Ever Changing Crusades

Hummer Frenzy

I haven’t taken the time to enjoy the R.T. Hummingbirds at my feeders this spring.  But I did happen to notice several zooming around a feeder this evening.  I had to try capturing them on film.  If you have trouble viewing the below videos, then go to my DropShots .  There were at least 3 hummers I saw today.  The ones with the red throat are males.  The ones that appear to have solid white throats are females (or youngsters).

Video Hosting - Upload Video - Video Sharing
Video Hosting - Upload Video - Video Sharing

One always seems to claim the feeder, but the Boss will change on occasion.  Over the years, for example, I’ve noticed that a male will be chasing all others away, then an hour later, at the same feeder, there would be a female being Ruler.  They are fascinating to watch and listen to their chatter and hear the flutter of their wings.  If you live east of The Mississippi, hope you have done so, or plan to put out a feeder of sugar water for these tiny birds.  Remember.......NO food coloring necessary and absolutely NO honey added!!!!!

For more knowledgeable info about Ruby Throated Hummingbirds, see Hummingbirds.NET

Hopefully, as the season progresses and the baby hummers start feeding too, I will video more ZOOM-CRASH-VOOMING activity for you to see.

R.T. Hummingbird migration

The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird !

This is a topic which I am compelled to repeat every spring.  If you enjoy nature, I think that the enjoyment in watching and feeding these tiny creatures would fascinate ones-self.  The R.T. Hummingbird is the most common hummingbird species which migrates every spring to eastern section of United States and Canada.......across the Gulf of Mexico from Central & South America and Mexico.  The 2006 migration map is underway.  The current map shows several sightings all along the Gulf Coast and Florida.

I hope you will decide this spring to try your hand at luring these fine-feathered-friends, it will involve only a few extra minutes per week.

Keep in mind these personal hints.......

• feeders always be completely cleaned and thoroughly rinsed.
• brew and replace fresh nectar at least once a week during the entire Hummer season (6 months)
• NEVER  add food coloring or honey to nectar.
• easy homemade nectar consists of only white, granulated sugar (1 part) to (4 parts) boiled, room temp tap water.
• place multiple h. feeders near windows or outdoor seating areas so enjoyment can be reaped often.

I would love to hear (comments) from anyone that feeds the hummers - OR - has made the decision to start attracting the hummers this year.

For tons of more info and tips visit Hummingbirds.net home page

weather report - Spring?

A couple days ago was official Ground Hog Day.  In my area, the ground hog did not see his shadow, it was an overcast rainy day.  As the saying goes, if the ground hog does not see his shadow then Spring "is around the corner".  How many days IS around the corner?  Better not be six weeks.

Today I noticed my first bunch of jonquil flowers blooming in the yard.  Jonquils are not a reliable source for forecasting "spring has sprung".  Many years their blooms get covered in ice or snow.

I consider that we have had a very mild winter so far this year.  According to my heating bill, we did have a cold snap during Christmas which caused my bill to increase by a third from the previous billing period.  The weather pros are predicting a colder spell for this up and coming week, lows in the twenties, highs around forty.

Dear Mother Nature,    will you be letting Spring arrive earlier this year?  Or will you sit back and laugh at us, as usual, by giving us teasing episodes of extra warmth until the end March?

I shouldn't complain......I love living in the South!   Come to think of it, I have never lived anywhere else but the South.  Oh well.....I have nothing to compare it to.

How's your weather?    Do you get "cabin fever"?

night sounds

Tonight while hubby was watching has ritual TV programs of Andy Griffith & Leave It To Beaver, I decided to step outside to see if any lightning storms were coming our way.  As standing on the deck, I immediately noticed the orchestra playing of the katy-dids (bugs).  That is such a pleasing, soothing sound to me.  Then an owl in the distance decided to voice his nobility.  Listening for several minutes, consciously breaking apart and concentrating on each creature's presence, I heard the 'ol bull frogs at the pond tune in with their "come-across" songs. 

Thank goodness there were no dogs barking.  Not even a car or truck was roaring down the road.

I am so thankful that my hearing is still capable on receiving a wide range of high-low pitches.  Summer, night sounds ARE music. 

the Crusade...........I hope you can hear and enjoy the Country Night Sounds orchestra playing at least once in your lifetime (coming soon to theater woods near you).

in the News - "Lions free kidnapped girl"

I came across this news article from another blog.  After reading the news article published on CNN.com...........do you think it was a miracle or just nature taking it's course?   On the other hand, isn't nature a miracle?  Especially when nature interacts with humans.

