I am often reminded of the game of Musical Chairs in August as Ruby-throated Hummingbirds appear in large numbers.  They dart every-which-way vying for a seat at the feeder.  Now, let me point out:  There are FOUR hummingbird feeders within 100 feet of each other. I am making nectar by the gallon and filling the feeders twice a day.  These “magical flowers” NEVER run dry, so can they just settle down to enjoy an energy drink?  Nope.  No way!

The nectar feeder featured in the video is the “chosen one”.  Perhaps they like the bell shape of the feeding seats — each with a bright yellow insert.  The unique design of this feeder makes it more difficult for a perched hummingbird to see if another perch is taken.  It seems to me the balance tips at 3; filling that fourth seat almost-always results in all seats being vacated while the intruder is driven away by the other 3 intruders.

As you enjoy a trip down Musical Chairs Memory Lane, note the appearance of a Chickadee (highlighted in the video).  S/he is trying to figure out how to navigate through the hummingbird-swarm while getting from the perch above the hummingbird feeder to the cup of mealworms below.

 

A Few Updates

The last on-camera brood of 2018 fledged successfully late last week.  I was asked how I plan to carry out my threat to relocate a bird family if another nest is started.  It took me a while, but I finally do have a plan.  I’m going to unplug the camera which renders them “gone” to me!

The Grackles are still driving Drake and me crazy, but their numbers have dwindled as their food sources have been “jailed”.  You’ll hear more about that in coming posts.  Sometimes I think therapy might be a better answer to dealing with my empty-nester blues!