Spring comes on like gangbusters. So much so that it’s hard to take note of it all. Sometime during the past few days while I was out of town, red buckeyes began to bloom in Knoxville. At the same time ruby-throated hummingbirds turned up as well. When I settled back into my home and looked out at the feeder—Saturday late—there perched a hummer. A coincidence? Dare I say not!
Studies have shown that the diminutive little birds weighing 1/10 of an ounce—about the same as two dimes—follow the blooming buckeyes north. As the native tree with red tubular flowers blooms in any given area, the hummingbirds soon appear.
It's a lovely piece of natural synchronicity.
Lyn - I have also viewed my first hummer of the season but it was not at my own feader - it was in Roane County on Sunday, April 13. Mine usually arrive on April 15 -- TAX DAY -- in Blount County - downtown Rockford. Thanks for the lovely info. Kathy B.
ReplyDeleteI'll never forget the first time I saw a hummingbird. I was 11 and we were visiting my grandparents in California. Of course I had read about them and always been curious. If they lived in South Texas, I sure never saw any.
ReplyDeleteIt was just as beautiful and fascinating as I had imagined. I couldn't stop watching it. I still have a fondness for them today.
homegurl.
ReplyDeleteThat's one way to brighten Tax Day.
Oddly, I was on the roof late Saturday removing the chimney cap so that the swifts could find the chimney to nest, when I looked down and saw the first hummer of the season at the feeder nearby.
britecloud.
ReplyDeleteHello again. Yes, hummingbirds are beautiful and fascinating.
California has a few more kinds of hummingbirds than we do, so there is no telling what you saw but as you said, it was memorable.