World CNN news - Rescued by 3 Lions

A SUMMER STORM

The nighttime temperatures did not dip cool.  Warmer than usual at dawn's first light.  As the sun makes it's rising, so does the day's heat.  The air is still.  The air is thick.  The thickness turns one's breathing into an effort instead of an involuntary process.  Little beads of perspiration accumulate on my forehead.  Slowly, as the day progresses, so does the accumulation of clouds in the distance.  Clouds are white.  As the day rolls by into afternoon, clouds increase with grey.  In the distance, a few tree tops are gently swaying.  The swaying continues from tree to tree, as if a slithering snake is pushing back the branches.  Closer and closer.  There......I feel the breeze upon my face.  As quickly as it comes, it also passes.  Wait, here comes another sweeping force.  The smell of the air has changed.  It is sweeter.  Breathing has become easier than before.  Black clouds are now covering the entire horizon.  Thunder building in the distance.  Skies grow darker with each passing minute.  Winds accumulate with strength and frequency.  The excitement in me also builds.  One may interpret it as fright, but to me, it's the fascination that every Storm is unique.  There!  Can you hear it?  The rumbles are longer and louder.  A flash scattered about.  Raindrops the size of quarters dots my shirt.  Do you remember "hop scotching" the raindrops, seeing if you could outwit in being "hit"?  Another flash, this one brighter than before.  An immediate BOOM to follow.  The clouds are releasing their moisture all at once.  The noise!  The noise of heavy rain hitting leaves and roof tops are deafening!  But wait, all is well.  The Storm moves on to other horizons for others to enjoy just as I have experienced.  The air is once again still.  Out comes the sun again.  The heat slowly returns.  The earth's thirst has been temporarily quenched.

back to my Ever Changing Crusades.............

I hope you will enjoy the fascination of summer afternoon thunderstorms similar to the one I have described.

Hummingbirds

How the days fly by. It's already been a month since I had told you to prepare for the arrival of the Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds. (no, this is not a repeat posting)  I have had the pleasure of seeing about 3 hummers recently visiting and replenishing their energy.  The flowers are beautiful. The red-bud tree blooms are fading now. The dogwoods are bursting wide open!  I'm sure the hummers are checking out all the blooms for natural food source, the "human" feeders rank second in preference.  I know I would.  When the blooms are few, the hummers will then seek a substitute.  I will be ready.

Saturday morning, on April 2nd, almost 2 weeks ago, was my first sighting of a male hummer for this summer.  What brought my attention so abruptly to notice him outside my kitchen window, was our outdoor feline.  She had perched herself on the porch railing, precisely underneath the hummer feeder !  Now I am not going to sacrifice the enjoyment of having hummers buzz my head just because this stray cat thinks that all birds are for her amusement !  In order to try to make peace with everybody  every creature, I immediately brew enough hummer nectar to fill 2 more feeders.  With 3 h.feeders spaced out, the h.birds will have a better chance against 1 cat, a cat waiting to ambush them.

If you would like more info about the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird click here,  or a quick link for the migration map.

Today's Crusade..............

get those hummer feeders put out and keep 'em supplied with fresh nectar this summer.  Those little ones will stay until about the middle of October before their journey back across the Gulf to Central and South America for the winter.   

ISN'T   SPRING   &   SUMMER   WONDERFUL ?? !!!

piece of sky

Have you seen a "piece of the sky" lately? 

On almost any given day, driving to or from work, my mind planning of things to do once I reach my destination, then in a blink of an eye.....darts across my vision this wonderful sight.....graceful and delicate.

The Eastern Bluebird.

My mind halts all other thoughts.....goes completely to the wonders and beauty of this flying creature.  I catch myself with a joyful smile on my face......alone in the car.  What does the Bluebird have in common with the sky?  It's back and wings are brilliant blue like a clear, summer sky ......... chest colored with reddish-orange, similar to a radiant sunset ........ and white which represents soft, puffy clouds.

My Crusade........

the population of the Eastern Bluebird, over the years, has declined.  Most experts say the decline is contributed to competition for nesting sites.  We can help.  We can do our small part.  We can place more nest boxes on fence posts or even on trees.  There are certain specifications about the size of nest boxes that the E.Bluebird prefers, but these boxes are easily found in pet stores.  If you are handy with a saw, you may have the preference of hand making your own.  I think that would be joy in itself to hand make a nest box (but I would like to keep all my fingers for a few more years). 

Spring is coming soon....... I am looking forward to watching the Mama & Papa Bluebirds (he helps too) making dozens of dozens trips a day, to and from the nest box that they have claimed, in bringing nurishment to their young.

This picture, on left, was taken in my front yard, several years ago.  I don't think the Mama Bluebird was very favorable in having me walk near her nest (and babies).

where's tha SUN?

Is the sun hiding from us?  Is the sun mad at us?

I'm giving a out a protest against dark, cloudy, rainy days!!!!  Rain, rain, go away.......let there be warmth & bright sunlight.

Remember on the 1st day March it was a dark, gloomy day? 

"In like a lion.....out like a lamb".

I am looking forward in seeing if March 31st will be a nice, calm day.  Sure hope so.

No Crusades for today......"today" has enough problems as it is.    See you tomorrow !!