Subject: Hummer wars
Date: Aug 11 21:54:17 2002
From: Eric Henriksen - Eric.Henriksen at gte.net


We planted a variety of lily that grows nice red blossoms in my small
Richland backyard this year. The flowers bloomed late because we
planted late but as soon as there were a number out there the
hummingbirds started showing up. I was surprised because this area has
only been developed in the past year or so.

Now the hummers are fighting over property rights on the yard.
Apparently they take them quite seriously. Have witnessed a couple
pretty nasty battles from close range while sitting on the patio. One
in particular sticks out where the more aggressive bird seemed to have
collided with the other after attacking from a hover about 4 feet away.
The thump was noticeable. In that particular battle the birds were in
such fury that they seemed to forget about us sitting right there and
fought it out all around us. It was actually pretty crazy with the two
little winged darts chasing each other around, periodically stopping and
hovering, and then buzzing off after each other.

Eric Henriksen
Richland, WA
Eric.Henriksen at gte.net