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Explore DiscussionsFeatured Home DiscussionsFeatured Garden Discussions
Hummingbird Garden
janis_g

Only a Hummingbird Nut would do this!

21 years ago

I had been working outside all day mowing,weeding and trimming.

The backyard is pretty much off limits during migration

due to the number of hummers zooming back and forth but

I decided to chance it.

I stood and watched them feeding and fighting for awhile

and decided I would put the sprinkler my husband had for

just for the hummers out so they could bathe.

I placed it near the butterfly bushes and turned it on.

That was when I got the crazy idea to put a chair

smack dab in the middle of the water and sit there.

I know, nutty idea, however, I had the best time observing

not only hummers but other birds as well.

As I sat there hoping the neighbors wouldn't see me, a hummingbird flew

through the water. That got her attention and she stopped

mid flight, turned around and did another fly through.

She flew to the BFB and went through the usual motions of a

happy bather. Another HB flew up and immediately got chased

away. Pretty soon the other hummers were doing fly throughs

and being chased. One little HB bathed on a shepherds

crook, it turned it's butt toward the water, spread it's

wings letting the water wet it yet never turning to face

the water. Another one sneaked into the BFB and actually

got to stay there a long time before being spotted and attacked.

Next came 2 Carolina Wrens who bathed while perched on a

Clematis support and the shepherds crook. The hummers were

dive bombing and soon ran the wrens away. Next came 3

Titmice and they almost collided with my face trying to get

away from an agressive hummer which chased one of the

titmice back and forth the yard until the last time I saw it

it was heading across the lake with the hummer in hot pursuit.

As you can imagine by now I was throughly soaked from head

to toe and had just decided to go inside when I heard a

commotion above my head. I looked up just in time to see 2 hummers

locked in battle plummet to the ground landing at my feet.

Without thinking, I reached down picked them up, held them

at eye level. You never heard such protesting.

I told them in no uncertain terms to stop fighting before

one of them got hurt. I then opened my hands and they

flew off, no doubt telling the others of their narrow escape

from the giant.

Comments (23)

  • 21 years ago

    That is totaly cool!

  • 21 years ago

    That's neat! Sarah

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  • 21 years ago

    Awesome!!! Linda

  • 21 years ago

    Janis, The cool water probably felt good to you too, and what fun!
    Verna

  • 21 years ago

    Way cool! I only wish you had a video!

  • 21 years ago

    How exciting for you. It must have been amazing to hold them in your hand.

    Disclaimer:I do not agree with nor endorse the use of "Sponsored Links" possibly embedded in my posts by the owner of this or any other website.

  • 21 years ago

    Amazing, Janis. Sounds like a great day. It's so neat to watch them bathe on leaves and enjoy the water. I, too, watched hummers chasing other birds yesterday. They chased cardinals, titmice, and chickadees.

  • 21 years ago

    That is really a close encounter. I, too, learned that hummers love the garden hose. While watering my roses, a hummingbird seemed to be following me. I made a fine spray and in she came. She perched on the nearest rose and took a prolonged shower. My 300' well produces some real cold water, but the hummer didn't mind. She easily outlasted my numb thumb.

  • 21 years ago

    Hey,

    That is a very cool experience! I have one particular juvenile male that seems to "have it out" for titmice. I saw him chase one all over the yard and later, a titmouse forced him off his perch on the telephone wire. He turned around the chased the titmouse all through a young oak tree. The titmouse had the advantage as the branches are very close in this tree. Matter of fact I thought it was amazing that the hummer could even manuever through such tight spaces but he was hot on the birds heels. This has gone on so much that I think it is a special game to him now, lol.

    I will definitely have to try what you did with the sprinkler, that is great.

    Glenn

  • 21 years ago

    What a great way to spend the day - right in the middle of the action! :-D

  • 21 years ago

    Oh No! Now you're giving me IDEAS! You know it's going to be in the high 90's here all week, with no break in the near future...

  • 21 years ago

    What an experience that must've been for you!

  • 21 years ago

    Janis a great idea, I've already talked my neighbour into sitting in her Red Bikini in my yard, Just so that we can watch the Hummingbirds together.:)

  • 21 years ago

    Alan, Alan, Alan, whatever works for you.;0)

    Life here at the hummer zoo is going nicely. I filled
    feeders this morning before I left and just finished filling them again.
    Like Frank, I may just need to put out more feeders.

    It is wonderful to see them. When they show up here in the
    spring, I always feel like all is well with the world.
    I get the same feeling when they migrate, although it is
    sad to see them leave.

    It has been raining, no need to sit under the sprinkler
    today.

    Jan

  • 21 years ago

    Oh how neat. I want to move south.

    Next time put a pot of salvia on your lap too.

    Lisa

  • 21 years ago

    That is a great idea!

    I have a sprinkler system for my lawn that I set to go off at 2:00 in the morning so I don't normally run a sprinkler during the day time. However, on rare occasions I've turned the dial on my waterhose gun to a gentle shower and hung it from a tree for the birds to play in when I am home early.

    I've gotten a few photos of a hummie bathing before...but have been working until 8pm the past couple of weeks so haven't had the chance to give the birds a treat again. Gotta put that on my list of things to do again...real soon!

    ~ Cat

    Here are some of my hummie bathing photos. Sorry, they are a tad blurry...they were taken before I figured out what all those buttons on my camera were for :o)

    DISCLAIMER: I do not agree with nor endorse the use of "Sponsored Links" possibly embedded in my posts by the owner of this or any other website. You can blame the village idiots for that.

  • 21 years ago

    Cat, Loved your pictures. I especially love the "Village Idiots" comment!

  • 21 years ago

    I have more Humming Birds this year. We hung a feeder at
    the front window, so we can watch them more. Have a trump
    vine outfront and in the back yard which they love. And also hung a feeder out back. They are just so cute. One is at the feeder now and also looking in my window at me. I
    haven't sat under the hose yet like Janis. LOL

  • 21 years ago

    I loved those pics Cat! How precious!!!

  • 21 years ago

    Cat, love the pictures.
    Get out there and sit under those sprinklers.
    You'll look like a drowned rat but you'll have fun.

    Jan

  • 21 years ago

    What an amazing adventure. I think I need to buy myself a _sprinkler_. I've never used one, but I sure would love to watch the _hummingbirds_ enjoying themselves like that.

  • 21 years ago

    Cat those photos are just incredible!
    You really must have been attentive to catch that on film.Is that a Buff-Bellied Hummer? they are spectacular!
    -stePhen

  • 21 years ago

    Janis - Great idea!

    Cat - What wonderful pictures! How wonderful that you have such a variety of birds. Thanks for sharing! I also like your disclaimer statement. Ruth

    DISCLAIMER: I do not agree with nor endorse the use of "Sponsored Links" possibly embedded in my posts by the owner of this or any other website.

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