I like this feeder that sticks to my window where I can watch them up close. They seems to like it too because, I have 5 other feeders in my yard, and they fight over this one. I think I will go buy some more just like it, so they quit fighting.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are thought to be polygynous. They do not form breeding pairs, and females provide all parental care.
Males arrive at the breeding area in the spring, and establish a territory before the females arrive. When the females return, males court females that enter their territory by performing courtship displays. They perform a “dive display” rising 8 to 10 feet above and 5 to 6 feet to each side of the female. If the female perches, the male begins flying in very rapid horizontal arcs less than 0.5 m in front of her. The male's wings may beat up to 200 times per second during these displays (the normal speed is 55-75 beats per second).
If the female is receptive to the male, she may give a call and assume a solicitous posture with her tail feathers cocked and her wings drooped. Preceding copulation, male and female face each other, alternately ascend about 10 feet and descend, eventually dropping to the ground and copulating.[4]
The nest is constructed on a small, downward-sloping tree limb 10-20 feet above the ground. It is composed of bud scales, with lichen on the exterior, bound with spider's silk, and lined with plant down (often dandelion or thistle down). Old nests may be occupied for several seasons, but are repaired annually. The female constructs the nest, as the male has left by this point. [5]
Females lay two white eggs about 12.9 by 8.5 millimeters in size, and produce 2, or occasionally 3 broods. They brood the chicks and feed them from 1 to 3 times every hour by regurgitation, usually while the female is hovering. When they are 22 to 25 days old, the young leave the nest.(0.5 x 0.3 in).
I needed to do something upbeat, so I decided to post Redbone again since it was over a year ago that I posted them, and more new bloggers now ....Also because it makes me feel good!
In 1973 Redbone released the politically oriented "We were all wounded at Wounded Knee", recalling the massacre of Lakota Sioux Indians by the Seventh Cavalry in 1890. The song ends with the subtly altered sentence "We were all wounded by Wounded Knee". The song reached the #1 chart position in Europe but did not chart in the U.S. where it was initially withheld from release and then banned by several radio stations. Can you imagine in the 70's there was still stuff like that going on in America! I did not post that song, but if you want to hear it you can on youtube! I like to turn my speakers up when I listen to these two songs but, I like it loud.
Well after last nights storms dumped over 4" of rain in many areas near me, and another 2" up North.... there is no question about my river flooding. The prediction is for it to be at least at record crest but, could exceed the record. I feel so sorry for those people in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Seeing that town engulfed with water is unbelievable.
Flood stage here is 12 feet, and its predicted to reach at least 19'1 or above if the rain keeps up. That is over 7' above flood stage. Much farm ground will be lost, and grain prices have already gone to 7.30 a bushel for corn......That is more than we have ever seen for corn, and it may even go higher than that. Many of the states that grown corn have been flooded. Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Illinois. The impact of this flood is going to hit everyone when these prices for corn start to affect our food..... just think of all the things that we use corn for. The flooding is just getting started in some places, like here where I live.....their will be more loss of property, and crops.
A friend of mine in Australia called me last night. He has been watching all the news on CNN about the flooding, and tornado's, and he was concerned. They have been dealing with a drought in Australia for 8 years now Can you imagine that? Sure wish we could send them some rain!
My Mother and Father were kids when this flood happened, and they told me how bad it was, and the hardships everyone went though. All the major flooding going on right now made me think about this story. When you see the dead horse stuck at least 25' up in a tree you can imagine just how bad it was.
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