Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2009 3:12 PM To: HUMNET-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU Subject: [HUMNET-L] Juvies peep Well, first juvie hummer arrived in the yard today. I was on the front porch and heard this constant peeping. Once I located the source, I was amazed that it was a juvie hummer. Must have perched on this branch for a half-hour http://upload.pbase.com/image/113191993 K.C. K.C. Foggin Socastee Myrtle Beach SC www.birdforum.net www.pbase.com/kcfoggin/nikon_d50_pages&page=15 Subject: Juvies peep From: KC Foggin <KCFoggin AT SC.RR.COM> Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 16:12:06 -0400 Well, first juvie hummer arrived in the yard today. I was on the front porch and heard this constant peeping. Once I located the source, I was amazed that it was a juvie hummer. Must have perched on this branch for a half-hour http://upload.pbase.com/image/113191993 K.C. K.C. Foggin Socastee Myrtle Beach SC www.birdforum.net www.pbase.com/kcfoggin/nikon_d50_pages&page=15 Subject: Re: Observations From: Lizz and David <lizz AT DISHMAIL.NET> Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 08:43:35 -0500 Thanks Miss Nancy! I guess some ladies showed up late this year. I have a neighbor about a mile away that has seen the same thing at her feeders. I guess we are sharing hummers as well as our buntings. :D Lizz Burris Beebe, AR Lizz, At 02:44 PM 5/29/2009, Lizz and David wrote: >First male Ruby spotted April 2, 2009 >First FEMALE spotted April 20 (Now I realize >that the ladies could have been here before that date) > >May 28, 2009 spotted what appears to be 2 >juvenile hummers chasing the males and any other >birds in the vicinity of my hummingbird >feeders. Now I suppose these could be some late >arriving females but their size is smaller than >a female and one was smaller than the male it >was chasing. They show that 'daredevil' >attitude that juvenile hummers display but I >keep thinking its too early to see fledglings. > >What do you think? Here in southern Louisiana, we see females beginning to lay around the first of April, sometimes a little sooner. Because a successful nesting will require about 6 weeks from initiation of nest building to fledging, we expect the first youngsters to be out of the nest around mid-May. We don't usually see the first immatures at our banding site before the first week of June because the site is a little distant from the swamps where they nest. A fledgling is not usually smaller than an adult male. NLN ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nancy L Newfield Casa Colibrí Metairie, Louisiana USA nancy AT casacolibri.net ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Subject: Re: Observations From: Nancy L Newfield <nancy AT CASACOLIBRI.NET> Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 15:07:31 -0500 Lizz, At 02:44 PM 5/29/2009, Lizz and David wrote: >First male Ruby spotted April 2, 2009 >First FEMALE spotted April 20 (Now I realize >that the ladies could have been here before that date) > >May 28, 2009 spotted what appears to be 2 >juvenile hummers chasing the males and any other >birds in the vicinity of my hummingbird >feeders. Now I suppose these could be some late >arriving females but their size is smaller than >a female and one was smaller than the male it >was chasing. They show that 'daredevil' >attitude that juvenile hummers display but I >keep thinking its too early to see fledglings. > >What do you think? Here in southern Louisiana, we see females beginning to lay around the first of April, sometimes a little sooner. Because a successful nesting will require about 6 weeks from initiation of nest building to fledging, we expect the first youngsters to be out of the nest around mid-May. We don't usually see the first immatures at our banding site before the first week of June because the site is a little distant from the swamps where they nest. A fledgling is not usually smaller than an adult male. NLN ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nancy L Newfield Casa Colibrí Metairie, Louisiana USA nancy AT casacolibri.net ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Subject: Observations From: Lizz and David <lizz AT DISHMAIL.NET> Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 14:44:50 -0500 First male Ruby spotted April 2, 2009 First FEMALE spotted April 20 (Now I realize that the ladies could have been here before that date) May 28, 2009 spotted what appears to be 2 juvenile hummers chasing the males and any other birds in the vicinity of my hummingbird feeders. Now I suppose these could be some late arriving females but their size is smaller than a female and one was smaller than the male it was chasing. They show that 'daredevil' attitude that juvenile hummers display but I keep thinking its too early to see fledglings. What do you think? :D Lizz Burris Beebe, Arkansas Subject: Tom's Retirement. From: Maurice Duvic <jsb8 AT WEBTV.NET> Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 03:49:22 GMT Aw, Hell ! I didn't mean to hit that button. Sorry, Vic Author Forty Missions Madison,MS Subject: Re: Tom Sylvest Retiring From: Maurice Duvic <jsb8 AT WEBTV.NET> Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 03:26:44 GMT Tom: What's this here "retirement offer?" Everything's OK, eh? Best, Vic Author Forty Missions Madison,MS -----Original Message----- From: Tom & Eloise Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 6:53 PM To: HUMNET-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU Subject: [HUMNET-L] Tom Sylvest Retiring HUMNETters and LABIRDers, I, TOM SYLVEST, AM RETIRING EFFECTIVE TODAY, MAY 27, 2009, FROM MY UNPAID VOLUNTEER POSITION AS REPORTER AND DATABASE KEEPER OF THE LOUISIANA WESTERN WINTER HUMMINGBIRD LIST WHICH I HAVE MAINTAINED FOR THE PAST TEN "WINTER" SEASONS. KEVIN MORGAN WILL ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THOSE ACTIVITIES. YOU WILL HEAR FROM HIM DIRECTLY. For your faithful reporting, I thank you. For your many kind expressions of thanks, I thank you. The retirement offer was just too good to decline. The grandest memorial you can give to me is for you to continue reporting your First Oberved and Last Observed dates as Kevin Morgan invites you to do. Blessings and Good birding." THANK YOU, KEVIN, FOR ALL YOUR HELP AND FOR AGREEING TO TAKEOVER THE REINS. SINCERELY, TOM SYLVEST Winter Hummerland Gramercy, LA (40 miles west of New Orleans, LA, USA) Subject: Re: Tom Sylvest Retiring From: birdwatcher <spraydm AT EMBARQMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 20:38:19 -0400 Thank you for all your hard work and dedication. Donna, VA ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom & Eloise" To: Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 7:53 PM Subject: [HUMNET-L] Tom Sylvest Retiring HUMNETters