I just LOVE my hummers!
We live way out in the countryside (or the Bayou as my Yankee relatives refer to it) and have swarms of hummingbirds visiting the flowers and feeders.
Mostly we attract the ruby-throated hummers. They are green with crimson neckbands and are just gorgeous!
Vicsious creatures! Talk about territorial--that's why you need a few feeders to keep down the gangsta activity! :biggrin:
I find them to be so soothing and did you know that eventually they lose their fear and you can get them to perch on your finger to feed? You must be quite still and patient but they will do it!
Only problem is that during the swarm you feel like you're in a Hitchcock film!
Nature is sooooo relaxing--except for the fights with the feral pigs and my dogs--that's a story for later :rolleyes:
We were just talking about this the other day, Tallulah! Our new backyard seems to be a gathering ground for many different creatures of nature...especially birds!!! So, over morning coffee, we were discussing the need to locate a bird-identifying book and then to hang different types of feeders.
Any suggestions for humming birds? I believe they like nectar...do you make your own? Any special feeders that you recommend?
We have this beautiful weed bush that has grown vine-like up the side of our covered porch. I asked the lady next door what it is and she says it's a weed. LOL, but it grows the must beautiful melon colored flowers. Anyway, I haven't cut it down for that reason AND the hummingbirds love it.
I've never been a bird watcher, but I have to agree with you Tallulah, I love to watch them swoop in and feed. I have NO idea what types are out there, so that's a great idea Sunny. We placed a feeder that we bought at Walmart out there, kinda in the bush, and they seem to enjoy it. We have another feeder that my daughter made at school with seeds, etc. It gets some activity, but not as much. Usually little brown sparrow looking birds.
Thanks for the tip about the hummers, Tallu. I'll share that with lil' Mojo. If I can get her to stand still that long, that would thrill her. She thinks she's Dr. Doolittle anyway. :biggrin:
I didn't realize that hummingbirds could "perch". I was under the impression that they're in constant motion...but, I guess that could get pretty exhausting after awhile! How would they sleep? ;D
Looks like I need a refresher course in Biology 101.
I have been to a house that had 4 or 5 feeders on their very shady and covered back porch. I think I counted 15 birds at one time while sitting there. It does feel a little like "The Birds" but they are do cute. The sound they make is faint but neat.
Sunny, you can buy feeders for hummingbirds at walmart. They tell you how to make the red liquid crack that goes into them. :biggrin:
I have two huge butterfly bushes next to my house and they have been swarmed with bumble bees and hummingbird bumble bees. It is neat to watch!
Oh, the things you come up with...red liquid crack... :eek:....I wanna say that it's really just colored sugar water, but not 100% certain.
It is. You can probably google it. I'm not sure how much sugar to how much water though. You can find some really pretty feeders! Even places like Hallmark sometimes have fancy things like that.
You can google it. It is a sugar/water mixture and IIRC there's some different things you can add to make it inviting to the birds. I'm just too lazy so I grab mine at Walmart or a pet store. LOL
Something to add color?
Quote from: Sunny on July 07, 2007, 10:41:18 AM
Something to add color?
Yep, I'd have to look it up again, but seems there are different mixtures and maybe honey can replace sugar? Not sure about that. I shoulda googled it before I commented.
Sunny,
You can find lots of hummer info online--but go get yourself a book because the pics are so nice!
What you need to do is go to your local co-op or hardware center and get a couple of good, sturdy PLASTIC feeders. The glass ones are pretty but not very functional. They leak and often have no perches for the little darlings and they feel more comfy with a perch and are apt to stay longer. Also, the glass ones are usually decorative and difficult to clean.
I use a couple of 10-12 cup plastic feeders. Plastic is very easy to clean--just throw them in the dishwasher. You have to keep the feeders very clean or bacteria will build up and make the birds sick.
My recipe is cheap and simple. Go to the store (I like the Dollar General cuz you can get 10-20 lb bags of sugar cheap) and get your sugar. The recipe is 1 cup of sugar to 4 parts water. I make mine in a big pitcher and keep the leftovers in the fridge. Lasts forever.
