[Fuusmchat] Hummingbirds

Fri Jul 5 14:54:12 CDT 2024

Oh. Thanks for clarifying. I got the impression from his behaviour that,
although hummingbirds don't wed for life like swans, geese & other birds:
the ♀️ and ♂️ hummerssort of had a "common law" living arrangement for the
season, then when the kids were grown, he separated & went on to get a new
main squeeze next time around. It seemed to be so because he hung around &
seemed to protect the "family" and chase other birds. I don't know if he
slept in the nest or just took it as a day job - as if some bird judge
ordered him to pay child support til the kids were grown. He *was *pretty
cute when he'd sit on the porch railing, like "daring" other birds to cross
into his territory.
BTW, this was around 35 years ago. There was a big picture window
overlooking the porch so it was easy to see him and the hanging fuschia
from the living room. We also had a few hummingbird feeders - you know -
with that red sugar water.

Randall Kidder

On Fri, Jul 5, 2024, 3:35 PM Dawn Hewitt via fuusmchat <fuusmchat at fuusm.org>
wrote:

> Not quite accurate, Randall. Male and female hummingbirds do not form pair
> bonds at all. The male has two jobs, reproductionwise: impress the female,
> and mate with her. Then he’s outta there. He may have several mates living
> in the territory he defends, but he provides no help in nest building,
> feeding her while she’s incubating, or providing for the nestlings or
> fledglings. Male hummingbirds are 100% deadbeat dads! But, boy, are they
> handsome!!
>
> —dawn
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On Jul 4, 2024, at 9:05 PM, Randall Kidder via fuusmchat <
> fuusmchat at fuusm.org> wrote:
>
> 
> It was fun, and really interesting to watch the babies grow. This was
> unfortunately back inna day, before cell phones & the convenience of photos
> & video, & I didn't even have a camera. ��
> Unlike geese, swans or pigeons which mate for life, hummers get new
> partners every season; but that male was sooo protective, chasing after
> birds far bigger than him. Serious business to him I'm sure, but from my
> perspective, it was kinda cute & funny. And he always won, at least the
> times I observed it. I think maybe it was mostly his speed: like aerial
> combat between a Messerschmitt vs a B-17 Flying Fortress.
> Bird combat ��
>
> Randall Kidder
>
> On Thu, Jul 4, 2024, 4:48 PM Chris Hoke via fuusmchat <fuusmchat at fuusm.org>
> wrote:
>
>> Wow, I am jealous, Randall! I would LOVE to see a hummingbird nest with
>> eggs or babies.
>>
>> Chris
>> ------------------------------
>> *From:* fuusmchat <fuusmchat-bounces at fuusm.org> on behalf of Martha
>> McGovern via fuusmchat <fuusmchat at fuusm.org>
>> *Sent:* Thursday, July 4, 2024 10:37 AM
>> *To:* All topics, all people,anytime for FUUSM members and friends. <
>> fuusmchat at fuusm.org>
>> *Cc:* Martha McGovern <marthamcg at suddenlink.net>
>> *Subject:* Re: [Fuusmchat] Hummingbirds
>>
>>
>> Interesting descriptions, especially of the nest and tiny eggs, Randy.
>> Thanks for sharing.  My aunt and uncle lived in Sedona, Arizona and had an
>> active hummingbird feeder on their patio.  It was a delight to watch.
>>
>> Martha
>>
>>
>>
>> Sent from Mail <https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for
>> Windows
>>
>>
>>
>> *From: *Randall Kidder via fuusmchat <fuusmchat at fuusm.org>
>> *Sent: *Tuesday, July 2, 2024 11:55 PM
>> *To: *All topics, all people, anytime for FUUSM members and friends.
>> <fuusmchat at fuusm.org>
>> *Cc: *Randall Kidder <randallkidder88 at gmail.com>
>> *Subject: *Re: [Fuusmchat] Hummingbirds
>>
>>
>>
>> I remember one place I lived we had fuschias (& hummingbird feeders)
>> hanging on the porch. One year a hummer made a nest in one of the hanging
>> baskets. !!  Occasionally I would climb a ladder to check on the eggs, like
>> about the size of my little fingernail. They hatched. So tiny! And the
>> alpha male would often * sit *on the porch railing & "stand guard" and
>> actually fly off & harass other birds that came near. It's the only time I
>> ever saw one sit. Kinda funny & cute (sort of a David & Goliath thing).
>>
>>
>>
>> Once visited my aunt in Arizona. They had hummingbird feeders on the back
>> porch in Great Sand Dunes Nat'l Park (her husband was a park ranger, he
>> specialized in ornithology - even wrote pamphlets & booklets for the Park
>> Service). The air would sometimes be literally buzzing dronelike with over
>> half a dozen different species of hummers flying around. It was so cool
>> seeing so many different kinds.
>>
>>
>>
>> Randall Kidder
>>
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Jul 2, 2024, 12:10 PM Chris Hoke via fuusmchat <
>> fuusmchat at fuusm.org> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Dawn:
>>
>> Last night, Sunday, I was out on the deck from about 8:30 - 9:30 pm. The
>> hummers were busy at the feeder. I saw four of them fussing around and
>> finally settled on the feeder together. They came and went. At one time
>> when there were four of them at the feeder, I saw two more flying about.
>> So, we have at least 6 hummers here. No doubt many more.
>>
>>
>>
>> So you need to report to Julie Z. That all your hummers are here in Tyler
>> Co. WV!
>>
>>
>>
>> They must like my "cooking"!
>>
>>
>>
>> Chris
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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