OT Things to ponder

[geofflambert]

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[geofflambert]

Hummer for the day

[fcooke]

Hummers are amazing to me - their speed, ability to start and stop on a dime. Pretty impressive.

[USSAmerica]

I agree that hummingbirds are amazing! We've had our first 2 or 3 return so far this Spring.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: USSAmerica

I agree that hummingbirds are amazing! We've had our first 2 or 3 return so far this Spring.

During bird migration in the fall I was at Assinniboine Park, in the English Garden which has lots of flowers. I heard a clicking sound and looked up to see two hummingbirds fencing with their beaks in mid-air. They did that for perhaps 10 seconds, then flew to different tree perches and rested for a minute, then they flew out to fence again! Never saw anything like it before or since.

[geofflambert]

All the males think they're D'Artagnan.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: USSAmerica

I agree that hummingbirds are amazing! We've had our first 2 or 3 return so far this Spring.

During bird migration in the fall I was at Assinniboine Park, in the English Garden which has lots of flowers. I heard a clicking sound and looked up to see two hummingbirds fencing with their beaks in mid-air. They did that for perhaps 10 seconds, then flew to different tree perches and rested for a minute, then they flew out to fence again! Never saw anything like it before or since.

Male hummers are hyperaggressive. Probably the most aggressive birds out there. There are documented cases of Rufus hummingbirds using their beaks as lances and skewering others at speed.

Here's an article about a South American species of hummingbird where throat stabbing is de rigueur.

https://time.com/3557286/hummingbirds-beaks/

[fcooke]

And Woody is back at it again this morning.....working very close to stuff that supports an AC unit.....hopefully doesn't 'miss' and torch itself on the electrical conduit.

[geofflambert]

Today's bird, a female rose-breasted grosbeak

[geofflambert]

and

[Cheesesteak]

This better not waken any latent urge to be a bird-watcher. My wife thinks I'm weird enough as is.

[geofflambert]

Let me sneak another in, a common grackle

[MakeeLearn]

I've got some of theses in my yard. Pic does not do them justice

Scarlet Tanager

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

Today's bird, a female rose-breasted grosbeak

Looks like she forgot to put her makeup on before she went out ...

[geofflambert]

Here's a bird that's been around here for quite some time and I was unaware of it until someone pointed it out. A Eurasian tree sparrow. I had been lumping it in with the house sparrows that are common here (another import from Eurasia), it resembles a male house sparrow, but you can't distinguish male from female in this species

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

Here's a bird that's been around here for quite some time and I was unaware of it until someone pointed it out. A Eurasian tree sparrow. I had been lumping it in with the house sparrows that are common here (another import from Eurasia), it resembles a male house sparrow, but you can't distinguish male from female in this species

The important thing is if they can tell the difference. [8|]

[Orm]

Thank you, Gentlemen, for sharing all those nice pictures. [:)]

[geofflambert]

Well, Orm, some of the forumites just aren't interested in birds, so I have to entertain them. Here goes -

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

Well, Orm, some of the forumites just aren't interested in birds, so I have to entertain them. Here goes -

You should visit this island...

[Cheesesteak]

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

Well, Orm, some of the forumites just aren't interested in birds, so I have to entertain them. Here goes -

[:D]