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 Hummingbirds

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Margaret
patdbunny
Vikki
ScooterNScotty
zazanomore
9 posters
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zazanomore
Hyacinth Macaw
zazanomore


Join date : 2011-05-18
Age : 31
Location : Thunder Bay, Ontario
My Birds : Einstein - Cockatiel [3]
Charlie Bird - Cockatiel [15]
Clyde - Budgie [4]
Bonnie - Budgie [4]
Madoc - Budgie [1]

Posts : 1474

Hummingbirds Empty
PostSubject: Hummingbirds   Hummingbirds EmptyWed Jun 06, 2012 10:14 pm

Have you ever thought about how amazing hummingbirds are? I know that they aren't parrots, but there's a Nature documentary on tv right now called "Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air".

Those little guys can live up to 12 years.

Did you know that flowers have evolved to have bioclocks based around the hummingbirds? The nector is released when the bird comes to feed. It will stop releasing it after a certain amount of time. It won't release it for 15 minutes. This ensures that they go to other flowers, and return, so the flowers can properly pollinate.

There's a trend in some species of hummingbirds that all nest in the same area as Cooper Hawks. Yes, hawks. The Cooper Hawk's main food supply is small birds. But, it turns out that the small quick hummingbirds are too small and too fast to be bothered with. So, the Cooper Hawks ends up eating the birds that would normally hunt the small hummingbird.
Coopers Hawk nest

One of the species that I'm most familiar with is the Ruby Throat. I have fond memories of sitting in my grandmothers garden, with all her flowers and nectar feeders, watching the beautiful Rubies feeding. Something I just learned about them is how far they travel. Did you know that part of their migration is over the Gulf of Mexico? They fly over it. No stops, no food. Makes me appreciate them even more.
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ScooterNScotty
Hyacinth Macaw
ScooterNScotty


Join date : 2011-05-24
Age : 63
Location : Southern California
My Birds : Scooter
* "Normal" male Green-cheeked Conure
* (hatched 3/2010)

Scotty
*male Cape Parrot
*(HD unk ~2008)

Blanco (Caballo Blanco)
*Whitefaced male cockatiel
*(HD unk, found 4/2012)
Posts : 2248

Hummingbirds Empty
PostSubject: Re: Hummingbirds   Hummingbirds EmptyThu Jun 07, 2012 4:09 am

We've kept hummingbird feeders for years now and it is fun to watch them. How they live that long with that kind of metabolism, I don't know. But I've also noticed some get comfy and then they will actually sit still and rest for a while. They look totally different sitting still, LOL!
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Vikki
Scarlet Macaw
Vikki


Join date : 2011-05-19
Age : 58
Location : BLAIRSTOWN NJ
My Birds : Sebastian - 7 yr old Harlequin Macaw
Arthur - 12 yr old Jardines Parrot
Pickle - 16 yr old Hahn's Macaw
Ecko - 26 yr old Hahn's Macaw

Plus the 180+ various bird from finch to Hyacinth at the rescue where I volunteer and live...
Posts : 811

Hummingbirds Empty
PostSubject: Re: Hummingbirds   Hummingbirds EmptyThu Jun 07, 2012 4:18 pm

I watched the same show, I believe. All the slow motion and stop motion footage was amazing. We have feeders around our property as well and in the summer they come in swarms and call to each other, its so amazing to watch and listen to.
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patdbunny
Hyacinth Macaw
patdbunny


Join date : 2011-05-18
Age : 53
Location : San Diego County, California
Posts : 2083

Hummingbirds Empty
PostSubject: Re: Hummingbirds   Hummingbirds EmptyThu Jun 07, 2012 4:31 pm

They are brave little creatures. Apparently pretty aggressive.

http://www.waynesthisandthat.com/hummingbirds.htm
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http://staringatbirdsandgoats.blogspot.com/
Vikki
Scarlet Macaw
Vikki


Join date : 2011-05-19
Age : 58
Location : BLAIRSTOWN NJ
My Birds : Sebastian - 7 yr old Harlequin Macaw
Arthur - 12 yr old Jardines Parrot
Pickle - 16 yr old Hahn's Macaw
Ecko - 26 yr old Hahn's Macaw

Plus the 180+ various bird from finch to Hyacinth at the rescue where I volunteer and live...
Posts : 811

Hummingbirds Empty
PostSubject: Re: Hummingbirds   Hummingbirds EmptyThu Jun 07, 2012 5:21 pm

