Month: October 2010

Categories
Dear Mom

Memories of Mom and Hummingbirds

Dear Mom:

I miss you so very much and cannot believe that it has been four years since your death. On this anniversary date, I am feeling such a mix of emotions. I am sad because you no longer here with those who love you so very much and happy because in your lifetime you provided me with a great legacy of wonderful memories to carry with me throughout my life.

There is so much that I wish I could share with you and talk to you about, but your memory lives on and is ever present in my heart and this serves to inspire and provide a source of encouragement whenever I need it. All along life’s way, I just try to remember the life lessons you taught me and that seems to help me along the way.

There are so many things that remind me of you. Some big and others just everyday ordinary events, but nevertheless all of them treasured. The thing I remember most is your great love of family and how you so enjoyed the various family gatherings. I also remember the many wonderful meals you cooked for us, especially your tuna patties, your holiday meals and so many more. I also remember how you were always there for me, making sure my needs were met whenever necessary, you were my greatest cheerleader or defender. Thanks! As for the ordinary things, it is impossible for me to see beautiful flowers (especially yellow roses) and not think of you, as that was your favorite flower, but you really loved just about any flower. You always had the yard so full of bright, beautiful flowers that we always had the yard full of birds. I will forever associate hummingbirds with my memories of you, as you always had the yard so full of feeders and plants to attract the hummingbirds. There were so many times that we would sit on the back porch and watch the hummingbirds chases each other, put on their aerial displays or even almost fly into the kitchen window. What wonderful, amazing shows those were!

This blog was started in you honor as a way to keep your memory alive as well as share our common love of hummingbirds with others. I think of you so often as I am writing the various posts for the blog, because I feel certain that you would have enjoyed discovering all the various information about hummingbirds that can be found here. I hope that my efforts with the blog would have informed, enlightened and entertained you and that it will do so with all the others who visit the blog.

Well, I just want you to know that your memory will live forever in my heart. You are thought of so very often, but especially on the anniversary of your death. Even though it has been four years ago today, I still miss you so very much and always will. I was truly blessed to be your daughter and I hope that my life today would make you proud of me and the person I have become. Love you!

Categories
Hummingbirds

Hummingbird Eggs are Laid on Different Days

A female hummingbird will usually lay two very small eggs which are about the size of a jelly bean or a pea. It is interesting to note that each of these eggs will be laid on different days. In spite of this surprising fact, the eggs will still hatch on the same day.

You may be wondering, how is this possible? Well, the reason for this is because the female will not start incubating the eggs until both of the eggs have been laid, thus allowing the eggs to hatch on the same day.

The incubation of the eggs usually last between 16-18 days, but it can take up to three weeks if the weather is cooler then usual when the eggs are laid.

Categories
Dear Mom Hummingbirds

Does the Hummingbird Have a Liver?

Does a hummingbird have a liver? If so, what is its purpose? These are the kinds of unique and different questions that my mom would have wanted answered if she were still alive today. So, for my mom and all others with an unusual sense of curiosity, this post will answer these questions.

Yes, a hummingbird does indeed have a liver. This is where fats are stored within the hummingbird’s body for quick release. These fats help provide the hummingbird with energy during their migratory journey as well as helping to aide in the hummingbird’s day- to-day survival.

Categories
Hummingbird Pictures

Anna’s Hummingbird In Napa Valley

An Anna's Hummingbird is feeding at a pink flower.
An Anna's Hummingbird is feeding at a pink flower.

The photo used in this posted comes from the website Freedigitalphotos.net. The information about this photo sates it was taken in the Napa Valley. I wish to state the source of this photo in order to give proper credit and therefore not mislead my readers. Now for a little information about the Anna’s Hummingbird.

The Anna’s Hummingbird is the most common hummingbird found in Southern California. It is also one of three species of hummingbirds, along with Allen’s and Costa’s, that are permanent residents of the United States or Canada.

It is believed that the plant gooseberry and the hummingbird have evolved together, which may help explain why a favorite native food source of the Anna’s Hummingbird is red gooseberry, an abundant plant that flowers early in spring. This species of hummingbird also consumes more insects than any other North American hummingbirds, catching small flying insects on the wing in the manner of a flycatcher, or by hover-gleaning among the leaves and twigs of trees. Or they find sustenance at the sap wells of sapsuckers or by pilfering insects from the webs of spiders. The Anna’s Hummingbird eats more arthropods than most hummingbirds.

Categories
Hummingbirds

Do All Hummingbirds Have Bright Throat Feathers?

Those who know me know of my love, passion and knowledge of hummingbirds, so as a result I am often asked various questions about hummingbirds. I enjoy the opportunity to share my knowledge of hummingbirds with others. A friend who has just begun learning about hummingbirds asked me “do all hummingbirds have the brilliant iridescent throat feathers?” Also, “why are these feathers so bright?” This discussion is what has inspired me to write this post and I hope you too will be enlightened by the information found here.

First of all, not all hummingbirds have the iridescent throat feathers. These brightly colored feathers are found only on male hummingbirds. If you are just beginning to study about hummingbirds let this fact serve to help you identify the sex of the hummingbird. The color of the throat patch on the hummingbird is not caused by feather pigmentation, but rather by iridescence in the arrangement of the feathers and the influence of light level, moisture and other factors.

The brightly colored throat feathers found on the male hummingbird serve two very important functions: attracting a female and defending their territory. Female hummingbirds find these feathers to be something that attracts them to the male while other males are repelled as a result of these feathers. Also, male hummingbirds are extremely feisty and territorial and these feathers are part of their territorial display.

The color of a hummingbird’s throat feathers can serve many functions. It can provide aide in helping you identify the sex of the hummingbird as well as helping the male attract a mate as well as defend his territory.