and LABIRDers, I, TOM SYLVEST, AM RETIRING EFFECTIVE TODAY, MAY 27, 2009, FROM MY UNPAID VOLUNTEER POSITION AS REPORTER AND DATABASE KEEPER OF THE LOUISIANA WESTERN WINTER HUMMINGBIRD LIST WHICH I HAVE MAINTAINED FOR THE PAST TEN "WINTER" SEASONS. KEVIN MORGAN WILL ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THOSE ACTIVITIES. YOU WILL HEAR FROM HIM DIRECTLY. For your faithful reporting, I thank you. For your many kind expressions of thanks, I thank you. The retirement offer was just too good to decline. The grandest memorial you can give to me is for you to continue reporting your First Oberved and Last Observed dates as Kevin Morgan invites you to do. Blessings and Good birding." THANK YOU, KEVIN, FOR ALL YOUR HELP AND FOR AGREEING TO TAKEOVER THE REINS. SINCERELY, TOM SYLVEST Winter Hummerland Gramercy, LA (40 miles west of New Orleans, LA, USA) Subject: Re: Tom Sylvest Retiring From: Kevin Morgan <cowboyinbrla AT COX.NET> Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 19:05:29 -0500 LABIRDers and HUMNETers: I know I'm stepping into some huge shoes, but I hope to do Tom proud by keeping the winter hummingbird database alive for some years to come. Before next season begins, I *may* set up a separate email address for receiving winter reports and sending out the weekly reports. If so, I'll let everyone know here. Over time I hope to enhance the information even further, but for now I'll be happy if we can just keep collecting the data. I can't thank Tom enough for all the hard work he's done over the years - and I know everyone here agrees that his efforts have tremendously advanced our knowledge of the distribution of winter hummingbirds. Kevin Morgan Subject: Tom Sylvest Retiring From: Tom & Eloise <sylves_t AT BELLSOUTH.NET> Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 18:53:30 -0500 HUMNETters and LABIRDers, I, TOM SYLVEST, AM RETIRING EFFECTIVE TODAY, MAY 27, 2009, FROM MY UNPAID VOLUNTEER POSITION AS REPORTER AND DATABASE KEEPER OF THE LOUISIANA WESTERN WINTER HUMMINGBIRD LIST WHICH I HAVE MAINTAINED FOR THE PAST TEN "WINTER" SEASONS. KEVIN MORGAN WILL ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THOSE ACTIVITIES. YOU WILL HEAR FROM HIM DIRECTLY. For your faithful reporting, I thank you. For your many kind expressions of thanks, I thank you. The retirement offer was just too good to decline. The grandest memorial you can give to me is for you to continue reporting your First Oberved and Last Observed dates as Kevin Morgan invites you to do. Blessings and Good birding." THANK YOU, KEVIN, FOR ALL YOUR HELP AND FOR AGREEING TO TAKEOVER THE REINS. SINCERELY, TOM SYLVEST Winter Hummerland Gramercy, LA (40 miles west of New Orleans, LA, USA) Subject: Re: contact info for local bander From: Ann Adams <ann.d.adams AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 17:43:00 +0000 Actually, Penny, if you are looking for someone to band hummers, Tracy is not the humbander...it's his wife Erin Karnatz. Erin has a master permit for passerines and was trained to band hummers by Bob Sargent. I band with her at Braddock Bay, outside Rochester (Greece), every Spring. Her email is tford001 AT rochester.rr.com Best, Ann Ann Adams, Albuquerque, NM ----- Original Message ----- From: "Penny Durnin" To: HUMNET-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 8:45:04 AM GMT -07:00 US/Canada Mountain Subject: [HUMNET-L] contact info for local bander Does anyone have a current email address for Tracy Ford, a bander in western NY -- Penny Durnin Niagara Falls, NY USDA zone 6a Heat zone 4 Sunset climate zone 37 Subject: contact info for local bander From: Penny Durnin <pendee AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 10:45:04 -0400 Does anyone have a current email address for Tracy Ford, a bander in western NY -- Penny Durnin Niagara Falls, NY USDA zone 6a Heat zone 4 Sunset climate zone 37 Subject: "First Flight" video From: Lanny Chambers <lannychambers AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 21:38:30 -0500 Hi, Humnuts. I've just watched "First Flight," a video by Noriko and Don Carroll that documents a Black-chinned nest in the most intimate detail you could imagine. You've all seen photos of hummer nests, I'm sure...but you've never seen anything like this marvelous video. I've watched 'em all, and this one is special. Trust me, you want this DVD. You can watch a trailer or buy the DVD at http:// www.hummingbirdstory.com/ Lanny Chambers St. Louis, MO lanny AT hummingbirds.net Subject: Re: slow motion hummingbird video From: "Allen T. Chartier" <amazilia1 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 22:27:57 -0400 Perhaps this was mentioned before, but the bird in the video also lacks tail feathers... Allen T. Chartier amazilia1 AT comcast.net Inkster, Michigan, USA ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Website: www.amazilia.net HummerNet: www.amazilia.net/MIHummerNet Blog: http://mihummingbirdguy.blogspot.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Every day, the hummingbird eats its own weight in food. You may wonder how it weighs the food. It doesn't. It just eats another hummingbird. -- Steven Wright ========================================= Subject: Re: slow motion hummingbird video From: Cathie Hutcheson <hutche AT SIU.EDU> Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 18:51:00 -0500 I mentioned this program (Time Warp) last fall. I managed to record it and it shows an x-ray (or whatever the technology is called now) of a hummer hovering. The crop moved back and forth with each wing beat, apparently providing ballast keeping the bird upright (so the narrator said). I note that other birds that hover (American Kestrels and kingfishers) hold their heads still while their bodies are working furiously, but I don't believe their crops are full of liquid..... Cathie Hutcheson Makanda, IL On May202009, at 11:50 AM, HW wrote: > Humnet, > > Here's a link to a super slow motion video of a hummingbird hovering > and > feeding; > > http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/05/highspeed_gallery/ > > The first two sentences in the accompanying article are, well, > interesting; > > "A hummingbird’s neck is structured like a bucket that acts as a > holding > tank for liquids. If it hadn’t evolved this way, the bird would > choke to > death whenever it tried to take a sip of water." > > Hmm... Anyway, the video is worth a look. There's a BMW ad at the > beginning > but it only lasts 15 seconds. > > Howard Williams > Dripping Springs, Texas Subject: slow motion hummingbird video From: HW <howilliams AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 11:50:49 -0500 Humnet, Here's a link to a super slow motion video of a hummingbird hovering and feeding; http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/05/highspeed_gallery/ The first two sentences in the accompanying article are, well, interesting; "A hummingbird’s neck is structured like a bucket that acts as a holding tank for liquids. If it hadn’t evolved this way, the bird would choke to death whenever it tried to take a sip of water." Hmm... Anyway, the video is worth a look. There's a BMW ad at the beginning but it only lasts 15 seconds. Howard Williams Dripping Springs, Texas Subject: Lotsa Birdies From: Lanny Chambers <lannychambers AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 19:20:09 -0500 Humnetters, Linda and I were invited to band hummers over the weekend at a location near Lesterville, in the Missouri Ozarks. The host said there were swarms, and offered their modern rental cottage so we wouldn't have to return after dark. We did indeed find swarms of hummingbirds. I asked if we could move the four spread-out feeders to a central location, and he was amazed at the result: the number of birds on the feeders nearly doubled. By early evening, each one-quart feeder had about 20 birds perched around it; since there were only 8 ports, some ports had THREE bills poked into them at the same time. I've seen two per hole before, but never three. You'd think their tongues would end up in a knot! Hundreds more hummers milled through the cedars around the feeders, waiting their turn. Based on the numbers I saw and the gallon of syrup consumed daily, they must be feeding around 1000 hummers a day...and it's only mid-May. The previous owner of the property told them to expect twice as many by August, which sounds reasonable, or perhaps too conservative. If anyone would like more info on this place, feel free to email me off-list. We had a great time, and hope to get back later this year. Lanny Chambers St. Louis, MO lanny AT hummingbirds.net Subject: Re: Identifiable individuals From: Me <clboehm AT MAC.COM> Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 13:35:49 -0400 Howard, Great shot. Thanks. Chris Boehm London, Ohio On Monday, May 18, 2009, at 12:47PM, "HW" wrote: >Humnet, > >A week or two ago the last of the Ruby-throated hummingbirds that were mixed >in with Black-chinned birds moved on (presumably breeding and nesting east >of my general area). Numbers of birds -- resident Black-chinned -- are at >the lowest concentration I'll observe until mid July or so. Still, as many >as six to a dozen birds are visiting feeders and plants at any given time. >Of course, identifying individual birds is impossible (for me anyway). But >two individuals stand out due to specific traits. One is a male >Black-chinned with a distinctive pattern of leucistic feathers on its back. >The other is a female Black-chinned with a strand of nesting material >entangled on one of her feet. Both of these birds have been consistently >viewed for about three weeks now, but without their 'signatures' there's now >way I could know that with any certainty. I'm trying to photograph them with >no luck so far. But I did finally photograph a female Black-chinned >collecting unprocessed cotton batting from one of my nest material >dispensers. I scrambled for my camera in time for just one shot; > >http://picasaweb.google.com/howilliams/051809# > >Howard Williams >Dripping Springs, Texas > > Subject: Re: Identifiable individuals (nesting material) From: Curtis Croulet <calypte AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 13:49:41 -0700 > I've a friend that runs an animal sanctuary in Nevada and each year at > shedding time she collects bags' full of all kinds of exotic fur. I > picked some up while visiting a while back and when I got home I offered > it to my local feathered friends in a suet feeder. It's been quite > popular this year so I'm guessing I'm one of the few (if not the only) > with backyard birds sporting nests of tiger, lion, lynx and bobcat fur. > :) > > patrick > N. Utah I tried wads of domestic cat fur, which is readily obtainable in our house. The birds ignored it. -- Curtis Croulet Temecula, California calypte AT verizon.net Subject: Re: Identifiable individuals (nesting material) From: Patrick Wiggins <paw AT WIRELESSBEEHIVE.COM> Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 14:41:43 -0600 I've a friend that runs an animal sanctuary in Nevada and each year at shedding time she collects bags' full of all kinds of exotic fur. I picked some up while visiting a while back and when I got home I offered it to my local feathered friends in a suet feeder. It's been quite popular this year so I'm guessing I'm one of the few (if not the only) with backyard birds sporting nests of tiger, lion, lynx and bobcat fur. :) patrick N. Utah On 18 May 2009, at 12:28, HW wrote: > Gene wrote; > >> As a mammalogist, I learned that using polyester pillow filling >> instead of cotton batting in small mammal live-traps was better >> because the polyester did not hold on to water or urine like cotton >> batting does. So if it rains, this helps the captured critter stay >> warmer. Perhaps it would be better to offer the poly pillow filling >> instead of cotton to your nest-building hummers? > > > Gene, Humnet, > > The topic of offering suitable nesting materials was a matter of > discussion > on Humnet about this time last year (I think). Unprocessed cotton > leaves the > natural waxy substance on the fibers intact, while processed cotton > strips > away the same substance to make absorbant cotton. Absorbant cotton > -- cotton > balls, q-tips -- along with drier lint should never be offered to > birds, > hummers or otherwise. > > Gossypium hirsutum -- also known as Upland cotton -- is native to > Mexico, > Central America, southern Florida and the Caribbean. It's highly > likely that > hummingbirds collect cotton fibers in areas where they nest and the > wild > plants exist. > > Howard Williams > Dripping Springs, Texas Subject: Re: Identifiable individuals (nesting material) From: HW <howilliams AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 13:28:45 -0500 Gene wrote; > As a mammalogist, I learned that using polyester pillow filling > instead of cotton batting in small mammal live-traps was better > because the polyester did not hold on to water or urine like cotton > batting does. So if it rains, this helps the captured critter stay > warmer. Perhaps it would be better to offer the poly pillow filling > instead of cotton to your nest-building hummers? Gene, Humnet, The topic of offering suitable nesting materials was a matter of discussion on Humnet about this time last year (I think). Unprocessed cotton leaves the natural waxy substance on the fibers intact, while processed cotton strips away the same substance to make absorbant cotton. Absorbant cotton -- cotton balls, q-tips -- along with drier lint should never be offered to birds, hummers or otherwise. Gossypium hirsutum -- also known