Ophelia wrote:

> On 02/05/2021 20:15, cshenk wrote:
> > Ophelia wrote:
> >
> > > On 01/05/2021 16:42, jmcquown wrote:
> > > > On 5/1/2021 11:37 AM, jmcquown wrote:
> > > > > On 5/1/2021 11:00 AM, Lucretia Borgia wrote:
> > > > > > On Sat, 1 May 2021 09:55:14 -0400, jmcquown
> > wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > On 5/1/2021 5:12 AM, Cindy Hamilton wrote:
> > > > > > > > On Friday, April 30, 2021 at 5:12:02 PM UTC-4,
> > > > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > > > On 4/30/2021 10:27 AM, Ophelia wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > On 30/04/2021 13:56, Gary wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > > On 4/29/2021 7:29 PM, jmcquown wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > > > FYI, so far I'm not feeling any ill effects from
> > > > > > > > > > > > the 2nd vaccine. The nurse told me to help
> > > > > > > > > > > > alleviate the sore arm, exercise the arm. I've
> > > > > > > > > > > > been flapping it occasionally like I'm doing a
> > > > > > > > > > > > one sided chicken dance (LOL) since I got home.
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > You also could flap your arm faster like a
> > > > > > > > > > > hummingbird.
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > ===
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > Ahh but can she hummmmm ? ))
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Humminbirds don't actually hum, they chirp (rather
> > > > > > > > > quietly). It's their wings that make a sort of
> > > > > > > > > humming sound.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > In my experience they chirp disproportionately loudly
> > > > > > > > for their size, especially during the migration when
> > > > > > > > they're defending the feeder. They not much quieter
> > > > > > > > than a woodpecker's chirp.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Cindy Hamilton
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I suppose in proportion to their size their chirps are
> > > > > > > rather loud.Â* I only hear them when I have the windows
> > > > > > > open in the den, kicked back with a book.Â* It's already
> > > > > > > too humid by Noon to have the windows open.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Jill
> > > > > >
> > > > > I spoke a little too soon about humid.Â* I went outside to
> > > > > refill the bird feeder
> > > > [CORRECTION: bird BATH]
> > > > > and discovered, unlike yesterday when it was already 80°F and
> > > > > humid outside, today it is a cool, breezy 60-something!
> > > > >
> > > > > I've opened the windows so when I go into the den I might
> > > > > actually hear the chirps of the hummingbirds and the quick
> > > > > beat of their wings. (They sound to me like the sound effect
> > > > > used for the light sabers in 'Star Wars'.)
> > > > >
> > > > > > They are pretty tough little birds. Before I moved here I
> > > > > > had a feeder on the deck and they would fly to it, flying
> > > > > > between David and I eating our dinner, not in the least
> > > > > > concerned!
> > > > > >
> > > > > Indeed, they are tough little birds.Â* They don't seem to mind
> > > > > buzzing around people.Â* I was sitting on the patio a few
> > > > > years ago and happened to be wearing a red shirt.Â* A
> > > > > hummingbird hovered right in front of my face. Â* They do
> > > > > seem to like red (but NO, don't dye the nectar in the
> > > > > feeder).
> > > > >
> > > > > > One year a grackle decided to nest in our pine tree, not
> > > > > > logical, totally out of place by the sea for a grackle.Â* The
> > > > > > two grackles saw off all our usual birds that year but not
> > > > > > the hummingbirds!Â* They didn't even try to mess and
> > > > > > terrorise them!
> > > > > >
> > > > > Ugh, Grackles.Â* Yes, Hummingbirds are notoriously territorial.
> > > > > They don't take guff from any bird except perhaps, hawks. LOL
> > > > >
> > > > > When it was still "wintery" (heh) down here I filled the suet
> > > > > cage.Â* I started seeing lots of brown-headed cowbirds.Â*
> > > > > They're about like grackles in terms of running off all the
> > > > > songbirds and invading territory.Â* I quickly brought the
> > > > > suet cage inside.Â* They moved on.
> > > > >
> > > > > > When I moved here I put out a feeder over the grassy area I
> > > > > > see from my diningroom.Â* A lady who lived in a house below
> > > > > > our fence called over to me and told me that humming birds
> > > > > > don't come here.Â* She was totally correct.Â* Someone else
> > > > > > put out a hummer feeder last year without success.Â*
> > > > > > Apparently they come as far as a few streets over, but
> > > > > > never nearer.
> > > > > >
> > > > > They pick out their spots.Â* A lot of it has to do with where
> > > > > they can build their nests and get to them before the sun
> > > > > sets. Hummingbirds are very weird.Â* They go into a state of
> > > > > torper just after dusk.Â* I've seen documentaries where
> > > > > researchers have found their nests and if you touch a
> > > > > hummingbird in torpor it doesn't move, it doesn't wake up.
> > > > > Their bodies cool down, their whole metabolism and heart rate
> > > > > slows and they're out like a light.Â* Until the sun starts to
> > > > > rise... then the process reverses itself.Â* I find it
> > > > > fascinating.
> > > > >
> > > > > Gary likes to make fun of my enjoyment of bird watching.Â*
> > > > > What's not to like?Â* They're pretty and most of them sing.Â*
> > > > > Aside from keeping the hummingbird feeder cleaned and filled
> > > > > from March - October or so, in the warmer months I don't
> > > > > feed the other birds.Â* I do keep fresh water in a small bird
> > > > > bath year round. Birds always need a source of fresh water.
> > > > > That's enough to attract a number of very pretty visitors.
> > > > >
> > > > > Jill
> > >
> > > ====
> > >
> > > We have 2 birdfeeders and a bird table so I understand what you
> > > are saying)))
> > >
> > > Oh yes, a bird bath too
> >
> > Saw a red cardinal 2 days ago! They were at my bird feeder.
>
> =====
>
> Oooh lovely! I don't think I've ever seen one of those!

It's the state bird I think. Not common in Virginia Beach but you do
see them at times. I saw them more often as a kid in Charlottesville
VA.