Subject: [Tweeters] Calliope "Domination" etc.
Date: May 15 07:06:38 2010
From: Karl Kagarise - gammonit_2000 at yahoo.com


The hummingbird migration this year has been an exciting one with lots of Calliopes. There are about the same number of Calliopes as Rufous and about 1/4 as many Anna's relative to the other two. At the peak a few days ago they were going through 2 quarts a day with three feeders up. As of yesterday it is down to 1+ quart a day but still an easy 20 in my yard at dusk.

I make a clicking noise similar to theirs which gets them to come in. They really don't care how close I stand to the feeder as long as I remain relatively still. In fact, many will do flying "charges" up to about a foot from my face to let me know just who is "boss". All three species do this.

Recently, I started putting my hand under one of the feeders to see who would feed. The aggressive or curious will seek out that feeder. It's pretty amazing to feel the "breeze" off their wings on your arm.

Last night I put my hand up and a particularly aggressive male Calliope came right over and landed on the feeder spot to my right, drank, and then proceeded to fly right towards my already close face at good speed and veer off sharply. If I didn't wear glasses this would have been of concern! The same male then came back and chased off a male Rufous at one feeder and cleared out the other feeder then perched at the top middle feeder to show his obvious domination.


Karl Kagarise
Lyle, WA