as Upland cotton -- is native to Mexico, Central America, southern Florida and the Caribbean. It's highly likely that hummingbirds collect cotton fibers in areas where they nest and the wild plants exist. Howard Williams Dripping Springs, Texas Subject: Re: Identifiable individuals From: Lanny Chambers <lannychambers AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 12:54:22 -0500 On May 18, 2009, at 12:40 , Gene R. Trapp wrote: > Perhaps it would be better to offer the poly pillow filling instead > of cotton to your nest-building hummers? Here's the problem: ultimately, it will become yet more non- biodegradable trash, like six-pack rings and plastic grocery bags. Without our help, hummingbirds use down from plants such as cattail and thistle to line their nests. Not much different from raw cotton batting. Lanny Chambers St. Louis, MO lanny AT hummingbirds.net Subject: Re: Identifiable individuals From: "Bill Hilton Jr., Operation RubyThroat" <hilton AT RUBYTHROAT.ORG> Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 13:48:59 -0400 GENE . . . You may be right about treated cotton. Untreated cotton that still has natural oils may be one of the best things--along with animal hair and fur--we can offer to nest-building birds. A couple of distributors are now offering untreated cotton and dispensers for nesting purposes. Synthetic materials--especially most dryer lint--tends to mat down and hold water, possibly drowning small nestlings. I can't speak to poly batting you recommend. Cheers, BILL ======= >Howard, > >As a mammalogist, I learned that using polyester pillow filling >instead of cotton batting in small mammal live-traps was better >because the polyester did not hold on to water or urine like cotton >batting does. So if it rains, this helps the captured critter stay >warmer. Perhaps it would be better to offer the poly pillow filling >instead of cotton to your nest-building hummers? > >Gene Trapp >Davis, Calif. > >On May 18, 2009, at 9:47 AM, HW wrote: > >>Humnet, >> >>A week or two ago the last of the Ruby-throated hummingbirds that were mixed >>in with Black-chinned birds moved on (presumably breeding and nesting east >>of my general area). Numbers of birds -- resident Black-chinned -- are at >>the lowest concentration I'll observe until mid July or so. Still, as many >>as six to a dozen birds are visiting feeders and plants at any given time. >>Of course, identifying individual birds is impossible (for me anyway). But >>two individuals stand out due to specific traits. One is a male >>Black-chinned with a distinctive pattern of leucistic feathers on its back. >>The other is a female Black-chinned with a strand of nesting material >>entangled on one of her feet. Both of these birds have been consistently >>viewed for about three weeks now, but without their 'signatures' there's now >>way I could know that with any certainty. I'm trying to photograph them with >>no luck so far. But I did finally photograph a female Black-chinned >>collecting unprocessed cotton batting from one of my nest material >>dispensers. I scrambled for my camera in time for just one shot; >> >>http://picasaweb.google.com/howilliams/051809# >> >>Howard Williams >>Dripping Springs, Texas -- OPERATION RUBYTHROAT: The Hummingbird Project BILL HILTON JR., Principal Investigator Executive Director Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History, 1432 DeVinney Road, York, South Carolina 29745 USA Voice: (803) 684-5852; e-Fax: (503) 218-0845 Operation RubyThroat:The Hummingbird Project ( http://www.rubythroat.org ) is a cross-disciplinary international initiative in which students, teachers, and others collaborate to study behavior and distribution of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris). All worldwide rights reserved and copyrighted by Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History ( http://www.hiltonpond.org ). Contributions in support of the project may be made via Network for Good at http://www.guidestar.org/controller/searchResults.gs?action_donateReport=1&partner=networkforgood&ein=56-2162170 . ********** Subject: Re: Identifiable individuals From: "Gene R. Trapp" <grtrapp AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 10:40:29 -0700 Howard, As a mammalogist, I learned that using polyester pillow filling instead of cotton batting in small mammal live-traps was better because the polyester did not hold on to water or urine like cotton batting does. So if it rains, this helps the captured critter stay warmer. Perhaps it would be better to offer the poly pillow filling instead of cotton to your nest-building hummers? Gene Trapp Davis, Calif. On May 18, 2009, at 9:47 AM, HW wrote: > Humnet, > > A week or two ago the last of the Ruby-throated hummingbirds that > were mixed > in with Black-chinned birds moved on (presumably breeding and > nesting east > of my general area). Numbers of birds -- resident Black-chinned -- > are at > the lowest concentration I'll observe until mid July or so. Still, > as many > as six to a dozen birds are visiting feeders and plants at any > given time. > Of course, identifying individual birds is impossible (for me > anyway). But > two individuals stand out due to specific traits. One is a male > Black-chinned with a distinctive pattern of leucistic feathers on > its back. > The other is a female Black-chinned with a strand of nesting material > entangled on one of her feet. Both of these birds have been > consistently > viewed for about three weeks now, but without their 'signatures' > there's now > way I could know that with any certainty. I'm trying to photograph > them with > no luck so far. But I did finally photograph a female Black-chinned > collecting unprocessed cotton batting from one of my nest material > dispensers. I scrambled for my camera in time for just one shot; > > http://picasaweb.google.com/howilliams/051809# > > Howard Williams > Dripping Springs, Texas Subject: Identifiable individuals From: HW <howilliams AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 11:47:18 -0500 Humnet, A week or two ago the last of the Ruby-throated hummingbirds that were mixed in with Black-chinned birds moved on (presumably breeding and nesting east of my general area). Numbers of birds -- resident Black-chinned -- are at the lowest concentration I'll observe until mid July or so. Still, as many as six to a dozen birds are visiting feeders and plants at any given time. Of course, identifying individual birds is impossible (for me anyway). But two individuals stand out due to specific traits. One is a male Black-chinned with a distinctive pattern of leucistic feathers on its back. The other is a female Black-chinned with a strand of nesting material entangled on one of her feet. Both of these birds have been consistently viewed for about three weeks now, but