Remember to change the nectar in your feeder at least once a week in cooler climates and every 3 days if you live in a hot climate. In these MS summers where temps reach about 100 degrees daily, you have to empty and clean your feeders often and refill with fresh nectar.
DON'T ADD RED FOOD COLORING! Bad for the birds. The red from the feeders will attract them nicely. Hang the feeders near trees so the birds have a comfort zone to run to when the others chase them off.
August is the big month for MS hummers--I will have as many as 30 swarming around and I usually put more feeders out then--as many as 6 all around the house and in some of the trees. I only hang the feeders that have ant traps in them for obvious reasons.
I just took a headcount and already have 18 birds swarming about. :smitten:
Quote from: Sunny on July 07, 2007, 08:44:52 AM
We were just talking about this the other day, Tallulah! Our new backyard seems to be a gathering ground for many different creatures of nature...especially birds!!! So, over morning coffee, we were discussing the need to locate a bird-identifying book and then to hang different types of feeders.
Any suggestions for humming birds? I believe they like nectar...do you make your own? Any special feeders that you recommend?
WOW--I gotta film some of this footage and send it into utube--cheap entertainment. The girls are kicking the boys' butts--seems illogical to use up all of their energy chasing each other away from the feeders, but hey--that's entertaiment! :confused:
Thank you for all of the information & hints, dahling!!! Will look for a book ASAP! :yes:
Here's a pretty moment of Zen!
http://s135.photobucket.com/albums/q141/tallulahdahling/?action=view¤t=TheRain.gif
CHUCKLE OF THE DAY
God is sitting in Heaven when a scientist says to Him, "Lord, we
don't need you anymore. Science has finally figured out a way to create
life out of nothing. In other words, we can now do what you did in the
'beginning'." "Oh, is that so? Tell me..." replies God. "Well", says
the scientist, "we can take dirt and form it into the likeness of you and
breathe life into it, thus creating man." "Well, that's interesting.
Show Me." So the scientist bends down to the earth and starts to mold
the soil. "Oh no, no, no..." interrupts God,
(I love this)
"Get your own dirt."
Hummer Slideshow taken today!
http://s135.photobucket.com/albums/q141/tallulahdahling/?action=view¤t=a3bfc868.pbw
Mushroom Fantasy slideshow--what varieties we have here in the bayou!
http://s135.photobucket.com/albums/q141/tallulahdahling/?action=view¤t=50f879d2.pbw
The longed-for basil patch!
(http://[img]http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q141/tallulahdahling/THEBASILPATCH.jpg)[/img]
(http://[img]http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q141/tallulahdahling/THEBASILPATCH2.jpg)[/img]
OK--trying this again:
(http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q141/tallulahdahling/THEBASILPATCH2.jpg)
(http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q141/tallulahdahling/THEBASILPATCH.jpg)
Was lamenting the fact that I have these gorgeous wigs but can't wear them in this UNGODLY heat without having a heat stroke myself, when the post man brings me a box from my lovely SIL in Atlanta.
Inside are a bevy of different chappeaus! Sunhats with big brims; little fishing cap things with little brims. Even a couple of Aunt Jemimah "Do-Rags"! Isn't that sweet?
Now I can adorn my bald head and not get sunburned at the same time :smile:
Ahh, it's nice to be loved :smitten:
That's incredibly AWESOME, tallulah!!! :smitten:
I bet you'll look great in a do-rag...don it with style, Sistah!
I plan on it Sunny! Woo Hoo! :love3:
MARK AUGUST 27TH ON YOUR CALENDAR!
*Two moons on 27 August*
*27th Aug the Whole World is waiting for...*
Planet Mars will be the brightest in the night sky starting August.
It will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. This will
cultivate on Aug. 27 when Mars comes within 34.65M miles of earth.
