Wolf Pack

I saw a single Ruby Throated Hummingbird September 25th and another on the 28th. They are getting scarce now; involved in their semi-annual migration. Those sightings reminded me of the enjoyment to be found in the marvelous hobby of bird watching, and, to wonder if there were any other bird watches in the Wolf family.

Please share your interest in a posting to our nifty blog. Or with a comment to my posting. Or, in a plain ole email to me if that’s your preference.

By the way, removing your “hummer” feeders to encourage them to leave is a myth. Keep your feeders up until a hard freeze puts the feeder in peril. Hummer migration is more likely driven by the lessening daylight or colder temperatures, not whether or not your feeder is still available. Keeping it operational for a while longer could be very helpful to those birds which might be migrating through your neighborhood from farther north. I know they will be pleased with your generosity.

Keep in mind that hummer you enjoyed all summer likely will winter in the sub-tropics far south of most snowbirds. And, it gets there via the do-it-yourself method of travel. Awesome!

To enjoy birding in general requires very few tools. Two are essential; a good quality binocular and a good bird identification book.

Look for binoculars that are comfortable to carry, focus smoothly near and far and have a bright, clear image. You can find something quite adequate in the $100-$300 price range. I have a 10 x 50 Nikon for use around the house and an 8 x 25 Minolta for use in the field (much smaller and lighter to carry).

My favorite bird identification books are:

1) Birds of North America, by Golden, 2) Field Guide to the Birds of North America, by National Geographic, and 3) Field Guide to North American Birds, by the Audubon Society. You should be able to evaluate these, and others, at your local book store, or, better yet, borrow them from the local library for a good test drive.

Feeding the birds is a nice component of the hobby. Again, a fairly modest investment in several feeders (and maintaining them) will soon attract many species and bring them up close for your watching enjoyment.

Just wait until the first time you see poppa Cardinal feed a carefully selected seed to his potential mate, or, a newly fledged Mourning Dove attempt to extract its first meal from your feeder. The rewards are endless.