without their 'signatures' there's now way I could know that with any certainty. I'm trying to photograph them with no luck so far. But I did finally photograph a female Black-chinned collecting unprocessed cotton batting from one of my nest material dispensers. I scrambled for my camera in time for just one shot; http://picasaweb.google.com/howilliams/051809# Howard Williams Dripping Springs, Texas Subject: Re: First Nature feeders -- glass jar alternative? From: Lanny Chambers <lannychambers AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 11:26:25 -0500 On May 18, 2009, at 11:08 , HW wrote: > I was > able to combine bases of a particular Opus feeder with a glass > bottles of a > different Opus model (the thread was the same for both). While the > original > reservoirs turned yellow and cracked long ago Very typical of Opus feeders, no matter where you live. They are arguably made of the crummiest plastic available. Lanny Chambers St. Louis, MO lanny AT hummingbirds.net Subject: Hummingbird Trips to Costa Rica & Belize From: "Bill Hilton Jr., Operation RubyThroat" <hilton AT RUBYTHROAT.ORG> Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 12:21:12 -0400 If you've ever wondered where Ruby-throated Hummingbirds go when they leave the U.S. and Canada, you might want to join us for Operation RubyThroat's "citizen science" expeditions in Winter 2010. No experience necessary! In January and February we'll take two nine-day excursions to Costa Rica's Guanacaste Province, where we've made exciting discoveries about ruby-throats on their wintering grounds during the past five years. After mornings of mist netting and banding most afternoons are free, so there's plenty of time to explore and photograph the surrounding area and its many exotic plants and animals. Details are at http://www.hiltonpond.org/CostaRicaAnnounceMain10.html (Note that a $75 "early bird" discount applies for reservations made by 1 July.) In 2010 we're adding two additional nine-day expeditions to expand our understanding of ruby-throat wintering behavior in Central America--one each to Belize and Guatemala. We haven't ironed out all details for the latter excursion (we're trying to make sure the mid-February trip includes opportunities to view Resplendent Quetzals), but info for Belize is now posted. We'll be staying and working in mid-March at Crooked Tree, a fabulous Audubon sanctuary in the center of Belize where migrant ruby-throats tank up on nectar from Cashew trees just before heading north. Other amazing birds and wildlife abound. Details are at http://www.hiltonpond.org/BelizeAnnounceMain10.html . (This trip is almost filled already by alumni of past Costa Rica trips!) Please think about joining Operation RubyThroat to study hummingbirds next winter in the sunny, warm tropics when it's cold, wet, and dark across much of North America. If you have questions after reading our on-line descriptions, feel free to inquire further via phone or e-mail. Happy Hummingbird Watching! BILL -- OPERATION RUBYTHROAT: The Hummingbird Project BILL HILTON JR., Principal Investigator Executive Director Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History, 1432 DeVinney Road, York, South Carolina 29745 USA Voice: (803) 684-5852; e-Fax: (503) 218-0845 Operation RubyThroat:The Hummingbird Project ( http://www.rubythroat.org ) is a cross-disciplinary international initiative in which students, teachers, and others collaborate to study behavior and distribution of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris). All worldwide rights reserved and copyrighted by Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History ( http://www.hiltonpond.org ). Contributions in support of the project may be made via Network for Good at http://www.guidestar.org/controller/searchResults.gs?action_donateReport=1&partner=networkforgood&ein=56-2162170 . ********** Subject: Re: First Nature feeders -- glass jar alternative? From: HW <howilliams AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 11:08:38 -0500 Paulette, Penny, Lanny, KC, et al., Thanks for the feedback regarding First Nature feeders. I'm glad to hear the plastic reservoir is more durable than I surmised. One other factor for me besides heat is low humidity. Certain plastic feeders I used many years ago in Florida do not hold up quite as well here in Texas. I suspect the drier air combined with summer heat degrades the plastic a little quicker. I was able to combine bases of a particular Opus feeder with a glass bottles of a different Opus model (the thread was the same for both). While the original reservoirs turned yellow and cracked long ago, the bases live on with the glass bottles -- albeit turning a bit pink after all these years. I think the First Nature feeders are pretty well designed. Birds feed comfortably from the oval ports. The raised flower shape around the ports helps divert rain from entering the base -- a good feature. As mentioned by Lanny in another post, HummerMagnet feeders have oval ports. I met the owner/manufacturer (Steve) and traded hummingbird fountain elements for several of his feeders. Steve and I discussed his design and he's still tweaking his molds. I think I'll suggest adding raised areas around the ports for rain deterrence. Howard Williams Dripping Springs, Texas Subject: Re: [HUMNET-L & LABIRD-L] Shrike invasion From: "Allen T. Chartier" <amazilia1 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 19:32:14 -0400 I'll second Cathie's comment. Michigan is down to perhaps only one or two breeding pairs of Loggerhead Shrike, so if you have any extras you can send 'em up here! Allen T. Chartier amazilia1 AT comcast.net Inkster, Michigan, USA ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Website: www.amazilia.net HummerNet: www.amazilia.net/MIHummerNet Blog: http://mihummingbirdguy.blogspot.