Geoff Fox: My Permanent Record
Back when I was in school teachers would always scare me with stories of how my exploits would end up in my permanent record. I believe this is it! – Geoff Fox
My hummingbird feeder is like LAX on a busy afternoon. Flights are constantly arriving and departing. There is congestion at the gates.
It didn’t take long to get this video of my feeder’s popularity! No wonder the nectar’s long gone before a full day passes.
I was fooling around with my GoPro camera this afternoon. It’s perfect to suction near the hummingbird feeder.
Notice how amazing agile they are and how they always hit the right spot with their long beaks. Each bird feeds a little differently.
At one point this afternoon five hummers were blissfully sipping nectar at my window!
The problem is, the feeder was filled this morning. There’s still another hour of daylight. It won’t last through tomorrow night.
Our hummingbird feeder is suctioned to a window off the family room. I turn and stare each time I pass by. Lately I’ve noticed a whole lot of hummingbird activity.
At one point this afternoon five hummers were simultaneously sipping nectar at my window!
The problem is, the feeder was filled this morning. There’s still another hour of daylight. It won’t last through tomorrow night.
That’s crazy. The hummingbirds like Helaine’s cooking as much as I do! Not only that, they’re not scared of us. I get buzzed while filling the feeder. These shots were taken handheld, no more than two feet away.
I thought with loads of flowers in bloom our tiny friends would opt to eat organic. No such luck. If anything, they’re getting thirstier.
Maybe I can post a note asking them to slow down a little?
“Clicky” is on a tripod pointing toward my family room window. Its lens is focused on the hummingbird feeder that’s suctioned on. All the photo settings have been manually dialed in. The shutter is fast, trying to freeze wings that are always in motion.
“Clicky,” in real life a Canon 7D camera, has been loaded with aftermarket firmware called Magic Lantern. With its new extra brainpower it has been commanded to photograph the bird feeder only when something in the shot is in motion–like a hummingbird.
This is really a learning experience. There are many steps before a shot like this works. It’s doubtful all will be right on the first try.
Hopefully, some nice hummingbird shots before the day is through.
I put up a hummingbird feeder a few days ago. We have a small courtyard alongside the house. A feeder seemed the thing to do.
Hummingbirds don’t ask for much. They’re hard workers looking to score nectar. My pleasure.
The feeder itself came from Target. It’s mounted with suction cups on a window to our family room. We can watch TV and hummingbirds simultaneously. The hummingbirds are usually more entertaining!
The nectar also came from Target. This will be the first and last time for that. It was only after I came home that I read coloring doesn’t matter! All that’s needed is a 4:1 water/sugar mix. Even I can handle that.
At the feeder the hummingbirds often seem to hover motionless as their wings flutter at incredible speed. They’re tiny and they fly fast. There’s nothing about them that isn’t cool!
So far Doppler hasn’t caught on. I hope she doesn’t ever.
Squirrels are pretty amazing when it comes to stealing bird food. They could easily perform in Cirque Du Soleil. Maybe they already do?
Last winter as the snow flew an idea came to me. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a bird feeder? We could fatten up the cute birdies who inhabit our neighborhood… and give me another target for photography.
OK–I’m not a saint.
We’ve been through the bird feeder fantasy before. I say fantasy because it always ends up being a squirrel feeder.
Squirrels are pretty amazing when it comes to stealing bird food. They could easily perform in Cirque Du Soleil. Maybe they already do?
An argument might even be made they’re not governed by the laws of gravity!
I looked for something squirrel resistant and ended up with a sock. While I was doing research I thought I read about squirrels not liking sock feeders. Now, sock in hand, that claim seems missing.
The sock sits seven feet off the ground hanging on a rope draped over a branch in our back yard. It’s been there since Monday. Not one bird has approached it. None! Seriously, as far as wildlife is concerned my suet filled sock is invisible! Even the squirrels haven’t been tempted.
Is there a Craigslist sub-board for hungry birds? Maybe I need to get listed on some bird oriented iPhone app?
“Maybe they haven’t found it yet,” offered Helaine.
“But it’s got a picture of a bird on it,” I said.
With this in mind I’m asking you the readers of my blog to get the word out. If you see any hungry birds please let the know the suet’s on me.