I am looking at a hummingbird feeder by our window,and there are 7 tiny little hummingbirds feeding at once. We are moving to Bolivar soon,and I just wondered if we could enjoy these little gifts from God,there too?

-- The Sloans (hillsidefarm@texoma.net), July 25, 2000

Answers

Digging around on the Internet, it appears that all of Missouri is within the breeding range of the ruby-throated hummingbird. Since Missouri is west of the Mississippi, it may be that there are a few other hummingbird species there as well.

http://wbu.know-where.com/wbu/

That is the URL for Wild Birds Unlimited store locator. There are 7 stores in Missouri. You could pick the one closest to your new location and email them and ask which hummingbirds are common to that area.

-- J E Froelich (dragnfly@chorus.net), July 25, 2000.

Im sure that they are there. I thought I would add my 2 cents on hummingbird "experts" and what they have to say about them and their range. There are 3 kinds of hummingbirds that visit my feeders. 1 that "only lives in the rockies," one that "only lives in California" and another type that "doesnt exist." By the way, I live in North East Wisconsin...apparently hummingbirds dont consult range maps.

-- William in WI (thetoebes@webtv.net), July 25, 2000.

I am intrigued that you have several hummingbirds at once!!!! I spend a good time of each morning watching the hummingbird "duels"....they absolutely refuse to share...one will be at one feeder and another will zoom in at the speed of light and off they go,zipping around the house several times until the victor returns to casually visit both feeders at his/her leisure....my husband says they are so competitive that if we hung 40 feeders, one bird would still emerge victorious to sip from each of them alone...has anyone else seen this, or do I just have weirdo hummingbirds????????God Bless..

-- Lesley (martchas@gateway.net), July 25, 2000.

You bet we have hummingbirds, in profusion. Yes, Lesley, ours are just as territorial and aggressive. Have you ever seen the swooping flight like a swing on the move? I understand that't a territorial display and is it neat to watch!

You refer to Bolivar as being in Central MO. If it's the Bolivar not far north of Springfield, you are more likely in Southwest MO. You're going to a beautiful part of the state with lots of interesting things within easy driving distance to see. Good luck in your new home.

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), July 26, 2000.

Say Lesley,

Have you seen the hummingbird dog fights? We have a feeder on the edge of our front porch. One of the males sit in the maple tree in the front yard and waits for intruders. When another one tries to get a sip from the feeder, this male roars in and the chase is on. The fleeing hummingbird will make an incredibly tight downward spiral to shake off his pursuer. The male will follow, and both birds will spin down towards the porch floor, each trying to get the other to crash into the ground. Finally, one or the other will break off and disappear over the porch rail. All this in about three seconds. The first time it happened, I ducked for cover and spilled my lemonade!

(:raig

-- Craig Miller (Cmiller@ssd.com), July 27, 2000.

Greetings ! Hey! I used to live in Mo. about 30 miles from Boliver, I worked at the Lighthouse Marina down at Lake Pomme De Terre. Beautiful country.! I attended college at Bolivars Bible Baptist! I know your new town well. I'm in Ohio now and oh how I miss the unspoiled land of missouri and the open friendly ways of her people. I spent the second decade of my growing up years, attending school in Hermitage,around Lake Pomme De Terre , a very small town where everybody knows everybody. What a culture shock I went through when I moved to Ohio and nobody spoke to me at the grocery store, the tellers at the bank after five years, still dont know my name, and nobody would wave to me when they passed me on the road nor look at me when we passed in the street. I started figuring out that social skills were differant here in the north when at the supermarket the ladys that I would began talking to ,about the lettuce, would look at me in horror and wonder what I wanted, what scam was I up to.!I finally surrendered to the fact that you arnt friendly here when my new neighbors moved in and I, greeting the new lady as she planted tomatoes, trying to make small talk ,told her that we would be having a First juicy tomatoe growing contest,her reply was that they were going to build a big tall fence. Hmmm. Yep I finally figured out the people out here were frightened of my friendly Missouri ways. Well anyhows I think that that area of missouri is awesome, there are wonderful natural areas there. Be sure to go down to the lake sometime and visit the Lighthouse Marina, a wonderful place to have Dinner as you sway with the water and watch the sun set across the Lake. Oh and yes there are hummingbirds in that part of missouri as I remember my inlaws having many on their back decks, and there are still couger and bear and whiperwills. Hey I'm gonna share a little ditty that I wrote for my little girl Bre, when we moved out here and where missing Missouri. Here goes. Take Me Back . Oh take me back to Missouri, where the coyote still roams, wont you take me back to missouri, the land that my baby calls home. Oh take me back to Misssouri, where the wild purple aster still blooms, wont you take me back to Missouri and cant you take me soon .Yes take me back to Missouri where the whipperwill still sings , take me back to Missouri , shes one of lifes finest things. Well anyhows I hope you enjoy your new area and grow to love it and it's people like I did. thats all Sincerly

-- Trendle ellwood (trendlepin@msn.com), February 08, 2001.