*Hummingbird Haven*

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This summer has been cooler than normal…with more moisture than usual. Weather plays such a pivotal role in the natural world here in the forest..and this year, with all the moisture and moderate temps has been a boon for the tall summer blooming wildflowers as well as the perennials in the flower beds. The meadow has peaked and it’s been mostly mowed so that the young plants for next year can have a greater share of the moisture that’s available and the weeds that I don’t want next year are cut down before they can go to seed. The deer meadow across the stream is turning brilliant yellow with the new goldenrod (solidago) pink and purple with the ciliolate and New England asters.

In the background you can see a very dead spruce.. That dead spruce might be thought to be either a hazard or an eyesore. I’m keeping an eye on it because it does seem to have a function in it’s decrepitude.
The hummingbird feeder is in the cedar tree near the house and all day long the hummers (can’t be sure how accurate my count is…but at least 6) zip and whirr and chirp in pursuit of a rival for the sweet nectar in the feeder. We observe hummingbird wars every day. The majority of birds seem to be female..by their colouring…have observed only one with a ruby throat (male.) and all the others are grey (youngsters) or green backed with white or gray breast (female). The females have another reason for being here beside a food source and it’s connected to the tree….

Last week I was looking closely at the tree and trying to decide how best to remove it when I noticed that some of the limbs were a frothy gray colour. Nature’s wrecking crews are working on it! Beside the ants, the woodpeckers, the beetles and fungus..the lichens are growing thick and healthy on the crispy dead twigs and giving the tree the illusion of foliation. The living from the dead is a biblical allegory but here on this dead spruce is as pretty a creature as you’ll see anywhere. it’s a smokey gray-green and looks similar to the tree moss of the southern climes…and as pretty as it is to see, it is used by someone else! The hummingbirds seek out a supply of this lichen to line their tiny nests. It is soft and absorbent and probably has antibacterial properties as well.

The nest pictured here may be a warbler’s nest…but at the time I was sure it was a hummer’s nest. I’m also sure that I have a little lichen nest picture and will continue to search for it.

I’ve been trying for most of the spring to get a decent picture of the hummers. and it looks like it’s time to replenish the feeder as well…all the youngsters will need it!

• 10 Aug, 2013
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