[TN-Bird] Re: Humming bird attacks
- From: HagieCas@xxxxxxx
- To: Oligobird@xxxxxxx, tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, csweetman1@xxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 18 Sep 2005 20:03:55 EDT
In a message dated 9/18/2005 4:29:22 P.M. Central Standard Time,
Oligobird@xxxxxxx writes:
While we are all used to seeing ruby-throated humming birds defend feeders,
we witnessed an all-time low in their behavior this week. Two females (no
sign of even the tiniest red feathers on the throats to suggest immature
males)
started to deliberately collide in the air. After several minutes of this,
one got the other one down on the deck and started pummeling it. Kay decided
enough was enough and rushed out telling them to quit that! I could just
imagine the ruler in her hand, but their knuckles were too small and they were
off too fast. They did return to aerial combat almost immediately. I wonder
what would have happened if we had not intervened.
Ralph and Kay Brinkhurst
Lebanon, Wilson Co.
Good account!
Several years ago I was sitting on my back steps 10-12 feet from a small
tree from which a
feeder hung. The usual tussling and chasing and teasing had been going on
for several days.
It was my impression that all this was the same two birds, both unmarked by
red. This day
the two were clashing nearby when one apparently knocked the other to the
ground OR the
one misjudged and flew too close to the ground and crashed. Anyway, the
other was right behind him and jumped on top of him. There was a little low
vegetation between them and me, and I couldn't actually see them, but I was
sure
they were both down and watched patiently for about 15 minutes. Couldn't
stand it any longer and shifted slightly to get a better look, at which one of
the birds (top bird?) zoomed off. So I sat on for another 10 minutes before
standing up, expecting to see a murdered hummer on the ground. Nope. That
one got right up and zoomed off, too.
Hazel Cassel
Nashville, TN
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