It's been a buzzy, or rather busy, week at the hummingbird feeder.
The feeders have been drained so much, that I suspected that possibly a raccoon or something else was draining them at night. However, the weekend proved me wrong when a full feeder in the morning was emptied by the afternoon.
I was beginning to feel like the old Dunkin' Donuts commercial where the baker was always saying "It's time to make the doughnuts." Except, my feeling was, "It's time to make the hummingbird food, again."
Trying to count the flying jewels was almost impossible. My husband and I tried and the best we could come up with was about seven birds at a time
The feeders have been drained so much, that I suspected that possibly a raccoon or something else was draining them at night. However, the weekend proved me wrong when a full feeder in the morning was emptied by the afternoon.
I was beginning to feel like the old Dunkin' Donuts commercial where the baker was always saying "It's time to make the doughnuts." Except, my feeling was, "It's time to make the hummingbird food, again."
Trying to count the flying jewels was almost impossible. My husband and I tried and the best we could come up with was about seven birds at a time
The side garden has become a frenzy of fighting and hummingbird squeaking. I fear we may need air-traffic control.
After several turns of feeder filling, I broke out the big guns. The "grand master" hummingbird feeder as it was dubbed on its sales tag. Even though it has multiple feeding ports, there was still jockeying for position.
I'm not sure what is causing the population explosion. It could be due to the dry weather or that some of the younger hummingbirds have fledged.
After several turns of feeder filling, I broke out the big guns. The "grand master" hummingbird feeder as it was dubbed on its sales tag. Even though it has multiple feeding ports, there was still jockeying for position.
I'm not sure what is causing the population explosion. It could be due to the dry weather or that some of the younger hummingbirds have fledged.
The scene is reminiscent of early this spring when there were at least seven or more Baltimore orioles fighting over the jelly feeder. The orioles have since moved on with their young and the jelly feeder has been replaced with yet another hummingbird feeder.
Another check of one of the smaller feeder shows that it was empty. So it's back to the measuring cup, water and sugar. I guess that's just the nature of things 'round here.
Another check of one of the smaller feeder shows that it was empty. So it's back to the measuring cup, water and sugar. I guess that's just the nature of things 'round here.
"The Nature of Things" features photos from Venango County resident Anna Applegate.
Check out Anna's first column for Eight & 322 here http://richardsayerphotojournalism.weebly.com/the-nature-of-things/welcome-to-the-nature-of-thingsrichardsayerphotojournalism.weebly.com/the-nature-of-things/welcome-to-the-nature-of-things
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