Date: 10/05/2023

Number: 2

During another 8 a.m in the rain morning we have 2 young rubythroats nectaring from our plants. The friendly rubythroat is soo curious, watches sparrows while sitting on the below grapevine under song bird feeders.

This year I saw two concerning reports of troubled hummingbirds. The worst was seeing the dead rubythroat from problem wasps on feeder death. There is a wasp feeder available in grocery stores to prevent that. Or flat move, or remove the feeder from wasp/bee invasions to be fair. One neighbor across street had to do that here.

The report of maybe broken wing hummingbird on feeder could be from any mishap. But I do know incoming fall migrants beak sword fought here soo bad they pound one another to ground level. I almost brought feeders in.

  I do see problem hummingbirds  come thru that just is soo sad. 'No tail' left and did the best he could nectaring and couldn't  balance on a feefer but could hold onto a twig. He moved on ok because we had enough blooming for him.

Another worst is seeing in comers with a top half beak missing. Or the top beaks bent all out of shape upwards from those fancy metal port feeders. One came thru with an upward tip beak 3 years in a row in fall but not this year. It just sat on  a feeder or the hummingbird  swing. I'm not putting down bottle disk, screw on feeders, but have them with line marks all over around the tiny hole ports. I just can't find myself to put those boxed up old style feeders out. That indicates hummingbirds  trying to get their beak centered in the hole of the disk. Perky pet company 2 years ago fixed the pinch waist feeder bee guards with more open holes on bee the guard. Yaaay. Boo...miserable to clean mold from.

I know a lot of reporters read our post. Do try to adjust a problem you may have, don't ignore it. Especially a black moldy port I see in photos... Ick!

We once had a greenhouse I grew plants in, but would never intice a Rufous to overwinter in it ever. That would slow the metabolism down bad to not be able to be right in winter adjustments they need.

Great year to read all y'alls reports.
 

Beverly L
Houston

Houston, TX

Latitude: 29.8 Longitude: -95.4

Observed by: Beverly
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