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Every day, the hummingbird eats its own weight in food. You may wonder how it weighs the food. It doesn't. It just eats another hummingbird. -- Steven Wright ========================================= ----- Original Message ----- From: "Cathie Hutcheson" To: Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2009 9:44 AM Subject: Re: [HUMNET-L] [HUMNET-L & LABIRD-L] Shrike invasion > Those of you with shrikes should count yourself lucky. They have mostly > disappeared from our area, as have many grassland birds. At least in > Ken's case, the birds taken by the shrike were males, who do nothing to > raise the next generation except fertilize the eggs. Not that I have > anything against males.... > > > Cathie Hutcheson > Makanda, IL > > > >> At 08:08 PM 5/16/2009, Ken Prestenbach wrote: >> >>> At 7:40 pm the wife and I were watching 3 to 4 Ruby-throated feeding >>> on Firecracker plants. Really enjoying the sunset before darkness comes >>> and low and behold, ten feet from us a horrible thing happened. A >>> Loggerhead Shrike swooped down and caught a Ruby, brought it to the >>> ground and started eating on it right in front our eyes. The Shrike >>> flew away with the rest of his catch. The other hummers continued >>> feeding as night approached. The wife and I started counting the Rubys >>> again. About 10 minutes later, another Ruby fell prey to the same >>> Shrike. Being a hunter, I know nature is cruel but I may have found out >>> WHY we aren't seeing as many as before. Nancy you can scratch off two >>> male Rubys in my yard. Vacherie, La. St. James Parish. WHAT A PITTY >> > Subject: Re: First Nature feeders -- glass jar alternative? From: Penny Durnin <pendee AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 19:02:10 -0400 On Sun, May 17, 2009 at 6:55 PM, Lanny Chambers wrote: > On May 17, 2009, at 16:51 , Penny Durnin wrote: > >> I had throught about strettching a piece of nylon netting over the >> base of the feeders with the larger hole after cutting out the center >> so that it would fit flush over the base and all the feeder ports.The >> holes in the netting are larger than the old style ports but smaller >> than the new style. What do you think about this option? > > > Interesting idea. Try it and let us know how it works. > > > Lanny Chambers > St. Louis, MO > lanny AT hummingbirds.net > OK I will give it a try. Didn't want to do something like that without checking with first as I didn't want to do anything that would possibly be hazardous to the birds. Right now I am not having a problem with yellow jackets as we are still having chilly temps here. In fact we have freeze warnings out for tonight but as soon as I see what kind of results I get I will definitely post it here. -- Penny Durnin Niagara Falls, NY USDA zone 6a Heat zone 4 Sunset climate zone 37 Subject: Re: First Nature feeders -- glass jar alternative? From: Lanny Chambers <lannychambers AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 17:55:28 -0500 On May 17, 2009, at 16:51 , Penny Durnin wrote: > I had throught about strettching a piece of nylon netting over the > base of the feeders with the larger hole after cutting out the center > so that it would fit flush over the base and all the feeder ports.The > holes in the netting are larger than the old style ports but smaller > than the new style. What do you think about this option? Interesting idea. Try it and let us know how it works. Lanny Chambers St. Louis, MO lanny AT hummingbirds.net Subject: Re: First Nature feeders -- glass jar alternative? From: KC Foggin <KCFoggin AT SC.RR.COM> Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 17:57:47 -0400 I'm going on my thrid season with these feeders and I have no complaints whatsoever. K.C. K.C. Foggin Socastee Myrtle Beach SC www.birdforum.net www.pbase.com/kcfoggin/nikon_d50_pages&page=15 ----- Original Message ----- From: Lanny Chambers To: HUMNET-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2009 5:06 PM Subject: Re: [HUMNET-L] First Nature feeders -- glass jar alternative? On May 16, 2009, at 17:10 , HW wrote: > I was recently given a few First Nature hummingbird feeders. While the > feeders are easy to disassemble to clean, the plastic jar reservoir > appears > to be made of very cheap plastic. I suspect these might turn > brittle after > just a few Texas summers. Don't be in too much of a rush, Howard. Mine has proven surprisingly durable. For $4, it's actually a pretty good feeder. Lanny Chambers St. Louis, MO lanny AT hummingbirds.net No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.329 / Virus Database: 270.12.32/2118 - Release Date: 05/16/09 17:05:00 Subject: Re: First Nature feeders -- glass jar alternative? From: Penny Durnin <pendee AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 17:51:13 -0400 On Sun, May 17, 2009 at 5:21 PM, Lanny Chambers wrote: > On May 16, 2009, at 22:54 , Penny Durnin wrote: > >> Either last year or the year before >> they changed the feeder port to a larger oval hole which does alow >> yellow jackets to get in easily.  I have written to them about the >> port size and they said they were considering gping back to the >> smaller port. > > There's a very good reason they went to an oval port: it accommodates > hummingbirds of all sizes, without making the smaller ones stretch to reach > it and risk becoming trapped if they lose their balance or grip on the > perch. I think a few dead yellowjackets are worth the extra margin of safety > for the birds. The older designs can and do entrap and kill hummers. This > can be an issue with any feeder that has a substantially-flat top. > > Best-1 has made the same change, for the same reason, and I applaud any > company willing to make design changes so their feeders will be safer. > HummerMagnet has always had oval ports, and HummZinger conical ones. > > > Lanny Chambers > St. Louis, MO > lanny AT hummingbirds.net > Lanny and humnetters, I had throught about strettching a piece of nylon netting over the base of the feeders with the larger hole after cutting out the center so that it would fit flush over the base and all the feeder ports.The holes in the netting are larger than the old style ports but smaller than the new style. What do you think about this option? I haven't done it yet. Just something I have had in my mind that may deter the bees and yellow jackets. I do like the oval style of the new feeder ports, I just wish that they weren't so big as to allow the yellow jackets such easy access. -- Penny Durnin Niagara Falls, NY USDA zone 6a Heat zone 4 Sunset climate zone 37 Subject: Re: First Nature feeders -- glass jar alternative? From: Lanny Chambers <lannychambers AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 16:21:33 -0500 On May 16, 2009, at 22:54 , Penny Durnin wrote: > Either last year or the year before > they changed the feeder port to a larger oval hole which does alow > yellow jackets to get in easily. I have written to them about the > port size and they said they were considering gping back to the > smaller port. There's a very good reason they went to an oval port: it accommodates hummingbirds of all sizes, without making the smaller ones stretch to reach it and risk becoming trapped if they lose their balance or grip on the perch. I think a few dead yellowjackets are worth the extra margin of safety for the birds. The older designs can and do entrap and kill hummers. This can be an issue with any feeder that has a substantially-flat top. Best-1 has made the same change, for the same reason, and I applaud any company willing to make design changes so their feeders will be safer. HummerMagnet has always had oval ports, and HummZinger conical ones. Lanny Chambers St. Louis, MO lanny AT hummingbirds.net Subject: Re: First Nature