Sunday, August 16, 2009

The hummingbird question

You've seen my effort to take a picture of a slow moving pea hen, so don't expect pics of our hummingbirds. Quick little critters. They are thick in Missouri, so we hung a feeder on our front porch. I believe hummingbirds are universally beloved creatures, and they certainly are fascinating to watch. However, I'm coming to the conclusion that proximity is everything. I admit to feeling like a senior, since I spend quite a bit of time rocking away on our front porch, enjoying the peace and waving at the rare car that drives by. I joke with my father-in-law that all I need is a pair of bib overalls to complete the picture. Knowing this family, I expect to receive them this Christmas. However, with both me and the feeder on the porch, peace is threatened. Hummingbirds don't fly right to the feeder. They make a big swooping circle before deciding to land and enjoy the sugar. A hummingbird sounds like a gigantic bee or an enormous horsefly up close. We have both of those here and have observed a few that were an inch long. Well, a hummingbird sounds like a three incher, causing me to duck and cover, or at least disrupt my reverie to see what in hell is buzzing me. The hummingbird question is simply this. Do we move the feeder, or do I just ignore things and resign myself to getting bit or stung if my strafer doesn't turn out to be an adorable, tiny bird?

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