HUMMINGBIRDS ARE NOW HERE!

I saw my first hummingbird for 2020 season on May 9th! It never gets old! I get excited each time I see one – every single time!! I am sharing this post below from 2019. It says it all about the glorious hummingbirds!

This is a post I wrote previously about hummingbirds that I wanted to share with you again. My husband spotted the first hummingbird to our feeder this year (5/7/19). I missed it but will keep my eyes open for another one. They are ravenous eaters and will visit the same feeders year and after year. We are blessed with many of these gorgeous creatures since we have three feeders just for them. Enjoy the beautiful spring weather and these wondrous birds! Happy spring!

I love these tiny creatures so much that I should write a children’s story about them! I will have to discuss this with my illustrator, my husband, John. I will let you know how that turns out.

This is the second post I have written about these lovely little critters. Here is the previous one.

The bird feeders are out! Now to catch them in action! You have to be quick to see them.

I had my first sighting this year a few days ago. It’s such a thrill to see them coming back.

If you have been reading my blog since March of 2013, you would know how much I love birds, especially hummingbirds! They are the smallest of the birds and the only ones that can hover in mid-air and fly backwards. They are incredible little creatures that are fascinating to watch and catch in motion if you can.

I wrote this poem several years ago and updated it to reflect my feelings toward these gorgeous little birds.

HUMMINGBIRD

by Janice Spina

It’s as delicate as a butterfly

And graceful as a lark.

Wings beating in a symphonic rhythm

As it maneuvers around each flower,

And dips its beak to draw out the sweet-smelling nectar.

I watch as it moves effortlessly.

Its iridescent wings rapidly beating

As it hovers like an acrobat in midair.

Its feathers glisten with color and reflect the sun’s rays.

Seeing this bird in its element is to experience pure wonder and joy.

One knows there is something greater out there

That made the glorious hummingbird!

Another unbelievably beautiful bird is the Baltimore Oriole. The beauty of this bird cannot be captured in my photos here. You must see one to believe the vibrancy of its colors – brilliant yellow and black. It has a strange call which sounds like clicking similar to that of a chattering chipmunk.  It’s a distinctive sound and when we hear it we run to the back deck. This is where the Oriole feeder is kept. These photos are from last year.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES ARE NOW HERE!

In 2020 the Baltimore Orioles arrived on 5/10/20! John had the feeder ready for him and her. We have a male and female who come each year. This year it looks like the female is smaller and younger. Could be an offspring of the former visitors. They know where the feeders are and come every year. I think it is ingrained in their genes. Photos of birds below.

(My husband just saw the first Oriole at our back deck but unfortunately he did not have the feeder ready. He promptly put it out there hoping the bird would come back! 5/8/19) This year (2020) we still haven’t seen one as of this writing.

My husband puts out the feeders for both the hummingbirds and the Oriole at the same time in early May. That’s when they are both expected to arrive. It’s quite an exciting time to see them return each year to the same feeder.

In the photos above that I took this year the little guy is looking right at the camera posing for a picture. He doesn’t appear to be frightened in the least and will come to the feeder even when we are sitting on the deck.

Here are some exciting facts about these amazing little creatures. My source for info below is Wikipedia.

Hummingbirds are birds from the Americas that constitute the family Trochilidae. They are among the smallest birds, most species measuring 7.5-13 cm in length.

Lifespan: 3-5 years

Speed: 49 mps (Maximum, Diving)

My source for information below is defenders.org.

Hummingbirds are small, colorful birds with iridescent feathers. Their name comes from the fact that they flap their wings so fast (about 80 times per second) that they make a humming noise. They can fly right, left, up, down, backwards, and even upside down. They are also able to hover by flapping their wings in a figure-8 pattern. They have a specialized long and tapered bill that is used to obtain nectar from the center of long, tubular flowers. The hummingbird’s feet are used for perching only, and are not used for hopping or walking.

Hummingbirds primarily eat flower nectar, tree sap, insects and pollen.

Their fast breathing rate, fast heartbeat and high body temperature require that they eat often. They also require an enormous amount of food each day. They have a long tongue which they use to lick their food at a rate of up to 13 licks per second.

If you would like more information on these incredible birds, go to Wikipedia, defenders.org or other sites.

I hope you will get to see one of these creatures in action. Happy bird watching!

Here is a new photo from 2019!

Here is a new photo of a hummingbird in 2020! They are quick critters and you have to be alert and ready to snap your photos. They move up, down, around and backwards so fast they are like a blur. I managed to snap this one as it drank the sugary mixture in our feeder. This was my third try to capture him! Two other photos were only of the feeder. He had flitted away. I waited with my IPhone camera on and ready.

Here are a couple of new photos of Baltimore Orioles in 2020!

Blessings & Hugs! Stay Safe, Stay Well and God Bless!

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Janice Spina aka J.E. Spina

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