April 24, 2009

We used to follow common wisdom that told us to put out hummingbird feeders around Memorial Day (U.S.) in late May and take them down on Labor Day in September. Then we found the hummingbird migration map and now we fill our feeders when the birds first hit Ohio. Last year’s first sighting at the 'Possum Valley Arboretum was May 11; this year’s was today, April 24th!

The Ruby-throat and I played cat and mouse at the feeder for a couple of hours. He won, but I post this photo of the feeder to commemorate his appearance. I hope to get a shot of the actual bird this weekend.

(There's something a little Earth day-ey about the sugary globe, eh?)

I’ve been trying to do photographic justice to our Leatherwoods since they started flowering but haven’t entirely succeeded. It will be another 50 weeks or so till they flower again so I’ll share what I have. They have such a pretty form.
The stems are flexible (hence their name) and they are slow growing. Native North Americans used the bark for weaving, bow strings and fishing lines. Plant pests don't seem to bother them much so they're pretty throughout the growing season; their buds are even attractive in winter and early spring.

The sun just set. Toads are trilling, coyotes are calling, peepers are singing, and owls are screeching.


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Next day update: 50 or so shots later, it's clear that I'll never get a clear shot of the bird through the glass, so I post this here as documentation of our April Ruby-throated Hummingbird. I think there's just enough detail visible for identification. Go forth and multiply, li'l feller!