April is Almost Here

A couple more female orioles have arrived, I have seen 3 at once now and there are four or five males. The males are getting quite animated now chasing each other around, chattering up a storm. It is fun to watch one or two land on the top of the fence - chatter and then raise their bill to the sky and hold that pose for a few seconds. Quite the display.

I have not seen a Rufus hummingbird for a while now, there are lots of Anna's. There are a couple of old timers, at least judging by the bills and energy level. I've seen a couple with only one good eye, no telling if that is from the high speed runs they make or dueling with each other.

Orioles Are Begining to Show Up

The visiting birds birds are beginning to show up in increasing numbers. I have seen 3 male orioles and 1 female so far. They should be coming in from Mexico and Arizona. 

Just this afternoon I have seen the first Rufus hummingbird, more can't be too far off. I expect a good crowd this spring and the hummers that are used to not sharing will need to probably have a rude awakening.

On a separate note: many kudos to Carlos and Donna in San Marcos for their online post TheOwlBox. Molly and McGee are great and one of the eggs has hatched - it's Max!
http://www.ustream.tv/theowlbox

Feeding Video

This will be a practice entry to play with embedding video. 

It looks like it is pretty straight forward.

Here is another, the feeders hold 1/3 of a gallon. The hummers will drain 3 of these a day now. And the migrating birds are not here yet!

First Hooded Oriole This Year

It's been awhile since the last post but over winter the action is a bit slow. Spring is here (OK, in another week, but it's going to be 84 degrees in a couple days) an a sure sign is a return of the Hooded Orioles. the first backyard sighting was yesterday (Saturday).

Quite the handsome male.

While doing some volunteer gardening at the San Diego Wild Animal Park yesterday (about four miles as the oriole flies!) I thought I heard the distinctive chatter of an oriole but thought it was a little early still. Sure enough, later as I was cleaning and filling the hummingbird feeders, I spotted this guy. Now it's watching for more of the returning group.

I have yet to spot any new visiting hummingbirds, but am looking forward to seeing some Rufus, Blackchin soon. The local Anna's population is increasing as judged by the increase in feeder draining. It is close to 1.5 gallons a day now.

The sun is out again

January 25

Last week was a soggy week for the hummers. Most of San Diego county got around 5" of rain from Monday through Friday. Seems like all the birds made it just fine. It has been a little frosty the last couple of mornings but the hummers are out first thing for breakfast! They are down to about 1/2 gallon per day of mix.

Mine - Mine - Mine

After a fantastic Thanksgiving, I spent some time looking for a few territorial hummers Friday. I expected as much, but haven't had much time to look. Sure enough. Three male Anna's at different areas of the yard guarding their bounty.

Here is a guy hogging one of the largest feeders. He runs off anyone who gets near. Six feet from his booty there are 5 feeders on one stand and  14 or so birds feeding away!

One feeder is out of sight below the rest. This is the community  area I guess.

This guy is not even next to a feeding port, just making sure no one else gets any!

This guy sits about 8 feet from 'his' feeder keeping an eagle eye out for ne'er do wells pilfering from his stash. His runs them off (and I mean 'runs them off'! 20-30 yards at least)then comes back to his roost to stand guard some more. The other hummers only chase the offenders for 5-10 feet. What ever gets it done.

I need to re-think my feeder strategy so I am not wasting too much food at the feeders that are being 'Bogarted'

Leaves are Beginning to Fall

It's almost Thanksgiving and the days are still cooling, we're lucky to reach 75 during the day and it's upper forties at nite. We need some rain, none since July and now we are more than an inch below average. The deciduous trees are starting to shed leaves, mostly brown but a few dark reds - but I digress.

There are a few less hummers around and it takes a bit less than a gallon a day to refill the feeders. There are six 'zones' in the yard where the feeders are placed, one corner is a communal area and the birds have no issue sharing the 20 or so perches when feeding in this corner. All of the other areas now seem to be guarded by possessive birds where no sharing is allowed judging by the low rate of nectar consumption at these feeders.