Do you all remember my “Snow Bird” from last year? Well my Anna’s Hummingbird is still hanging around but this time with his wife and brood of 2 chicks from this year. As the temps have been falling I need to really keep on top of making sure his feeder is not freezing solid and he has adequate shelter close to the feeder.
This little fella sits on a vinyl coated wire all day about 2 feet from the feeder or on the Japanese Maple a few feet from my front door. He never ventures far from the house which I’m sure radiates a bit of heat and cuts the wind.
Hummingbirds have a unique way of keeping warm or conserving their energy – at night, or any time they cannot get enough food to fuel themselves – they go into torpor – a state in which their metabolic rate is only one-fifteenth that of normal sleep….very much like hibernation.
I can walk right up to him in the early morning without him moving a muscle. I call these beautiful Anna’s humming birds my “tree pickles” or “gerkins” because they are shaped and colored just like one!
Last night I forgot to bring the feeder in….The red popsicle needed thawing. When I brought it back out, 2 hummies buzzed me and landed on the feeder while I was still hanging it up. I hope I can get Steve to get a photo of them doing that tomorrow!!! I told my friend today I want to get them each a little match box complete with blankie and hot water bottle for Xmas to sleep in!!
As I write at 6:30 PM the temp is 24 and heading down to a near record low for Portland this time of year. Brrrrrrr you would never know I was born and raised in Minnesota! My friends are all laughing at me I’m sure…but keep in mind I only own unlined raincoats not a single sweater. I had to really dig to find those photography gloves I bought for Chengdu 2 years ago. Geeze have I turned into a wimp
So what does one do on a cold week to keep warm???? Created fused glass and finish up some batiks!!
This yummy card and print was inspired by a dog we bred years ago…actually he is Megs litter brother Ike!! Thank you Bonnie for letting me use his stately likeness to do this rich colored batik