Be sure
to watch the sky on Aug. 27 12:30 am. It will look like the earth
has 2
moons. The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287.
Share this with your friends as NO ONE ALIVE TODAY will ever see it
again.
I went outside at about dusk last night and butterlies just covered my head and arms--some even started licking my skin.
Anyone want to interpret this one? LOL
My lettuce is doing GREAT! I think I'm going to have enough for Thanksgiving dinner!
I planted the red and purple leaf and riddichio and butter lettuces. You know, the kinds that are sooooooo expensive in the stores? Hell, even iceburg costs a fortune this year!
So, now I know that in my climate, I can only plant lettuce in October if I'm gonna have a harvest :no1:
Got a phone call yesterday from a gal who used to listen to me all the time when I was at the rock station .... I found out that I had cancer right before they sold the station and she came by to comfort me. Such a sweetie!
She's legally blind and can't drive but her friend takes her places when she sells her candles. She makes really gorgeous "candle scapes" and sells them to make a little extra $$$.
Anyway, she called me and we talked for about 3 hours--really enjoyed the convo--she is a RN and gave me some advice about what to expect from radiation and all that.
So, that was my moment of Zen yesterday--nice to know people are still thinking about me, you know?
Well me and hubby just added another doggie to the family. She is a chocolate lab mix and not quite a year old. I named her Sadie.
My boss saved her when she was dumped out in the country--she was covered in fleas and ticks and had the mange really bad. She also was skin and bones and obviously was abused because she was extremely fearful of people and would duck her head down anticipating a blow when you try to pet her.
Anyway, my boss couldn't keep her because he had about 6 more abandoned animals he needed the kennels for and really needed a good home for her.
Well, I didn't consult with hubby and just brought her home. Damn she stunk! I wish I could have recorded me bathing her--it would have been a terrific YouTube video!
Got her clean and fed and she was exhausted from all the excitement and slept most of the day.
Hubby came home and was furious! Oh, did he ever rip me a new one :rolleyes:
The other dogs weren't very compliant either and I sure was nervous about whether or not I did the right thing.
Well, today I come home and the Chessie is grooming Sadie! Now I know it's gonna be just fine. :smitten:
I'll post a pic as soon as I can get her to sit still long enough--LOL A bundle of energy this one is!
Now, all I have to do is work on hubby--now where did I leave those crotchless panties? :wink:
Sadie is part of the family now--everyone is getting along just fine and they play all day and sleep all night.
Puppies sure are a hand full! She chews up anything she can get in her mouth. Of course, she doesn't like her chew toys--just wants my shoes! LOL
Will be posting a pic soon :biggrin:
Here is Sexy Sadie!
Second photo she's Voguing --what a Diva!
Last photo is Jake--foreground
Sadie running into Angie
My Family! I'm a proud mama!
Quote from: tallulahdahling on January 12, 2008, 01:45:01 PM
Sadie is part of the family now--everyone is getting along just fine and they play all day and sleep all night.
Puppies sure are a hand full! She chews up anything she can get in her mouth. Of course, she doesn't like her chew toys--just wants my shoes! LOL
Will be posting a pic soon :biggrin:
Cool, I can't wait to see them. At least they sleep all night, my cats sleep all day when hubby sleeps, and they play all night while I "TRY"to sleep. The little turds anyway. :no:
Sadie is beautiful! Her face is a mixture of mischief and sadness. She's a very lucky dog.
T, I thought you were getting a poodle ?what gives?
Hubby wasn't down with it :-\
Besides, he would have to be an inside dog and I don't know if I'm ready for a fluffy ball of crack bouncing off my walls, you know?
Poodles take major commitment--they can live way into their teens and they are extremely needy. They are great inside dogs cuz they don't shed and hardly smell at all but they can be very destructive when left alone :-\
Besides, Sadie really needed a good home. The poodle has one--he's just bait for the satan-child in the home.
