[TN-Bird] First-in-years hummingbird HERE this early; baby mockingbirds at feeder

From: Dthomp2669@xxxxxxx
To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Sun, 6 May 2007 13:09:17 EDT
Greetings,
 
Yesterday, a parent brought two baby mockingbirds to feed here in the  
Charlotte Park section of West Nashville.  One baby was especially adept at  
picking 
up peanut butter & orange "meat"  from the feeder.   It didn't want to leave 
and returned immediately when I put more PB out.   The other baby wasn't quite 
as "hungry," but may have gotten its fill before I  came into the kitchen and 
saw them.  The parent bird was standing by  cheering them on or giving them a 
warning with an occasional "chack."  The  babies look so "funny" with their 
big mouths with yellow "baby rims" and big  feet compared to their short little 
tails.  They were very "doddery"  and didn't hold their balance real well.  
They are back again today with a  watchful parent encouraging their 
independence.
 
This morning, at 5:46 AM, I saw a male ruby-throated hummingbird do a pass  
at my feeder.  The feeder did not meet the bird's sugar standards due to  last 
night's rain here, so the bird did not feed.  I immediately brought  the 
feeder in and filled it with fresh sugar water.  At 10:17 AM, I was in  the 
kitchen 
and saw a male hummer come to the feeder and fill up.  It flew  into a nearby 
hackberry tree.  I was back at the sink at 11:14 and  saw a male hummer come 
and feed (again?)  This is the first time I  have had a hummer before July 
since 1991 when I had three males and  females feed all spring &summer.  I even 
named those males which would  come and eat, then go to a perch.  Each bird had 
a different behavior, and  each bird was unique.  I would see each bird's 
behavior, see it fly to its  perch,  then come back and exhibit the same 
behavior 
again....over &  over.  One bird always flitted from hole to hole at the 
feeder, another  bird twittered throughout his feeding session, and the third 
bird's gorgette  seemed to be brighter than that of the other two.  I named 
them 
Flitter,  Twitter & Glitter, and they were here all season with their mates and 
 later brought some immatures with them.  I never knew where they all  
nested, but it must have been fairly close.  It was a thrill to finally  have 
one 
before July after all these years.  I hope it (or they) stay and  are not just 
migrating through on the way north.  People up north  are reporting hummers, so 
maybe mine from today are "locals."
 
Cheers, prayers & bountiful birding,
 
Dee Thompson
Nashville, TN  


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[TN-Bird] First-in-years hummingbird HERE this early; baby mockingbirds at feeder

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