Hummingbirds are not really nervous. They only look like it due to their flitty nature. They are quite feisty and bold little birds, and have a BIG voice when they are upset. They also easily take to humans.

Kinglet

Kinglets are another little bird, about the same size as the hummers, that are always on the move. Ive never seen one by itself. Usually they move in groups of 6 or more. Their voice is a small soft beep, simular to zebra finches.

In the last week the Flickers have started to mark out their territories. Banging away on anything that makes a good "noise". They prefer metal. So gutters, flashing, stove pipes all make great sounding boards. Then there is their "laugh" call. Sort of like...hahahahahaha. Starting slow then getting faster. That really wakes you up in the morning when its right outside your window.

Amelia

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I edited your post to place the picture directly into the post.

[ March 17, 2002: Message edited by: Daryl Fawcett ]

We have ruby throated hummingbirds here, and they look like rubies and emeralds flashing in the light, with the green on their wings.

One warm day, I was standing looking out at the 4'O clocks, and trumpet vines, and I saw something moving on the ground, under the hummingbird feeder. Looking closer I could see it was a hummer, and one tiny foot was caught in some tough grass, just wrapped around it. What to do? It was already so frightened,and I was afraid it would struggle and maybe break it's leg. I thought of getting something to wrap it in, to hold it as securely and safely as possible while loosening the grass from it. I grabbed one of FT's socks from the drawer, walked as quietly as possible toward it, but it was even more frantic. I managed to gently hold it in one hand, and unwrap the grass with the other. It was fine! Then, it dawned on me, I am holding a hummingbird!!! I wanted to hold it a few minutes, it was so beautiful, but, I could feel it's little heart pounding a mile a minute, even through the sock, so I opened my hand, and it flew away. I just stood a few minutes in awe.

The other thing is kinda' funny. I had been told that hummingbirds didn't go by color, but by scent. I like to sit under the trees in the summer mornings to do my devotions. I saw this hummer flitting all around the swing set in our yard. (The colors are red, yellow and blue.) It was especially attracted to the red rings on the posts, and was going all around them, looking for something, it seemed. Now, I have light auburn hair, and the next thing I knew, it was doing the same thing all around the back of my head. It was so close, I could feel the air from it's wings, and once or twice, I felt it touch my hair. I sat as still as could be, hardly breathing. It sat there in the air, like a tiny helicopter, I was trying to see it from the corner of my eye. I think I moved, and with a dash it zoomed away.
They are certainly one of the most fascinating of God's wonderful creatures.

NOW, you have to tell me what a flicker is! lol

I'd wallow in ecstacy if I got to hold an old magpie, let alone a hummingbird! No wonder you wanted to savour the moment.

You never told me you had hummingbirds! Now I HAVE to visit you.

When to you plan to leave? the hummers will be here before too long. I haven't seen any yet, but, haven't started feeding either. come and go to campmeeting with me!! As Greg would say, "wouldn't that be a hoot?" we'd have a ball!!

We had a pet budgie bird that after being tamed was never confined to its cage as the cage door was always left open even at night after we all went to bed.

He liked to land on my shoulder as well as on my hand.

He also liked to do position one leg on my thumb the other one on my adjacent finger and do the twist on my hand by moving his tiny body left and right.

He liked to dive bomb me whenever he was in a playful mood almost no matter where he found me in the house.

He also would land on the table during mealtime and slurp up some of the tomato juice left on the plate after we finished eating a macaroni and tomato meal, of course.

He had the freedom of the whole house, therefore, one morning he had flown upstairs into my bedroom and landed on the top mirror part of the dresser. Pretending I was still asleep I peeked a look at him when he wasn't looking. As long as he thought I was still sleeping, he stayed there wiaiting for me to awaken from my sleep. He finally caught me peeking and immediately flew onto my bed and proceeded to walk up the blanket over me right up to and onto my face chirping excitedly.

We almost lost him one day as we sometimes accidently leave the porch door open. He flew outside, and after calling him, fortunately, he flew right back in again. I was glad I was there when it happened. We should have learned our lesson, however, one other fateful day, the door was left open again and he flew outside and even though we searched high and low calling out his name, that was the last we ever saw of our dear pet budgie bird.

We got another one, but it never was the same. Each bird has its own identity.

A flicker is a member of the woodpecker family. Bigger than a jay and a bit smaller than a crow. They eat bugs as a rule but will eat raisins and fruits from my feeder. They also love ants. When the ants swarm up out of their tunnels in the deep summer, you can often see a flicker standing over the hole, picking them off one by one.

Amelia

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Picture editing done again.

[ March 17, 2002: Message edited by: Daryl Fawcett ]

Lovely to see all the interesting posts here, and I thank you all!

I love to learn about birds in other counteries.
I have never heard of a Flicker, and I think it is the most georgous bird to have visit your garden.

Thanks Amealia for the lovely photo.

My 3 new baby cockaties are doing fine.

I was cleaning out my compost bins infront of the avery yesterday, and the parents just carried on feeding them, it was a delight to watch.

A friend has offered me her canary to put in my avery, so that will be another welcome addition.

I took my canary from the cage in the conservatory 2 weeks ago and put it in the small avery where there is food containers and water low down.
It ws unable to fly having been in a cage for 4 years, so the first week was spent on the floor. The 2 other canaries got down with it, and spent their day time keeping it company.

I have a tree trunk wedged on an angle from floor to the halfway ledge that they can hop up, which in turn takes them to a tree. I notice he sits halfway up now and his mate Gabrielle in the tree.

I look forward to sweetie being able to fly again.