oh, and the AM saw a hummer the other day. my feeders have been refreshed and i wait rather impatiently for the little ones to show up....

That's something I have never seen apart from on TV! I'm really jealous!

not even rufous hummers? they summer in alaska!

No hummers in the UK I'm afraid. *sigh*

well, right after i posted the hummer stuff, i went outside to sit on my front porch. a feeder hangs close by (within 3 feet). i sat quietly watching the sparrows inch closer and closer to their house which is really close to where i'm sitting. when lo and behold, what do my wondering eyes see? a ruby-throated hummer eyeballing the feeder. wondering if she was thirsty enough to risk feeding with such a large predator nearby. she took the sip and made off like a streak. but i was glad to get a peek for myself!

WooHoo! Caught in the act. You have passed and are approved as a feeding station. Excellent news! David has bunches of hummers at his feeder hovering and taking turns. They are so adorable - like living jewels!

yup, and they're so cute when they fuss at each other. one feeder hangs on the edge of my carport (my house is surrounded) and i can watch it from my kitchen window. a fence separates my house from the next and hummers have been known to sit there and guard that one feeder and chase off everyone else that tries to take a sip. methinks that hummer has a nest nearby and wants to stockpile nectar for the babies! too early for babies right now. they come in droves in the spring, slack off while they nest during june and july, then frenzy about until october before heading back to their wintering grounds.

No hummers in Hawaii, either. We have birds which are only found here, like the i'iwi and apapane along with imports like the Brazillian cardinal, red cardinal, Indian Mynah, white-eye, mannekin, rice birds and those infernal house sparrows (which are really finches.)

Yup! Need protein to feed the babies so they can grow. Then put on fat for the migration by eating more nectar. Just like humans and candy, huh?!

yup. we've got purple finches out the ying-yang too. why are they called purple when the males actually have red heads is beyond me. and bluebirds are a fave around here too but they require specific type of houses. only if i put a bluebird house up, the sparrows would take over!

Well, we have strawberry finches and they aren't strawberry-colored, either!

You really hae blue birds? I thought they were a figment of Walt Disneys imagination in Mary Poppins!

Eastern Bluebirds are not really all-over blue...there is an orangish breast involved. They are blue on their backs and wings and sides, though!

I like the Disney ones! Go rest your hand!

We have a lot of Cardinals out in Cedar Creek, and I remember them as a kid in Mo.

i love the cardinals and i think waxwings venture into our area too though they are easily confused with female cardinals. and though they are mishievous, i love bluejays! and then there are the mockingbirds and their beautiful songs. funny to watch though. they'll chase anyone and anything away from their territory. the bluebirds are lovely when in flight and you catch glimpses of that blue.

Are they really all blue? i don't think i've seen a picture of the real thing.

Yup! They are really blue - a sort of turquoise to medium sky-blue. Cedar Waxwings used to eat the holly berries when we lived in West Virginia and get drunk on them - too funny with all the staggering around. None ever seemed to get hurt during the binge!

I'll look for a picture of one for you....

aren't they gorgeous? they prefer the woody parts around here and seldom venture into one's backyard to roost.

They must have been pretty scarse when I was a child (NOT before God created them in case you think I am older than dirt...) because of the DDT use. I do not remember seeing them at all until after I was married and living in the mountains of West Virginia. They are, indeed, gorgeous!

I think the nearest we have are blue tits. I had the idea that yours were blue all over but they aren't are they.

we had to reseat the martin box yesterday and it was funny to watch these birds so high circling. waiting patiently for these yucky people to put their house down so they could check the nests! this morning i was checking one of my birdhouses and watched a squirrel meander across the yard. the female house sparrow came shooting out of the box and attacked that squirrel. never saw anything like it before. have seen robins and mockingbirds chase off would-be predators but never a sparrow!

The Kingfisher (by John Heath-Stubbs) When Noah left the Ark, the animals Capered and gambolled on the squadgy soil, Enjoying their new-found freedom; and the birds Soared upwards, twittering, to the open skies. But one soared higher than the rest, in utter ecstasy, Till all his back and wings were drenched. With the vivid blue of heaven itself, and his breast scorched With the upward-slanting rays of the setting sun. When he came back to earth, he had lost the Ark; His friends were all dispersed. So now he soars no more; A lonely bird, he darts and dives for fish, By streams and pools � places where water is � Still searching, but in vain, for the vanished Ark And rain-washed terraces of Ararat.

similar to stories of the unicorn! thanks for that....