Oh yeah, they are. When they come around and we're sitting outside near the feeder, they dive bomb our heads. Its actually pretty funny. There is also a couple pair that we had last year, I'm assuming in some kind of mating thing, they were chasing each other all over the place and chirping away madly.
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http://www.voliveri.com
Margaret
Hyacinth Macaw
Margaret


Join date : 2011-05-18
Age : 51
Location : Chicago
My Birds : • Budgies: Mango, Blueberry, Plum, Sunny
• Cockatiels: Chico, Mickey
• Linnies: Venus and Mars

• Amazon, who was with us: Lucky
Posts : 1418

Hummingbirds Empty
PostSubject: Re: Hummingbirds   Hummingbirds EmptyFri Jun 08, 2012 6:26 am

Isn't it a similar syndrome like the small dogs have?
The smallest, the more aggressive Wink
I watched years, years ago program about hummingbirds and if I remember correct, they have to eat during day 7x more than they weight to survive.
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Vikki
Scarlet Macaw
Vikki


Join date : 2011-05-19
Age : 58
Location : BLAIRSTOWN NJ
My Birds : Sebastian - 7 yr old Harlequin Macaw
Arthur - 12 yr old Jardines Parrot
Pickle - 16 yr old Hahn's Macaw
Ecko - 26 yr old Hahn's Macaw

Plus the 180+ various bird from finch to Hyacinth at the rescue where I volunteer and live...
Posts : 811

Hummingbirds Empty
PostSubject: Re: Hummingbirds   Hummingbirds EmptyFri Jun 08, 2012 3:29 pm

Correct, though from what I remember is that the ratio was more like they ate 20% of their body mass and some still died in their sleep. Their heartbeat and metabolism is so high that they burn energy at a very high rate even at rest and many just drop dead when they "run out of gas"
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ScooterNScotty
Hyacinth Macaw
ScooterNScotty


Join date : 2011-05-24
Age : 63
Location : Southern California
My Birds : Scooter
* "Normal" male Green-cheeked Conure
* (hatched 3/2010)

Scotty
*male Cape Parrot
*(HD unk ~2008)

Blanco (Caballo Blanco)
*Whitefaced male cockatiel
*(HD unk, found 4/2012)
Posts : 2248

Hummingbirds Empty
PostSubject: Re: Hummingbirds   Hummingbirds EmptyFri Jun 08, 2012 3:41 pm

I'm not sure how you define it in terms of body mass exactly, unless they are assuming pure sugar. Actual nectar must vary significantly in calorie content. They sure go through feeders fast!
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zazanomore
Hyacinth Macaw
zazanomore


Join date : 2011-05-18
Age : 31
Location : Thunder Bay, Ontario
My Birds : Einstein - Cockatiel [3]
Charlie Bird - Cockatiel [15]
Clyde - Budgie [4]
Bonnie - Budgie [4]
Madoc - Budgie [1]

Posts : 1474

Hummingbirds Empty
PostSubject: Re: Hummingbirds   Hummingbirds EmptyFri Jun 08, 2012 5:28 pm

They are extremely aggressive. But, I guess they are too fast and small for us to really notice.

They had footage in slow motion of the hummingbirds smacking each other with their wings while feeding.

The doc also explained that they burn calories so quickly, that when they sleep, they go into a hibernation type state. They will puff up and conserve body heat. Slowly their body will lower in temperature. Their heart beat goes down to like 30 something beats per minute - which for a hummingbird is very slow.
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Pretty_Poe
Sun Conure
Pretty_Poe


Join date : 2012-01-25
Age : 35
Location : Canada
My Birds : Poe - Yellow Sided GCC
Doppler - Pearl Whiteface Cockatiel
Posts : 333

Hummingbirds Empty
PostSubject: Re: Hummingbirds   Hummingbirds EmptySun Jun 10, 2012 1:35 pm

I have to say, I find this thread incredibly interesting as I literally JUST made an appointment with my tattoo artist for a piece with three hummingbirds on my arm. Aside from the "wedding tattoos" I got back in March, this is my most anticipated piece.

