Yay, Hummingbird!

[ysabetwordsmith]

I saw the hummer again.  This time he was drinking from some flowers in my barrel garden, zipping from one to another.  I usually plant something red and tubular in there for the hummingbirds.  :D 

Comments

[jtthomas]

Yay!

[krait]

Hurrah for hummingbirds!

I just bought myself a new feeder today, and can hardly wait for it to arrive! It's such a great, though nontraditional design! Very easy to fill, lots of space for drinking ports, and - most important to me - easily cleaned, so that it can be kept sanitary and reused every year!

(It's here, for the curious! If you live in an area with many more hummers than I'm likely to have, there's also a 44-port version available.)

Well...

[ysabetwordsmith]

The provision of multiple ports is clever. However, they're going to drain that little tube very fast. This could have been improved greatly by a large reservoir above the bar.

Re: Well...

[krait]

In my climate, more liquid than that would just ferment in the heat, so I don't mind the small reservoir. Here it's best that they do empty it, rather than allowing a quantity of sugar water to perpetually remain in the container. (Friends don't let friends fly drunk!) :D

[alatefeline]

*stares wistfully, twitches tail*

*laugh*

[ysabetwordsmith]

Hopeless. I have seen cats try to catch hummingbirds. The hummers just hang there and laugh.

Re: *laugh*

[alatefeline]

Yep, I saw it myself the other day while hummingbird-watching with a neighbor cat! But still...*wist*...I just wanna PLAY with the birdie...is so pretty...rrr..mrr...*chatters teeth*

Re: *laugh*

[ysabetwordsmith]

I imagine that is why people made these:
http://www.petgiftsonline.com/Our-Pets-Realbirds-Play-N-Squeak-Humming-Cat-p/ct-play-n-squeak-hum.htm

Re: *laugh*

[alatefeline]

YESSSS...

And then there's these. https://www.wildrepublic.com/en/birds-stuffed-animals Intended for humans, not cats or human-shaped cat-people, but if I can doorknobs I can stuffed animal. I've seen them at garden stores and zoos and the species-specific calls are quite realistic.

I am going to get myself a stuffed animal/bird or a toy as a reward for surviving summer school. I am. Because it is a good idea.

Re: *laugh*

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>And then there's these. https://www.wildrepublic.com/en/birds-stuffed-animals Intended for humans, not cats or human-shaped cat-people, but if I can doorknobs I can stuffed animal. I've seen them at garden stores and zoos and the species-specific calls are quite realistic.<<

Wow, those are amazing! When I was little, I liked two broad categories of stuffed animals: fantastical, or specific.

>> I am going to get myself a stuffed animal/bird or a toy as a reward for surviving summer school. I am. Because it is a good idea. <<

That is an excellent idea! Rewarding yourself is an important life skill. :D

There is also a pattern for felt hummers:
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/7d/5d/28/7d5d2837eb6e7afa5fce7f80cd2270cf.jpg

Re: *laugh*

[alatefeline]

I ... have concluded that fabric crafts are usually more frustration than they are worth for me. But the pattern is cool. I hope someone sees it and enjoys it.

Specific stuffed animals are wonderful. They tap into the naturalistic intelligence - facilitating the desire to observe and classify and admire and watch grow - in ways that human-shaped dolls and abstract building blocks do not quiiiite meet, although they have their own value. Plastic dinosaur models are cool too, for some of the same reasons, but not so soft and squashy. Other than that, I can't offhand think of anything toy-wise that bridges the age-gap between wordless or read-aloud giant picture books of animals and collectible 'species' like Pokemon cards. Except, yanno, handing kids actual tools and taking them to walk in actual nature or meet actual animals, but who does that? < / sarcasm > Anyway! Specific (as in species) stuffed animals = COOL!

And fantasy animals are ALSO amazing. The imagination needs frequent and enjoyable exercise to grow strong and clear.

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

Gladiolas? Foxglove?

No ...

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

Firecracker plant.