I couldn't decide whether to put it in your poetry conference or here, but thought here was nice.

it is, since it has to do with birds *grin*

Ostrich Kicks Man Mistaking Him for Rival Bird OSLO (Reuters) - A Norwegian farmer was in hospital Monday after an ostrich kicked him in the ribs, apparently mistaking him for a flightless feathered rival in the mating season. Oeystein Froeysnes, 38, suffered broken ribs and punctured lungs when the two-meter (six-foot six-inch) tall male bird kicked him as he entered a cage also containing two females in southern Norway, the daily Agderposten said. ``We heard that the ostrich is in its mating season. It probably saw him as a rival and attacked him,'' a neighbor told the daily. Ostrich farms have sprung up in many nations in recent years and the giant birds are prized for their meat.

*lol*

An ostrich's eye is bigger than it's brain. (from news) that would probably explain why he thought the guy was a rival *grin*

we had one (ostrich farm) near us when it was the rage a few years back. could see it when i drove a particular route to uni. seems to have gone out of business now. there was a lot of fuss over conditions. never did fancy the meat. ha ha wolfie good one!

There once was a lady who was very concerned about her missing parrot. Not knowing what to do, she called 911. "You gotta help me find my parrot!" The operator patiently replied, "We can't help you with that, ma'am. This number only deals with emergencies." But the lady persisted, and then the operator told her not to be concerned, that the parrot should fly back in a few days. Then, out of desperation, the lady begged, "But you don't understand! The only thing he says is "Here, kitty, kitty!!!"

Chuckle, chuckle. I knew some people who had an amazon (parrot) named Gaylord. One day Gaylord got loose and flew away. He was found in the next county living on an Amish farm with chickens. Go figure.

That does not sound a whole lot safer...could have gotten eaten there!

He was a lucky bird in that he made it home safe and sound. The only parrot joke I know is this one: A man gives his mother a parrot as a bithday gift. When he next sees her, he asks, "Mom how did like the parrot I gave you?" His mother replies, "Oh, it was delicious!" Her son says, "How could you have eaten it! That bird cost $5,000 and spoke seven languages." To which the mother replies, "So he should have spoken up."

That is hilarious! Thanks for that. I think she was the mother of my high school boy friend...

this afternoon, we found two baby birds in the grass of our front yard. feathers just coming in. we rescued them (hopefully) and at first, placed them in a bowl in a protected area of the garden hoping mama would hear their cries and help them. we also fed them small pieces of worms (which they were able to swallow). later, still alive, we checked on these guys and fed them again. then we decided to try and put them in my front birdhouse. (the nest they most likely fell out of was too high for any of our ladders to reach). so, i undid the front door of the house, used a mirror to see if anyone was home and to my surprise, mama bird is sitting on her eggs and just held so still. i placed the babies in with her and boy was she in for a shock. i hope mama sparrow doesn't kick the little guys out. so we wait. and back to the bluebird info we were talking about, besides the eastern bluebird (with the orange belly) there is an all blue one like in pinnochio--the mountain bluebird. will dig for a pic and post.

http://lyra.colorado.edu/sbo/keith/birds/bluebird.html there ya go, maggie!

Good for you, Wolfie! How darling they most be!!! Like the little guy in the hat on my dish washer...!

That's lovely! Thanks Wolfie. I've now put our bird table near the back door, and they are still coming to visit. so i hope I might get a nice photo of our blue tits. if I do you'll definitely see it.

Wish they had a better name, but imagine how many people that would attract to SpringArk if we advertised it...!

They might think it the feminine counterpart to "blue balls".

There you go!

baby bird update: mama bird, after getting over her initial shock, is apparantly taking care of her new arrivals. i checked the box this morning and baby birds were chirping away. plus, mama and daddy were out foraging among my roses and, of all things, were removing the assortment of aphids that have moved in. good thing i didn't spray. had no idea birds ate those things.

They are soo teeny (the aphids) I'll bet it takes a teaspoon full to make any difference. Cheers for the foster Mom and Dad! And for the Matchmaker...Wolfie

well, they were chirping at lunch today. i think the bird i saw in the house was a baby sparrow. the reason for this is a huge nest fell out of my neighbors tree with 3 baby sparrows in it fully feathered lying perfectly still even when the nest was moved. so i'm really hoping mama and daddy are taking care of the babies i forced into their home.