feeders -- glass jar alternative? From: Lanny Chambers <lannychambers AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 16:06:09 -0500 On May 16, 2009, at 17:10 , HW wrote: > I was recently given a few First Nature hummingbird feeders. While the > feeders are easy to disassemble to clean, the plastic jar reservoir > appears > to be made of very cheap plastic. I suspect these might turn > brittle after > just a few Texas summers. Don't be in too much of a rush, Howard. Mine has proven surprisingly durable. For $4, it's actually a pretty good feeder. Lanny Chambers St. Louis, MO lanny AT hummingbirds.net Subject: Re: [HUMNET-L & LABIRD-L] Shrike invasion From: Tom & Eloise Sylvest <sylves_t AT BELLSOUTH.NET> Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 13:18:28 -0500 Cathie, I'm glad you made that last part clear. For a minute there I was beginning to wonder;-) Tom S. Winter Hummerland Gramercy, LA, USA (40 miles west of New Orleans, LA, USA) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Cathie Hutcheson" To: Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2009 8:44 AM Subject: Re: [HUMNET-L] [HUMNET-L & LABIRD-L] Shrike invasion > Those of you with shrikes should count yourself lucky. They have mostly > disappeared from our area, as have many grassland birds. At least in > Ken's case, the birds taken by the shrike were males, who do nothing to > raise the next generation except fertilize the eggs. Not that I have > anything against males.... > > > Cathie Hutcheson > Makanda, IL > > > >> At 08:08 PM 5/16/2009, Ken Prestenbach wrote: >> >>> At 7:40 pm the wife and I were watching 3 to 4 Ruby-throated feeding >>> on Firecracker plants. Really enjoying the sunset before darkness comes >>> and low and behold, ten feet from us a horrible thing happened. A >>> Loggerhead Shrike swooped down and caught a Ruby, brought it to the >>> ground and started eating on it right in front our eyes. The Shrike >>> flew away with the rest of his catch. The other hummers continued >>> feeding as night approached. The wife and I started counting the Rubys >>> again. About 10 minutes later, another Ruby fell prey to the same >>> Shrike. Being a hunter, I know nature is cruel but I may have found out >>> WHY we aren't seeing as many as before. Nancy you can scratch off two >>> male Rubys in my yard. Vacherie, La. St. James Parish. WHAT A PITTY >> > Subject: Re: [HUMNET-L & LABIRD-L] Shrike invasion From: Cathie Hutcheson <hutche AT SIU.EDU> Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 08:44:51 -0500 Those of you with shrikes should count yourself lucky. They have mostly disappeared from our area, as have many grassland birds. At least in Ken's case, the birds taken by the shrike were males, who do nothing to raise the next generation except fertilize the eggs. Not that I have anything against males.... Cathie Hutcheson Makanda, IL > At 08:08 PM 5/16/2009, Ken Prestenbach wrote: > >> At 7:40 pm the wife and I were watching 3 to 4 Ruby-throated >> feeding on Firecracker plants. Really enjoying the sunset before >> darkness comes and low and behold, ten feet from us a horrible >> thing happened. A Loggerhead Shrike swooped down and caught a Ruby, >> brought it to the ground and started eating on it right in front >> our eyes. The Shrike flew away with the rest of his catch. The >> other hummers continued feeding as night approached. The wife and I >> started counting the Rubys again. About 10 minutes later, another >> Ruby fell prey to the same Shrike. Being a hunter, I know nature is >> cruel but I may have found out WHY we aren't seeing as many as >> before. Nancy you can scratch off two male Rubys in my yard. >> Vacherie, La. St. James Parish. WHAT A PITTY > Subject: Re: [HUMNET-L & LABIRD-L] Shrike invasion From: Nancy L Newfield <nancy AT CASACOLIBRI.NET> Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 08:37:01 -0500 Ken, At 08:08 PM 5/16/2009, Ken Prestenbach wrote: >At 7:40 pm the wife and I were watching 3 to >4 Ruby-throated feeding on Firecracker plants. >Really enjoying the sunset before darkness comes >and low and behold, ten feet from us a horrible >thing happened. A Loggerhead Shrike swooped down >and caught a Ruby, brought it to the ground and >started eating on it right in front our eyes. >The Shrike flew away with the rest of his catch. >The other hummers continued feeding as night >approached. The wife and I started counting the >Rubys again. About 10 minutes later, another >Ruby fell prey to the same Shrike. Being a >hunter, I know nature is cruel but I may have >found out WHY we aren't seeing as many as >before. Nancy you can scratch off two male Rubys >in my yard. Vacherie, La. St. James Parish. WHAT A PITTY Yes, it is a pity that the Loggerhead Shrike has found your hummers. The only specimen of Broad-tailed Hummingbird from Louisiana was taken in Franklin [St Mary Parish] by a shrike on Christmas Day 1983, when it was about 20ºF. The attack was witnessed by Mary De Soto and her husband George followed the predator until he was able to make the shrike drop the hummer. By that time, the shrike had plucked a few tail feathers, so George went back out and looked for the tail feathers to keep with the specimen. When I went to pick up the poor bird, he handed me a sandwich bag with the bird's body and another one with the rectrices. That gave us a complete set of tail feathers AND 1 feather from a Buff-bellied Hummingbird. 3 Buff-bellied were known to be hanging around. My feeders are protected by a large-mesh cage. See http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa123/2garvey2/IMG_6447.jpg . These dummies as we call them were originally designed to allow hummers to get used to going into a cage trap without inadvertently becoming trapped, but they have proven valuable to protect the often unwary diners from predation. Get out your wire clippers! Of course, it is more difficult to protect them at flowers as your birds were not using feeders. NLN ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nancy L Newfield Casa Colibrí Metairie, Louisiana USA nancy AT casacolibri.net ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Subject: Re: Shrike invasion From: BR <iprhummers AT STI.NET> Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 21:54:38 -0700 Here in central California we have killer Acorn Woodpeckers that come into the feeders and take hummers. They then take them to a nearby fence post and pound them to death - it is really brutal to watch. We have switched to non-perch type feeders and that has helped a bit, as it seems more difficult for the WPs to take the hummers when they are in flight. Hard to see, but it is nature in action... Barbara Robinson Hummingbird Monitoring Network - central California site <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Duane and Barbara