First Hummingbird of the Season!

I have been waiting anxiously for the return of my hummingbirds. This beautiful male ruby-throated hummingbird feed at my feeder last night (April 16, 2015). I was so excited!! 

I look forward to more hummers in my backyard and more photo ops.

Nikon D7000 Photo of the Week - 5th Place.

My photo of this house finch placed 5th on the Nikon D7000 Facebook group.

http://d7000nikon.blogspot.it/2015/04/147-photo-of-week.html

More Black-Crowned Night-Heron

Taken today, 13 April 2015.

Black-crowned Night-Heron

12 April 2015:

Today I went to Baker Park in Frederick Maryland. It was a beautiful sunny day in the low 60s.

For the last few years, I have seen the black-crowned night-heron in the trees beside Culler Lake. They come here to breed. They collect branches to make their nests.  I took these today.

You can see the rest of my photos on my photography site: http://www.pileggiphotography.com/Animals/Black-crowned-Night-Heron/48569604_c6MhnX#!i=3987212401&k=HZRgq5v

Photo gear:
Nikon D7000
Tamron 150-600mm lens
Handheld

How to Make a Proper Batch of Hummingbird Food

As a member of a few Hummingbird Facebook groups, I found this recipe to make your own hummingbird nectar.  I already knew the proper measurements but wanted to share this with others. 

This recipe does not use red food coloring/dye, which is harmful to hummingbirds.

Here's a photo (by Linda Lindsay on Facebook "Hummingbirds Anonymous"), in which she shows a hummingbird that drank nectar with red food coloring.

Please pass this on to your friends.

Thanks for caring. 

Monica

Hummingbird Swing

While I am waiting for my hummingbirds to return this spring (hopefully within the next week!) I have been making hummingbird swings.

Apparently hummers like to sit and rest near their feeder, guarding it against other hummers. I saw one web site where a person made her own swing, so I decided to make a go of it.

Supplies from Joann Fabrics:

1/4" dowel (diameter), cut to 7 inches long

12 gauge gold wire (18"), aluminum floral wire

20 gauge red wire

Red beads

Some decorative glass beads (whatever you like)

Drill a hole on each end of the dowel. 

Insert the gold wire and allow 1.5" to wrap around the dowel.

I didn't know how long of red wire to use, so I threaded all of the beads.

Start at one end and wrap the red wire a few times. Then make a curve with a bead; wrap in the opposite direction - it will come naturally. You'll need to keep the wire rolled up enough to pass through the main body of the swing.

Continue all the way around. 

For the center piece, place a bead on the wire, loop around.  Keep about 1/3" of the wire so that you can thread your decorative piece over it, hiding the end.  Add another bead.

 This shows you the fold of the wire. 

I wanted a loop at the top, so I cut a small piece of red wire, a few inches long. I had to loosen the top section of the finished red wire, "sew" through, twist the ends to make a circle. 

Ta da!! This took about an hour to make. Easy!

If you make one, let me know.

Monica

PS: Website link to my hummingbird photography: http://www.pileggiphotography.com/Animals/Hummingbirds/31792297_5q55Wg

Spring Birds

Spring birds in my backyard...and a squirrel too (4 April 2015)