Animals

Where Do They Go?

May 1st is a much anticipated day here on the farm.

Typically it is right around this date that the hummingbirds arrive

from their arduous journey north from the Caribbean, where they spend the winter.

These tiny birds get right to work building nests and laying eggs.

During this time their visits to the feeders are frequent and usually

consist of much shrieking and dive-bombing as they vie for feeding rights.

This is one of the times of summer when traffic at the feeders is heavy,

as the parents are preparing to raise their young.

Hummingbirds are quite territorial and spend much time chasing each other away

from the never-ending source of sugar water.

Then come mid-summer it seems as though the hummingbirds all but disappear.

Where do they go?

It is at this time of year, when they are feeding their newly hatched babies,

that their diet switches to one of primarily tiny insects.

These insects provide the necessary protein for their growing hatchlings.

Once the babies are almost full grown, the birds switch back to

their high-carbohydrate diet of nectar (or sugar water).

By the end of summer, traffic picks up around the feeders

and the most hummingbirds of the entire season are seen flitting and feeding,

chasing, and shrieking, and dive-bombing each other.

This is the time that energy must be stored for their long flight back to the Caribbean.

Isn't nature amazing?

You might remember my silly story the other week about Kenny Roger's

entrance into the witness protection program.

All kidding aside, Kenny is now living out his days in the barn...

in the company of some pretty cool cats.

Kenny is old and has come up lame.

Getting around is quite difficult for him, making it necessary to keep

him out of harm's way.

The other roosters were picking on him...chickens have no tolerance for weakness.

I feel a little sorry for him without his hens around,

so I bring him daily treats of blueberries and kitchen scraps...

which he happily munches.

- Lucille...woman Of Mystery X3
You might remember that our decrepit old rooster, Kenny Rogers,lives in the barn (Witness Protection Program).Every day he is visited by Lucille, a little red hen.Now, Lucille is a woman of mystery.She keeps her business very private.No one knows where...

- The Egg-less Chicken Days Of Summer
The girls are on strike! It's that time of year again...egg production is suffering. Where we used to pick up 4 or 5 or even 6 dozen eggs a day,we are lucky now to even find two dozen. Why this drop in production? Heat may be the answer... as...

- Hummers And Bears, Oh My!
They're back!After an arduous flight across the Caribbean,our sweet little friends, the ruby throated hummingbirdshave arrived at Bee Haven Acres...at least the males have arrived.The females should be returning soon. I have re-hung all of our hummingbird...

- The Boys Of Summer Are Gone
Over the past few weeks, there has been so much activity at our hummingbird feeders.On average, 12 hummingbirds would be feeding at any given time...diving, swooping, chasing each other away....grabbing a drink on the run. Today things slowed...

- Sure Signs Of Autumn
Suddenly, the weather has turned. A chill is in the air...one that stays all day long. The leaves are changing and falling to the ground. The birds have started flocking. The ponies are starting to grow their wooly coats. I could go on and on. I love...

Animals