Date: 10/07/2016

Number: 1

12:22 PM

To one who lives in FL, fall means usually: birds passing through on the way to their wintering grounds, the southward movement of Monarch Butterflies, AND the dread of a hurricane. For FL all three are occurring at once today October 7, 2016. Matthew, a deadly hurricane is rocking right up our coastline after leaving behind more than 300 deaths in Haiti.

From my cubbyhole in a closet behind my garage in a back bedroom I hear howling wind, dropping branches from trees, thunder, and oddly, the friendly croaking of tree frogs from the yard. Our power is gone and there is no hint of daylight yet.

Daylight here and hurricane right here yet birds are going to feeder to eat. A Carolina Wren is hanging out on my porch where it was born in June. So far one tree is down on side of yard, a favorite hangout of birds before they dive to feeder.

It's going to be a long 24 hours more as this thing passes by. Lots of cleanup will be required once anyone can go outside again. Hummingbird feeders, now empty due to the winds, will have to wait 48 hours until winds get out of here and its once again safe to be outdoors.

8:55PM

Hit around 10am, worst lasted 3-4 hours. Went out and saw damage around hood. I got lucky compared to some. We are completely blocked in by huge trees over road. Elec will be off several days from what I am told. Lady across street's husband works for city, it's what he said. Our water was turned off to keep it from getting contaminated since can't boil. I stored quite a bit. But nothing in FL is like what happened to Haiti.

4 hummers, fighting over 4 feeders. They just can't share. When I rehung an empty one the little male SAT ON MY HAND!!!! Also had to unstick a little female who's beak got caught in screen. Birds are coming on to my porch to get to their feeder. Nowhere to hang outside now. They seem to not mind. I got lots of photos of all.

Worst is passed unless it turns around, of which there's talk. Just wish I had coffee!

Footnote: heavy damage to my trees, fences down. Huge mess. No place to hang feeders.

Ormond Beach, FL

Latitude: 29.3 Longitude: -81.2

Observed by: Meret
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