Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Hummingbird Blues

Not talking about the song, but you're welcome to listen while you read:

Hummingbird Blues

After adding a couple more hummingbird feeders to foil the efforts of the infamous Red Baron.  We enjoyed several days watching the little critters.  Then the population dropped  from about a dozen to two or three, then only an occasional single bird.

Since we are first-timers, complete novices at hosting hummers, we immediately assumed that we were doing something wrong.   I was reassured when I read on Hummingbirds in Houston, a website by Houston Attorney Donald Burger, that 99% of the birds are gone by now, continuing their migration north.

My relief only lasted for about 24 hours; then Honey talked to Janet Winkler, our next-door neighbor, who has had feeders out for years.  She has dozens of birds at her place, less than 1/4 mile down the road, and she says they are there year-round.

OMG!  We are doing something wrong!

Yesterday, based on Janet’s advice and additional information from the internet and our local garden center, we acquired a bird bath and about a hundred dollars worth of flowering plants and bushes.  I installed the bird bath, and we set the plants – still in their pots – in the spots where I’ll plant them today.  Who knew that sitting back and watching the birds in your own back yard could be so labor-intensive and downright expensive?

We spent about a half hour watching at dusk yesterday and another half hour or so early this morning,  but so far no birds at all.  I guess the next step is to hide in a blind and make a noise like sugar-water.

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