Aside from how awesome the physiology and behavior of hummingbirds is, the symbolism behind them is also fantastic (making them perfect tattoo candidates).
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dusty
Scarlet Macaw
dusty


Join date : 2011-06-19
Age : 77
Location : near london, ontario canada...out in the country
My Birds : congo african grey (coco)
blue fronted amazons (willie and vasgo)
sun conure (simon)
greencheeked conure (jack)
senegal (walter)
senegal (crockett)
goffin cockatoo (sammy)
moluccan cockatoo (mango)
severe macaw (cody)
quaker (yoshi)
Posts : 838

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PostSubject: Re: Hummingbirds   Hummingbirds EmptyMon Jun 11, 2012 9:24 am

a few years back i found this little girl in the dogs water dish and not doing well...i dried her out kept her warm, kissed her a few times until she was ready to fly away...here is a pic i hope
Hummingbirds Bird_010
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zazanomore
Hyacinth Macaw
zazanomore


Join date : 2011-05-18
Age : 31
Location : Thunder Bay, Ontario
My Birds : Einstein - Cockatiel [3]
Charlie Bird - Cockatiel [15]
Clyde - Budgie [4]
Bonnie - Budgie [4]
Madoc - Budgie [1]

Posts : 1474

Hummingbirds Empty
PostSubject: Re: Hummingbirds   Hummingbirds EmptyMon Jun 11, 2012 11:08 am

I'm so jealous Dusty
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ScooterNScotty
Hyacinth Macaw
ScooterNScotty


Join date : 2011-05-24
Age : 63
Location : Southern California
My Birds : Scooter
* "Normal" male Green-cheeked Conure
* (hatched 3/2010)

Scotty
*male Cape Parrot
*(HD unk ~2008)

Blanco (Caballo Blanco)
*Whitefaced male cockatiel
*(HD unk, found 4/2012)
Posts : 2248

Hummingbirds Empty
PostSubject: Re: Hummingbirds   Hummingbirds EmptyMon Jun 11, 2012 3:28 pm

Wow, that's a story and a half!
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MandaDPanda
Indian Ringneck
MandaDPanda


Join date : 2011-05-18
Age : 39
Location : Fresno
My Birds : Aries - Sun Conure Smile
Posts : 261

Hummingbirds Empty
PostSubject: Re: Hummingbirds   Hummingbirds EmptyMon Jun 18, 2012 8:10 pm

So...you can find videos of people hand feeding hummingbirds! Do it! Apparently it's SUPER easy!

Hi btw! I've been lurking Wink
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evil chicken
Umbrella Cockatoo
evil chicken


Join date : 2011-05-18
Age : 28
Location : Southern California
My Birds : Sam -cinnamon pied cockatiel
Drake "Ducky" Laurence Lars -sun conure
Eric -whiteface pied cockatiel
Chicky Baby -red bantee hen -my avatar. Not really a parrot, but y'know, gotta include her anyway
Posts : 745

Hummingbirds Empty
PostSubject: Re: Hummingbirds   Hummingbirds EmptyThu Jun 21, 2012 12:58 am

MandaDPanda wrote:
So...you can find videos of people hand feeding hummingbirds! Do it! Apparently it's SUPER easy!

Hi btw! I've been lurking Wink
...WHAT. Shocked That would be just plain adorable. A handfed hummingbird.
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Vikki
Scarlet Macaw
Vikki


Join date : 2011-05-19
Age : 58
Location : BLAIRSTOWN NJ
My Birds : Sebastian - 7 yr old Harlequin Macaw
Arthur - 12 yr old Jardines Parrot
Pickle - 16 yr old Hahn's Macaw
Ecko - 26 yr old Hahn's Macaw

Plus the 180+ various bird from finch to Hyacinth at the rescue where I volunteer and live...
Posts : 811

Hummingbirds Empty
PostSubject: Re: Hummingbirds   Hummingbirds EmptyMon Aug 20, 2012 5:06 pm

I found a new cool feeder at Lowe's yesterday, bought two...

http://www.lowes.com/pd_147614-1128-100080626_0__?productId=3693548&Ntt=hummingbird+feeder&pl=1¤tURL=&facetInfo=

They're small, maybe 4 oz and come with a long spike so you can stick them into plants. I put them in hanging plants along the front of the house and they love them.

Funny thing I saw the other day, we have a large feeder in front of the kitchen window which they all come to and one big guy come for a drink and actually gorged himself, took a seat on the lip and stopped flying to drink. He must have sat there for a good minute and a half First time I ever saw one stop flying to feed like that and boy was he round when he left. LOL
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PostSubject: Re: Hummingbirds   Hummingbirds Empty

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