| A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN AMERICAN HUMMINGBIRD |
| Essay Page 1 |
 |
| One evening, I was relaxing on the deck, watching my hummingbirds in full gear. I had on a teeshirt with red flowers on it, red shorts, red tennis shoes, and my hummingbird feeder hat that my friend Linda made me; topped off with nectar. In my hand I held a little feeder that I had made with a red silk flower at the end. I also had a tall glass of cranberry juice sitting on the table beside me, where a planter sits with flowers, and a flower stick feeder was in the planter. I was ready for some fun. |
| PRETTY BOY |
| By: Von Ptake (MI) |
 |
| Pretty Boy, one of my regular male Ruby Throats, came to his feeder a short distance away, and sat on the heart after a few sips, observing me. After moving his head this way and that, he chirps out to me. This is a signal he uses to tell me that he wants to have a little talk with me. So, in my lowest voice I say, "Hi there Mr. Handsome." Again he moved his head back and forth then returns to his feeder and drank for a while, pumping his tail in midair like he was standing still, except for the movement of his wings and tail. As he darts back and forth, I see his tongue flick in and out with minute size drops on his bill. Then again he landed on the heart and starts taking his bill and rubbing it on the side of the little heart. He landed in the center of it this time and used the sides to help him preen his bill. It was so darling. |
 |
| Then, after another quick sip, he flew over, and checked me out. I was very, very still. He had a taste from the feeder hanging from my hat and flew right at my eyes. I think I was trying not to look at him and became cross eyed as it was impossible. Again he chirped very loud at me. I thought Oh gosh is he mad about something, as it was louder than normal. Out of the right side of my eye, I saw another hummingbird. Its a little girl and she is so pretty. She, too comes in closer to me, and Pretty Boy runs her off in a flash. I try very hard not to laugh. I picked up my glass, had a long drink and wondered if he would return. As I was setting my glass down, I heard the noise of |
| wings over my head. Carefully, I continued to put the glass on the table but didn't look up. As I waited, Pretty Boy landed on the glass edge of my drink. He sat there and looked this way and that way. Again he chirped, more in the tone I was used to. Then, while still sitting there, he let me talk with him for a while. He was like only a hand away from me. I wondered if he would try my drink, but he seemed content to just sit on the edge of the cold glass. It must have been like central air to him, as he opened his wings straight out, without flying off. It truly was a site to behold. My jewel is getting to be a brave man. Maybe 'Pretty Boy' isn't a fitting name anymore for such a bold, handsome guy. I will have to think on that. But it will have to sound like 'Pretty Boy', as that is the name that he seems to know. |
 |
| That hummers have a fear of bees and wasps seems to be well know. You can see them avoiding them whenever possible. However, this summer I have noticed that the hummers seem to be less fearful of their presence and will even share a snoot hole with them. Just last week I was watching as a yellowjack had landed on one of the feeders and was helping himself with his head stuck into one of the holes. A hungry hummer - female, of course - flew up to the hole and began pecking the yellowjack on the back of the head until he flew off in dazed disbelief. What happened to the fear, especially of wasps, that I had read about? Have the hummers finally became fed up with these intruders? Time will tell. |
| HUMMERS, WASPS & BEES |
| By: Tom Butler (WY) |
|
 |
 |