Considering what cuckoos get away with, she should raise them ok. Bring on the caterpillars and juicy bugs.

they were chirping like mad this afternoon. during lunch, i saw a mama robin feeding two full-sized baby robins and they were fluttering their feathers and begging. it was a sight to see.

Ah...things I miss about not being in a place with seasons...but our birds are doing the exact same things. Cardinals and mynahs and rice birds, mannikens, chinese thrushes, barred doves, lace necked doves... I'iwi, Apapane...

What about those Hawaiian geese?

Ah...the Nene. Yes! The are into goslings on the fairways of the Volcano Golf Course and everywhere else up there. For those who have not seen them, the look like Canada Geese with buff where the Canadas have white. This is the time of year one can see mated pairs in the sunset flying over the caldera of Kilauea. It is poetic and always makes me stop till they are out of sight.

well, your birds sound enchanting. to be around all the time! guess i should say something about wild animals and their babies. the best thing to do, if you come across a stranded baby bird, is to leave it alone. but, if you're like me and can't bear to, call the wildlife agency in your area and ask what to do. they'll tell you and depending on the bird, they may come and pick it up.

and for goodness sake, DO NOT try to make a pet of it. after you handle it, the chances for survival can be slim as some birds are very territorial and cannot/will not tolerate the scent of humans on their babies. this can put their nest in danger. i have no idea how the baby birds in the house are doing, as i was unable to check on them today. but, hopefully, they were strong enough to survive and adopted mama took care of them.

Saw my first swallow of the year on Tuesday near the coast. Haven't seen any inland yet. That really means Summer is coming *grin*

Summer is coming here means the Pacific Golden Plovers have appeared in their nuptial plumage. They migrate to colder climates in the summer.

PETS ON THE WEB Many people put out feeders for songbirds and hummingbirds, and enjoy watching the beautiful creatures the food attracts. If you want to provide for neighborhood birds, or if you wonder if your setup can be improved, you'll want to visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's collection of online pamphlets http://www.fws.gov/~r9mbmo/pamphlet/pamplets.html The complete text of five pamphlets has been placed online, with information on attracting birds, setting up houses and feeders, and dealing with challenges such as orphaned or injured birds, or seed-steal- ing squirrels, mice and rats. The information isn't presented in any fancy way (no awards for graphics here), but the online pamphlets are easy to navigate and read.

Friday September 22 4:03 PM ET http://dailynews.yahoo.com/htx/nm/20000922/sc/brazil_macaw_dc_1.html World's Loneliest Bird Soon to Meet Captivity Kin By Mary Milliken SAO PAULO (Reuters) - He has been called the world's loneliest bird, believed to be the only member of the Spix's macaw species left living in the wild for the last 10 years. But the social life of the brilliant blue Brazilian bird could pick up as biologists next year bring in five Spix's macaws born in captivity to learn the lessons of the wild, Brazil's environmental agency Ibama said Friday. They want to introduce the Philippine-born birds in the Spix's macaw's native habitat in northeastern Brazil and create conditions for reproduction. Ibama calls it ``a new hope in the attempt to avoid its extinction.'' The only surviving male, which is around 18 years old, will not mate with two young females included among the five birds being sent to Brazil, which were born one year ago and are too young to reproduce. The task of mating will be left to the young males in the group when the time comes. ``It is a very complicated process and we probably will not see any chances for reproduction for another five or six years,'' said project coordinator Yara de Melo Barros. Biologists are counting on the male wild bird to cooperate with his kin over the rest of his lifetime. The birds live 30 to 35 years. ``He has all the species' wildlife memory. The hope is that he teaches the other Spix's macaws to seek food, nest and seek refuge from predators,'' Ibama said in a statement. The bird may be the only member of his species out in the thorn scrubland of Bahia state, but he is not living a monastic life. He has been seen trying to mate with a female of another macaw species. The gray-headed Spix's macaw was discovered in Bahia in 1819 by a naturalist named Spix working for the Emperor of Austria. It always has been rare and was believed to be extinct in the wild by the 1980s, but ornithologists found the surviving male in 1990. The Spix's Macaw Project created by Ibama and a Spanish parrot foundation has dedicated much of its resources to educating the local population, old accomplices in the destruction of the bird's habitat and trafficking. The British-based World Parrot Trust calls the Spix's macaw the world's rarest bird and last year estimated that there were around 50 held in captivity in the Philippines and Switzerland. The five Brazil-bound birds were donated by Philippine breeder Antonio de Dios, Ibama said.