Hummer News – Vol. 9 – May 2010 – Footnotes

Misters – Just “Blissing” the Day Away

I want to share some recent long and satisfying visits by my local hummers to the mister I run daily with just the first hint of mist and lots of drips. I have used misters for quite a while, after learning how much so many bird species enjoy the water feature. Around here, in addition to hummers, cardinals, goldfinches, chickadees, catbirds and downy woodpeckers are frequent and lengthy visitors. But, just about all species visit from time to time. I have it placed in a leafy bush with the drops from the leaves falling into a birdbath. Lately very hot days have increased the attraction of this cool and refreshing corner of the yard.


The only way I can describe the behavior of the mister patrons is completely “blissing out” in an absolutely “care-less” way. That is exactly what the male and female hummers have been doing. In visits of 5-10 minutes at a time, a very long visit here, they hover in the light mist, rub their bills, faces and bodies across wet leaves – pausing to sip drops of water off the tips of leaves. They perch, in the mist, to stretch and preen their legs and wings without regard to anything going on around them. With the late afternoon sun filtering through the mist and sparkling leaves, the scene is genuinely magical, deeply peaceful and centering to see. I honestly believe that there is no product of any kind more attractive to birds than a simple mister and the miniscule amount of water used at the barely misting low level I set it at. If you haven’t tried, especially in the warmer states, I strongly recommend it. If you have experience with misters, I’d love to hear your story, or better yet, read it at the blog.


Milestone for Merrcomm


It is truly humbling to have been so well received in the first 18 months, after creating the Hummer Foto Feeder™ and offering it on eBay, that I can report my 500th sale. Not large at all by eBay standards of course, but not so bad for a guy making feeders in his back yard to attract the birds we all love. Those sales have been in 47 states and 3 foreign countries. But, I have to say, those three states have been hold outs for a while now and it would be so nice to be in every state. So, if you have friends, family or colleagues in ID, WV or WY, who are interested hummingbirds, maybe you can pass the word and help me close the state gap. I sure would appreciate it.


Copyright 2010, Merritt Communications, Inc. – All Rights Reserved

Wonderful Webcam of Two Hummer Hatchlings by Phoebe Allen

Thanks to Sue, my neighbor to the south in CT for sharing this amazing site with us!

http://www.ustream.tv/hummingbirdnestcam
On Ustream

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Phoebe-Allens-Hummingbird-Webcam/119799518053054?ref=ts#!/pages/Phoebe-Allens-Hummingbird-Webcam/119799518053054?v=info&ref=ts
Phoebe's facebook

http://www.phoebeallens.com/ 
Webcam address from facebook

Visits to Hummer Foto Feeders™ Reported in Wallingford, CT and Islesboro, ME

A new Hummer Foto Feeder™ user in Wallingford, CT had the first visits of this season on Friday. My uncle, who has used his feeders for two previous seasons, had his first visits yesterday. So, it is looking good pretty far up the east coast now.

Wonderful Video and Story - Peter & Peeps -- Rescued Baby Hummingbird Fed in Hand by Mother

Thank you Phyllis for this terrific story:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7xBLvMIBZU

Very Nice Webcam from Audubon's Starr Ranch in California

Check out the nesting Black Chinned Hummingbird...

http://www.starrranch.org/blog/?page_id=23

They're Here! They're Here! - Hummer News – Vol. 9 – May 2010

At 5:30 pm yesterday, a thunderstorm that had darkened late afternoon to twilight finally began to wane. Low sunlight began to filter through the end of the storm and the maple leaves, finally warming to golden, as the wet surfaces of everything sparkled like prisms. At 5:48, two days earlier than last year, I observed my first hummer visitor at the backyard Roseburg™ feeder. She checked three of the four nectar tubes in less than 45 seconds and was gone. All that was left was the ruby hued glimmering of the attractor beads in the still lower sunlight and the smile on my face knowing that my spring had, in fact, finally arrived. Another, longer, Mother’s Day visit and nectar tubes emptying added additional warmth and cheer to a day that topped out here at only about 52 degrees. So, in eastern Massachusetts, the season has finally begun! I would love to hear about your neighborhood.


Happy Hummers – Hooray, they are here!


Copyright 2010, Merritt Communications, Inc. – All Rights Reserved