Okay, NOW I understand why we've seen so few hummingbirds this summer. Because YOU are right across the street hoarding them and bribing them with multiple Free All-You-Can-Drink feeders. How can the little guy compete against the big corporation when he only has a single pot of colorful lantana on the back deck? I even planted a big sign in there that sticks up like a Buc-ees billboard, declaring "Happy Hour 4-6pm." I usually end drinking most of the sugar water myself before it goes bad and attracts ants. Well, that's okay, because not to brag but I bet we have twice as much pigeon poop on our patio furniture as you do.
Last year we tried everything in our feeder--Red Bull, cherry Gatorade., Trader Joe's merlot. Nothing worked. By the way I quoted you in my newest book. I'll email you a photo of the page along with the PDF of the book.
Okay, fine! But when my next newspaper column is about hummingbirds guzzling pinot, getting drunk off their needle nose, and being laughed at by mockingbirds for being pulled over by a bluejay for reckless flying, I expect you to buy up every copy of the Herald that Kroger has!
Synchronicity rules. Interesting path to find you here. as it's truly an interconnected world of networks of access & meaning. Saw this nice quote you had pinned - "The job of an artist is to offer a sanctuary of beauty to an ugly world." - pinned by Jeff Goins - 4.5k followers - which I saved & then followed to your account there https://www.pinterest.com/jeffgoins/ & then to your earlier writing blog here - https://goinswriter.com/ - & on to your final article there: called "The End of Blogging" - https://goinswriter.com/end-of-blogging/ - & then finally to your substack here.
I agree w/you that substack is one of the liveliest & best portals for writing & analysis anywhere & my only problem is that I subscribe to far too many stacks to be able to fully appreciate them most days. But it's a good kind of overload I think. Anyway, hope this isn't too far off-topic to your request for feedback here (altho that was for paid subscribers regarding your manuscript) but just wanted to share my own experience finding this stack today as one of your newer followers. I don't think I would have discovered your stack without using that other social media site.
Also want to add a relevant observation here that I daily feel as if I am "dive-bombing" into substack - like the small hummingbirds you mention - to nourish myself with not only lovely, reflective essays but also w/critical analysis & facts in order to understand these crazy & very trying times.
In another related bird digression, bird-watching has always been a real passion & a wonderful recent experience was our family's summer Catskills trip & our birding visit at the Minnewaska State Park Nature Center. The birding class is free (as are all of their educational hikes/walks) & led by a very knowledgeable birder. Highly recommend it to all who live around here or are visiting in the area. Nature always opens our hearts, delights the mind & feeds our souls for the struggles ahead. Cheers.
Okay, NOW I understand why we've seen so few hummingbirds this summer. Because YOU are right across the street hoarding them and bribing them with multiple Free All-You-Can-Drink feeders. How can the little guy compete against the big corporation when he only has a single pot of colorful lantana on the back deck? I even planted a big sign in there that sticks up like a Buc-ees billboard, declaring "Happy Hour 4-6pm." I usually end drinking most of the sugar water myself before it goes bad and attracts ants. Well, that's okay, because not to brag but I bet we have twice as much pigeon poop on our patio furniture as you do.
Enjoy. The nectar is best enjoyed with a little soda water and bourbon.
Last year we tried everything in our feeder--Red Bull, cherry Gatorade., Trader Joe's merlot. Nothing worked. By the way I quoted you in my newest book. I'll email you a photo of the page along with the PDF of the book.
Well of course not Merlot! Nobody likes Merlot. You should've done a California Pinot. Like Santa Barbara.
Okay, fine! But when my next newspaper column is about hummingbirds guzzling pinot, getting drunk off their needle nose, and being laughed at by mockingbirds for being pulled over by a bluejay for reckless flying, I expect you to buy up every copy of the Herald that Kroger has!
Regarding how hummingbirds eat & drink - it's not like a straw but more like a pump. Who knew?
How Exactly Do Hummingbirds Eat and Drink? - Written by Karla Lewellyn - Pub Nov 28, 2023
https://a-z-animals.com/blog/how-exactly-do-hummingbirds-eat-and-drink/ -
Article has not only fascinating info on the eat/drink mechanism but gorgeous hummingbird photos.
Very nice.
Synchronicity rules. Interesting path to find you here. as it's truly an interconnected world of networks of access & meaning. Saw this nice quote you had pinned - "The job of an artist is to offer a sanctuary of beauty to an ugly world." - pinned by Jeff Goins - 4.5k followers - which I saved & then followed to your account there https://www.pinterest.com/jeffgoins/ & then to your earlier writing blog here - https://goinswriter.com/ - & on to your final article there: called "The End of Blogging" - https://goinswriter.com/end-of-blogging/ - & then finally to your substack here.
I agree w/you that substack is one of the liveliest & best portals for writing & analysis anywhere & my only problem is that I subscribe to far too many stacks to be able to fully appreciate them most days. But it's a good kind of overload I think. Anyway, hope this isn't too far off-topic to your request for feedback here (altho that was for paid subscribers regarding your manuscript) but just wanted to share my own experience finding this stack today as one of your newer followers. I don't think I would have discovered your stack without using that other social media site.
Also want to add a relevant observation here that I daily feel as if I am "dive-bombing" into substack - like the small hummingbirds you mention - to nourish myself with not only lovely, reflective essays but also w/critical analysis & facts in order to understand these crazy & very trying times.
In another related bird digression, bird-watching has always been a real passion & a wonderful recent experience was our family's summer Catskills trip & our birding visit at the Minnewaska State Park Nature Center. The birding class is free (as are all of their educational hikes/walks) & led by a very knowledgeable birder. Highly recommend it to all who live around here or are visiting in the area. Nature always opens our hearts, delights the mind & feeds our souls for the struggles ahead. Cheers.