Something Sweet and Fragile —- Monday, June 25, 2018

Posted on June 25, 2018 by Dayphoto

We have this darling little nest out in the tractor shed….where one set of hatchlings have already occurred

There are three nests there, but only one female sitting. No true leisure for her.

Then letting the hen out of the hen house yesterday morning, I realized I had somehow trapped a hummingbird in with the hen overnight.

Well, that’s not a good thing I thought to myself.

Then later on in the afternoon, while laying fresh bedding down, a hummingbird buzzed my head…in the chicken house!

Non-plussed I wondered…what is going on here?!

Looking around to see what would be the attraction of little hummer to a chicken house

I found…

Another solid little nest, complete with a tiny graceful female hummingbird.

Now the paradox has begun

How to keep the chicken safe from predators at night, allow the hummingbird to feed as long as possible (they feed until dark) and get out early enough (they start feeding at first light) and keep the hen safe.

So at first light, I rush out to the hen house, open the door. Then at the very tail end of last light, I shut the door, even though the hen has been abed for a little while.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Another Gift from Megan—Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Posted on August 24, 2016 by Dayphoto

Megan found another wonderful gift from nature…

Here is what she said: “It must be my week to see wonderful things! I found a humming bird nest this morning at the farm. One baby just hatched and the rest of the eggs were so so tiny! Thought you would like to see.”

No problem! It was such a cool thing to see. Lifted all the kids up to see it including James who isn’t so little anymore lol

THANK YOU SO MUCH, Megan! What a wonderful find! Thank you for sharing with all of us!

Love,

Linda

August 16, 2011

Posted on August 16, 2011 by Dayphoto

I heard this really loud bird up in the cottonwood tree….loud! Finally I had to go see who/what was making such a racket. There, next to a little Hummingbird nest, sat this tiny hawk. (At least I think it was a tiny hawk) I watched for a long time trying to figure out what was going on—was the hawk after the hummer? Were there any babies in the nest? I never found out the answer to either one of my questions, but for sure, I never saw a hummer fly even close by.

I think the nest is empty, after several days I have not seen any type of activity around or close by it from any of the hummers in the yard.

As for the tiny hawk…he flew away.

A very fast thunder and lightening storm blew in causing a forest fire some where behind Grand Mesa somewhere.

Other than that life is really busy. Its canning season…that speaks for itself. The pinto beans are getting close to harvest…the lower leaves are starting to turn yellow and the pods are starting to stripe. Terry is thinking that maybe, just maybe….there will be one more irrigation for the pintos, or not. Terry will check all the soil and see if they need more water. Terry really doesn’t want to water if they don’t need it….trying to combine in mud is NOT good.

Linda

The name Delta