Just a few fun vids this post, of my favorite variety–the dual-use–both entertaining and educational!
How many hours could I spend delighted by the hummingbird wars?! It gets me pondering so many things . . . like are they fighting these territorial battles for real, or just goofing off? One has taken a dominant position, guarding the post perched on a sunflower leaf, but often allows the other 7 (yes we’ve counted 8 of them!) to have a drink. Are they kin? The chosen feeder-keeper has gotten so comfortable in his position I can get very close before he gets spooked off. Which makes me realize, I don’t actually know if it’s he or she. There is a nice fire-engine red around the throat, which I think means male.
Sometimes he will stay there guarding while the others drink, while other times he chases them off in a seeming acrobatic rage. Could he be training the youth? Or trying to keep his girls in line? So many angles to ponder!
Here’s a brief slow-mo to see how deliberately yet effortless they dance around each other.
There’s another feeder just about 50 feet away, but they don’t fight over that one at all. It’s the same sugar syrup, but the other feeder is a different style, with clear glass instead of red. Is that why they prefer this one? To test that idea I’ve ordered another of the same style from Amazon. (I know, but they make it too easy!)
Every so often both hummingbird feeders will be full, and quietly content. Then a bright red cardinal will come to dine on the light blue feeder and a little black and white phoebe will perch and snack in the green one. A bumblebee will be on the pansy and honeybees on the sunflowers. The briefest of moments of calm in paradise, before some unperceived interuption sets the scene in motion again.
But even in the constant motion there is something so serene in the rhythm of nature, the soothing colors and harmonious patterns and consistent calls.
In contrast, one more video. Another dual-purpose one of entertainment and education, in this case, predictive programming.
Watching this captivating scene, sipping on a kombucha cocktail with Hubby as he draws up plans for our next BIG DIY project– remodeling our 1980s bathroom, at long last–is just about as perfect a Sunday as I can imagine.
Hoping your Sunday is your personal perfect paradise too!
Thanks for stopping by!
