Hello birders,
After neither myself nor birder Holly Laffoon saw the Rufous this A.M., and
realizing it had been a week since the hummingbird feeder solution was last
changed, I decided to switch feeders around lunchtime (I have a backup
feeder in my cube--doesn't everybody??). I don't, unfortunately, have a
backup funnel--but I was able to fill the feeder nonetheless with my
crudely fashioned magazine cover funnel. Slippery surface; works good for
all your many one-time funneling needs.
I arrived in the Ripley garden around 12:15, and was relieved to
immediately see the Rufous. I was amused to see she was perched on one of
the metal crossbars which protrudes from the front of the heat lamp: a nice
warm seat! I waited until the Rufous zipped off to the right to take down
the old feeder and hang up the fresh solution. About 3 minutes later, the
Rufous returned and immediately began using the feeder. After only a few
seconds, she discovered that this model has perches. "Nifty!" she seemed
to say as she settled on a perch and drank her fill. She then sat in the
Crepe Myrtle tree for a few minutes, occasionally hawking insects and
chittering. I forgot to check the time when she flew off again, but this
time, she did not return while I was there. I think the warmer temps and
sunlight have encouraged her to fly further afield in search of food.
While in the garden, I also saw two fighting mockingbirds, and two
heavy-duty military helicopters which flew startlingly low overhead.
Laura Farron
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