Jeff,


Thanks for setting me straight. I always wondered what a Vibrator was, and why people are always talking about them in a rather positive tone.


Did you know that wood warblers don't warble? So there's just another group that will have to be renamed. They've just done it with many of the scientific names, but we may have to petition for a common-name change as well.


Just to make this interesting, I have to relate that I went to a well-known "good" spot for Swainson's Warblers in coastal South Carolina this morning, all bright and cheerful and looking forward to finally photographing this very shy and elusive bird. Well, two hours after starting, I hadn't even got a look at one rustling the leaves, so it seems to be shy and elusive in spades. I used to see them in migration in Florida but haven't seen one in decades. I give up.


But I made up for the frustration quite a bit by photographing the two eastern subspecies of Short-billed Dowitchers together on the coast this afternoon, something I had long been interested in doing. You can't win 'em all, but you can win some of 'em.


Dennis




----- Original Message -----
From: "jeff gibson" <gibsondesign at msn.com>
To: dennispaulson at comcast.net
Cc: tweeters at washington.edu
Sent: Wednesday, May 2, 2012 6:36:22 PM
Subject: RE: [Tweeters] A Little Dab of Butter


Dennis,

I'm really glad you asked about Hummingbirds, because I think there might be a problem with that name.

We have our Creeper's who creep, Dippers who dip, Woodpeckers who do peck wood, etc. As for Hummingbird, I suggest the more accurate name of Vibrator.

When you think about it (as I did all night) Hummingbirds operate a bit below general humming level. Try humming as low as you can go. The Hummingbird vibe is much lower. Even a basso profundo humming just sounds like some big guy humming. Hummingbirds are a lower vibration than that! I could be wrong there, not being an opera listener.

And really, what vibrates more than a "humming'bird? Having banded small Passerines in the past, I remember holding them and feeling the rapid beat of their little hearts. I never held a Vibrator (I mean "hummingbird") before, but can only imagine how much they vibrate, even while perched!

Actually, I got this idea from our home vibrator, who we call George. George is a cat. George admires anyone with body heat, and so last night as usual he was sleeping right atop me, purring away - in other words, vibrating. "By George you've done it!" I thought before going back to sleep. And by the way, last I heard nobody knows why cats do purr, for whatever that's worth.

Jeff Gibson
Everett Wa



Date: Wed, 2 May 2012 03:45:11 +0000
From: dennispaulson at comcast.net
To: gibsondesign at msn.com
CC: tweeters at washington.edu
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] A Little Dab of Butter


Then what do you call hummingbirds, Jeff?


Dennis


(in Conway, South Carolina - hot and humid and birdy)


From: "jeff gibson" <gibsondesign at msn.com>
To: tweeters at washington.edu
Sent: Tuesday, May 1, 2012 8:35:29 AM
Subject: [Tweeters] A Little Dab of Butter


Snooping out the window this morning as usual, looking for any new migrants, I noticed a little dab of something on the window. It was as perfect a feather sample one could ask for of a Yellow-rumped Warbler - a bit of blue grey, black bits, white bits, and a nice little dab of yellow. All stuck to the window in an area smaller than a dime.

Well there was no sign of the bird on the ground, or more feathers, so there might be a Butterbutt out there with a headache this morning (presuming it was crown feathers off a male) or possibly being a breakfast for a Sharp-shin. With as zippy as they are I wouldn't be surprised if one flew into the window on it's own. I suggest the new name of Zippy Butterbutt. It's easier to say than Yellow-rumped Warbler, which is kind of a lumpy name really. And they sure are zippy!

We've had lots of Zippy's around all week.

Jeff Gibson
Everett Wa


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