Quote from: tallulahdahling on January 14, 2008, 06:45:39 PM
Hubby wasn't down with it :-\
Besides, he would have to be an inside dog and I don't know if I'm ready for a fluffy ball of crack bouncing off my walls, you know?
Poodles take major commitment--they can live way into their teens and they are extremely needy. They are great inside dogs cuz they don't shed and hardly smell at all but they can be very destructive when left alone :-\
Besides, Sadie really needed a good home. The poodle has one--he's just bait for the satan-child in the home.
Poodles are extremely spastic. I don't blame you for not getting one. I wouldn't own one, that's for sure. I do think those humongous Standard Poodles are cool as hell though. I wouldn't mind having one of those, but they have to be groomed regularly, and that can be ca$hy. :yes:
Exactly -- dog groomers around here make a fortune! There's even a place that will massage your pets for you--only $30 buck for an hour session :rolleyes:
Quote from: tallulahdahling on January 15, 2008, 01:10:45 PM
Exactly -- dog groomers around here make a fortune! There's even a place that will massage your pets for you--only $30 buck for an hour session :rolleyes:
I massage my cat Dudley every night, before we go to bed. I'm hoping by keeping him content, maybe his feline leukemia wont progress as fast. He loves it. I rub him from the tips of his ears, to the tip of his tail. :yes:
There's no cure for that is there? :-\
Well my moment of zen today is SNOW!!!!!!!!
It's great! We haven't had snow in MS in about 12 years :eek:
I'll bet all the grocery stores are sold outta bread and milk -- LOL!
I'm gonna go play ........ WHOO HOO!!
Quote from: tallulahdahling on January 19, 2008, 08:20:36 AM
Well my moment of zen today is SNOW!!!!!!!!
It's great! We haven't had snow in MS in about 12 years :eek:
I'll bet all the grocery stores are sold outta bread and milk -- LOL!
I'm gonna go play ........ WHOO HOO!!
GOOD TIMES T!!!! :sofa:
The snow is gone today but it is ICY COLD! 24 degrees right now and we're looking at lows in the teens for tonight again!
WHOO HOO!
Hope hubby is having as much fun in Arkansas with his duck buddies!
Quote from: tallulahdahling on January 20, 2008, 09:24:18 AM
The snow is gone today but it is ICY COLD! 24 degrees right now and we're looking at lows in the teens for tonight again!
WHOO HOO!
Hope hubby is having as much fun in Arkansas with his duck buddies!
:sneaky: Did you say duck buddies /or/ butt buddies? :biggrin:
Ooohhh--you SOOOOO bad, Dex!
He ain't gonna go down Brokeback Mtn. Esp not with his brother! :eek:
Quote from: tallulahdahling on January 20, 2008, 05:42:42 PM
Ooohhh--you SOOOOO bad, Dex!
He ain't gonna go down Brokeback Mtn. Esp not with his brother! :eek:
:spooked: :o :spooked: Stranger things have happened T. :wink:
And SPEAKING of Brokeback Mtn--how about that poor Heath Ledger--tsk, tsk--sooooo young :no:
Quote from: tallulahdahling on January 23, 2008, 12:44:43 PM
And SPEAKING of Brokeback Mtn--how about that poor Heath Ledger--tsk, tsk--sooooo young :no:
I was shocked when I heard about that. I hadn't really followed his career, but it is very sad. They think it was an accidental overdose of prescription meds. :no:
I think that anyone who is dating either one of the Olsen twins is DOOMED! :spooked:
Quote from: tallulahdahling on January 25, 2008, 11:52:31 AM
I think that anyone who is dating either one of the Olsen twins is DOOMED! :spooked:
It was death by association. I think he was just friends with MKO. :yes:
Hey TD, here's a moment of Zen for you...
Virtual Therapy for the Soul. (http://www.mayyoubeblessedmovie.com/)
Turn speakers on, too. :kiss:
WOW! Now that made my day (and trust me, I needed a happy this morning :yes:)
I hope everyone watches it--thanks for the site, Sunny!
Did I mention that I missed you bunches? :smitten: