FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Hungry Hummers

[eyesew@xxxxxxxxx (Virginia Curtis)]

The Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in our yard have consumed 15 pounds of
sugar this week mixed at a 4 to 1 ratio.  They are so hungry that when a
gorgeous male Scarlet Tanager appeared in the wild cherry tree - first
time we've seen one since the first of May - several hummers zeroed in
on him, apparently connecting his color with our feeders.  He didn't
seem too pleased with being mistaken for a "sugar daddy" and quickly
told them so.  How can such little bodies hold so much sugar water?

Other birds are bringing their babies to the yard.  The Brown Thrashers
have 3 children and the Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers appeared with a single
baby this morning - they've been absent from the yard since early in
April.  The Bluebirds are raising their second brood in our box.  And
the Eastern Wood Peewee apparently is finished with his parental
responsibilities as he returned to the yard this week and immediately
began terrorizing everything except the hummers.  The Yellow-breasted
still serenades us morning and evening with a symphony of sounds that a
full orchestra would envy.  The Wood Thrushes get nearer to the house
each day; we'll be glad when the wild cherry tree has ripe fruit and we
can actually enjoy their visual beauty as much as we have their vocal
melody.  

Tommy & Virginia Curtis
Smithville, TN
DeKalb County

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