Robinson Managing Owners Indian Peak Ranch MountainTop Hideaway Mariposa, CA - Home of Yosemite e-mail: indianpeakranch AT sti.net web site: http://www.indianpeakranch.com On May 16, 2009, at 6:08 PM, Ken Prestenbach wrote: > At 7:40 pm the wife and I were watching 3 to 4 Ruby-throated > feeding on Firecracker plants. Really enjoying the sunset before > darkness comes and low and behold, ten feed from us a horrible > thing happened. A Loggerhead Shrike swooped down and caught a Ruby, > brought it to the ground and started eating on it right in front > our eyes. The Shrike flew away with the rest of his catch. The > other hummers continued feeding as night approached. The wife and I > started counting the Rubys again. About 10 minutes later, another > Ruby fell prey to the same Shrike. Being a hunter, I know nature is > cruel but I may have found out WHY we aren't seeing as many as > before. Nancy you can scratch off two male Rubys in my yard. > Vacherie, La. St. James Parish. WHAT A PITTY Subject: Re: First Nature feeders -- glass jar alternative? From: Penny Durnin <pendee AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 23:54:13 -0400 On Sat, May 16, 2009 at 7:08 PM, John and Paulette Biles wrote: > Howard, > I don't know of any replaceable glass jars but want to share my experience > with them.  I purchased a couple of them since they are very inexpensive to > use while vacationing.  I am pleased with them.  I am going into my third > year and the plastic jar reservoir is still clear and almost like new.  In > fact, I have a few hummingbirds that prefer using them over my humzingers, > Perky Pets. > I live 20 miles north of Wilmington, NC (on the coast) and summers are > pretty hot .... maybe not as hot as Texas? > > The only thing I noticed on the feeder base and will watch for when I > purchase them is the hole size.  I have a couple where the hole size is > smaller and it deters bees fairly well.  I have one that the feeder hole > size is bigger and if I use that one, the bees just love it and end up > inside the feeder and drown.  I purchased these feeders in different states > so guess maybe hole size was different on an older feeder ... > > Let us know what you think of them and if you hear of any glass jars that > work. > > Take care, > Paulette Biles > Hampstead, NC > > HW wrote: >> >> Hello Humnet, >> >> I was recently given a few First Nature hummingbird feeders. While the >> feeders are easy to disassemble to clean, the plastic jar reservoir >> appears >> to be made of very cheap plastic. I suspect these might turn brittle after >> just a few Texas summers. I was wondering if anyone has found glass jars >> with threading that fits the First Nature base. Thanks for any >> suggestions. >> >> Howard Williams >> Dripping Springs, Tejas >> >> > I have three of these feeders. I purchased the original 3 or 4 years ago. It has the smaller hole Either last year or the year before they changed the feeder port to a larger oval hole which does alow yellow jackets to get in easily. I have written to them about the port size and they said they were considering gping back to the smaller port. I suggest that others email them also about the port size. A couple of my feeders have hung out for a year through summer heat and winter snows and are still in good shape. Considering the price, if I have to replace them after this year, I have gotten 4 or 5 good years out of them. I bought them originally because of the ease of cleaning. If anyone does find a glass jar that is compatible please do post. I wouldn't be opposed to switching over to glass. -- Penny Durnin Niagara Falls, NY USDA zone 6a Heat zone 4 Sunset climate zone 37 Subject: Shrike invasion From: Ken Prestenbach <kprestenbach AT CHARTER.NET> Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 21:08:39 -0400 At 7:40 pm the wife and I were watching 3 to 4 Ruby-throated feeding on Firecracker plants. Really enjoying the sunset before darkness comes and low and behold, ten feed from us a horrible thing happened. A Loggerhead Shrike swooped down and caught a Ruby, brought it to the ground and started eating on it right in front our eyes. The Shrike flew away with the rest of his catch. The other hummers continued feeding as night approached. The wife and I started counting the Rubys again. About 10 minutes later, another Ruby fell prey to the same Shrike. Being a hunter, I know nature is cruel but I may have found out WHY we aren't seeing as many as before. Nancy you can scratch off two male Rubys in my yard. Vacherie, La. St. James Parish. WHAT A PITTY Subject: Re: First Nature feeders -- glass jar alternative? From: John and Paulette Biles <jppt441 AT BELLSOUTH.NET> Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 19:08:58 -0400 Howard, I don't know of any replaceable glass jars but want to share my experience with them. I purchased a couple of them since they are very inexpensive to use while vacationing. I am pleased with them. I am going into my third year and the plastic jar reservoir is still clear and almost like new. In fact, I have a few hummingbirds that prefer using them over my humzingers, Perky Pets. I live 20 miles north of Wilmington, NC (on the coast) and summers are pretty hot .... maybe not as hot as Texas? The only thing I noticed on the feeder base and will watch for when I purchase them is the hole size. I have a couple where the hole size is smaller and it deters bees fairly well. I have one that the feeder hole size is bigger and if I use that one, the bees just love it and end up inside the feeder and drown. I purchased these feeders in different states so guess maybe hole size was different on an older feeder ... Let us know what you think of them and if you hear of any glass jars that work. Take care, Paulette Biles Hampstead, NC HW wrote: > Hello Humnet, > > I was recently given a few First Nature hummingbird feeders. While the > feeders are easy to disassemble to clean, the plastic jar reservoir appears > to be made of very cheap plastic. I suspect these might turn brittle after > just a few Texas summers. I was wondering if anyone has found glass jars > with threading that fits the First Nature base. Thanks for any suggestions. > > Howard Williams > Dripping Springs, Tejas > > Subject: First Nature feeders -- glass jar alternative? From: HW <howilliams AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 17:10:38 -0500 Hello Humnet, I was recently given a few First Nature hummingbird feeders. While the feeders are easy to disassemble to clean, the plastic jar reservoir appears to be made of very cheap plastic. I suspect these might turn brittle after just a few Texas summers. I was wondering if anyone has found glass jars with threading that fits the First Nature base. Thanks for any suggestions. Howard Williams Dripping Springs, Tejas