Are you a hummingbird watcher?
Last Spring I started inviting hummingbirds into my yard by putting up a feeder. Then two.
I enjoyed their visits, and was enchanted by their beauty.
The group that hung out with me last summer was largely female, and would chirp back to me if I spoke or sung to them. They were a happy part of my days.
Even if they would battle each other.
Battleyard Gallactica
My family nicknamed the back yard, "Battleyard Gallactica."
I did not expect the hummingbirds would be so territorial with the feeder! Hummingbirds just don't share.
It had to have been the result of a feeder battle that we found a dead hummingbird on the patio one morning last summer.
The rest of the season was mainly peaceful, and I enjoyed them enough to be sad when they migrated.
Same Time, Next Year
...So, I made sure we hung feeders up again this Spring!
It was a bit late into the season when I wondered if they would arrive, but the hummingbirds did finally make their appearance.
This year's group is mainly male, and they are not as talkative or cheerful as last year's flock. Their wings are also louder and more "musical." A bit skiddish, as they don't like it when I look at them -- let alone try for a picture.
So, I quietly observe. (I know my place) :)
The West Side Story Of It All
The birdy dynamics this year are dicey!
I've watched two and even three hummingbirds go after each other with such vigor! There is a definite angry tweet, and their movements are very similar to boxers in a ring.
The whole event is sort of like they are representatives of the Jets or the Sharks asking probing each other with, "You wanna rumble? C'mon, I dare ya!"
Before now, I hadn't worried too much about other birds as my neighbors were all with large feeders of other types. But this year a neighbor gave us a beautiful hand-carved feeder that invites many bird species, and it hangs across the yard in a pear tree.
On any given day, our fence is lined with robins, finches, cardinals, blue jays, sparrows, and morning doves. They fly in and out, feed as they wish, chirp to each other -- It's like a big, happy, feathery party!
It's noisy even -- quite..............social!
What have I learned?
It's pretty quiet around the hummingbird feeders. Either one bird at a time, or bickering and fighting.
Something like this:
Interesting, but you don't feel like a party, do you?
The bird feeder in the pear tree sees TONS of action! There is sharing and caring, and there's always something going on!!
The birds on the other side of Battleyard Gallactica are cool to share, and it doesn't seem to be a problem that robins might see finch or a sparrow or a cardinal or whatever feather.
It's really chittery-chattery chirpy!!!
All the birdy species are dancing around - very similar to:
Now c'mon - You were dancing in your chair, weren't ya?
Maybe even played the video twice...?? :D
What Hummingbirds Can Teach Us About Social Media
Fighting over food -- or content, in social media-speak -- keeps things quiet. And it's lonely!
But open sharing and no worrying over who gets what or how much: Seems to be happy and encourage social sharing.
Which is the whole point of social media, right?
Ssooooooooo............................
I suggest we post and tweet, RT & click "like," and party freely with all giraffes, zebras, monkeys, hippos, and lions of the social media world!
Doesn't it seem like more fun?
Now it is your turn!
Will you be a hummingbird, or a penguin??
Tell me in the comment box below. :)
19 Replies
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I have read some just right stuff here. Certainly price bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how so much effort you place to create this kind of wonderful informative website.
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Hello Beauty, Glad you are happy with your experience here on my website. This article about hummingbird behavior influencing social media was a fun one to write. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, ~Keri
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I love those lowland hummers that are visiting every morning (around nap time on the terrace) in our Nashville,,TN home. They love the syrup which I’ve carefully prepared for them, they chirp and hover so sweetly, darling birdies! what a genuine treasure!
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Amy, Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I too enjoy seeing my hummingbird friends when they visit each day. And I miss them when they head south for the winter.
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What a unique comparison Keri! I do my best to be a social hummingbird. 🙂
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@davergallant:disqus , You really do give effort to being social and connecting well! Thanks for stopping by…and for your compliment. ~Keri
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Thank you for your comment! Will you please share your reasonings and insight?
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Hi Keri, I found your post via an alert for “hummingbirds” and was in a bird mindset and didn’t give much thought to your analogy. I would choose to be a hummingbird. I’m guessing that the hummingbirds at your feeder are RubyThroated since you’re in Ohio. Although recently, some Rufous hummers have shown up in Ohio. We feed hummingbirds in the Catskill Mountains on weekends. We use 4 feeders: one on each side of the house to minimize “guarding” of the feeders by the dominant males. And since feeders can draw hummingbirds together in proximity not usually found in nature, this helps relieve the tensions that can come with shortages, or perceived shortages of food. Hummers will also guard a favorite plant and ours sometimes guard a native honeysuckle when it’s in full bloom. Extra feeders also mean that less-territorial males, females and juveniles can get a chance at the sugar water. Some territorial males will allow certain females and babies to feed at “their” feeder. During a cold spell or a dry spell, the hummingbirds rely on the sugar water more than when there are lots of nectar-laden flowers and tiny insects for them to eat. This is when you’ll see more activity. If there is only one feeder and a lot of hummingbirds, there will be more battles. I have seen hummingbirds cross beaks, but have never seen them actually hurt one another, much less cause a death. It’s not in the literature for them to fight severely. I would guess the death would more likely be from disease, old age or a cat. One year I rescued a juvenile hummer from a huge orb spider’s web. It was crying loudly and the orb spider was smacking his lips. The baby was fine, just scared and well, covered in tenacious webbing. Tricky pulling that off. So, I’m all for your hanging up as many feeders as you can, where cats can’t get them. I’m sure you know that outdoor cats kill millions of birds every year and are the biggest threat to avians in the US (besides loss of habitat). Thanks for your interest and reaching out to me! How lovely to draw inspirations from the creatures around us.
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@twitter-122485263:disqus , Thank you for taking time to share your knowledge and experience! Yes, we see Ruby-Throated here in Ohio – Others have not shown their wings here in our area. We have such a small space where we could actually hang feeders. I suppose by being in the same area of our outdoors we are setting them up a bit to fight. Your story about the hummingbird in the spider web was quite interesting – glad you were able to save the bird. Nasty spider! 🙂 As for cats, I suppose they could have been the culprit of killing the bird last year, but we have our feeders hung in a way that the cat would have to fly to meet up with a bird. I had wondered if the birds were fighting and flew into our patio glass doorwall. Thanks again for sharing!! 🙂 ~Keri
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Flying cats with little capes, maybe? 🙂 Spiders are cool. They gotta eat too—just not little hummingbirds if I can help it. I’m sure you’re right about the large windows and a tussle between hummers. Picture windows are huge bird killers. We have four large patio doors and all are hung with bird netting. At first it looks ugly and then you get used to it and don’t see it anymore. Result? Zero window strikes.If you’re not willing to hang nets, consider moving the feeder a few feet away from the window. If that’s impossible, you may want to move it to a part of your home that is not near a window. After all, these little guys fly to Central America for the winter and need all the help they can get in their summer breeding grounds.Although hummers sometimes perch close to the ground where cats can get them—surely it was the window collision. 🙁
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@twitter-122485263:disqus , Thank you for the thoughtful response. Cats with capes – on Halloween! Spiders can eat then too. 🙂 With the door wall, I think the hummingbirds were actually fighting, and when swooping it was a crash into the doorwall. There is a sticker you can get that is also suppose to detract birds from windows. Have you tried those? I’m amazed that the hummingbirds can fly so far when so little in size!! 🙂 Thanks again for your insight, ~Keri
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Hi Keri, what an interesting and unusual analogy. I am envious of you having such beautiful birds in your garden and would ask you to send some over but somehow I don’t think they would thrive too well in the unpredictable climate in the North East of England! I agree that not only do we achieve more if we are more social and not just out for as much as we can get, but we also receive so much more back than we give as long as it’s done in an open and genuine way. Thanks for a thoughtful post Keri, I think this may be my first time adding a comment at your place but I can assure you it won’t be the last 🙂
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@Top10er:disqus , Very nice to see you here — Thanks for reading, and for leaving a comment! This post was brewing for awhile. Hopefully we covered a bit of fun, but also hit on some important concepts. Englad does not see hummingbirds? You are a good example of someone that is social and shares; pays it forward. It is a pleasure having you in my social circle!! 🙂 I look forward to many future exchanges with you… ~Keri
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Keri, aloha. Absolutely loved the clip and, yes, I was dancing on my chair. Also, no doubt, I will have that song playing over and over in my head. Put me down for Penguin! 1. I have always loved their great outfits! 2. The way they stand around reminds me of people grouping together at a cocktail party 3. Now, thanks to you, I know they have great moves. So, Keri, I am Penguin who will move it with tweets, posts, comments and likes. Thx so much for this education and most entertaining post. Best wishes for a fabulous week. Aloha. Janet
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@JanetCallaway:twitter , I’m so glad you’ll be a penguin – For great outfits, conversation, and great moves! 🙂 You do move-it, move-it with tweets, posts, coments…..and you pay it forward. You wear a black tie with the best of them!! Thanks for reading, and for your comment. Aloha, ~Keri
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Loved these thoughts. Hummingbirds station up right where their food is – and they depend on that individual who is taking the time to keep their feeder filled to the brim with red sugar water. Much like social media. If we place our faith in something other than the people – then we’ll surely die!
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@smartboydesigns:disqus , Interesting perspective – Thanks for sharing your thoughts. “If we place our faith in something other than the people – then we’ll surely die!” Profound, and true statement!! ~Keri
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Thanks, Keri. I prefer to be a hummingbird! You’re right- let’s post and tweet- and promote each other- freely! Great observations!
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@MicheleRempel:disqus , Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Isn’t it more fun when we all just tweet & share? 🙂 ~Keri
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