I've heard many facts about hummingbirds over the years, and for some reason I didn't think they ever stopped beating their wings. My resident hummingbirds, however, seem to like the wire cages around my flowers, and they rest on them as they sip, allowing me to observe them even more closely.
As the delphiniums have come into full bloom this week and the hummingbirds have arrived en force, I now see them zipping about our yard, looking like giant but speedy moths. They even come out in the rain, which for some reason also surprises me. Wildlife does not need to be large, and hummingbirds are the creature I have been most surprised to see in Alaska.
In the video below the hummingbird is behind a bloom at first, on the lefthand side before it flits and sits about.
I'm surprised hummingbirds are up there! Beautiful flower garden you have - wow! Thank you very much for sharing this. I love the animal info you write about.
ReplyDeleteNancy
You are welcome! Glad I'm not the only one that was surprised about hummingbirds in Ak!
ReplyDeleteOk, more AK questions, but off the topic of hummingbirds. I have been watching, mesmerized by, the Explore.org/bear web cams of the July salmon run at Brooks Falls in Katmai Nat'l Park along with the bears fishing. Simply amazing to me and so fascinating to watch. Have you ever been inclined to go there to watch? How far is it from you in Homer? Is it a real big tourist 'thing' and hard to get reservations to watch on the platforms they have? Is it expensive? Is it a logistical nightmare? Is salmon cheaper now to buy in the stores, at this time of year, due to the abundance? Thanks! Nancy
ReplyDeleteWhen one of my cousins from the Lower 48 was up here a few years ago visiting we tried going across the Inlet (Cook Inlet, that is) to a bear viewing, but the weather was not cooperating. One flies a small float plane over so there has to be good visibility, low winds/waves, and a forecast of being able to get back. We tried for 3 or 4 days when my cousin was here, on hold for hours waiting to see if the weather would clear and it did not so never went. Cost for some are $500/day. Others much more if you overnight there. It's maybe an hour flight from Homer? But they always add in glacier flightseeing too. I've run into bears enough in the woods that I'm not highly motivated to pay lots of money to watch more bears.
ReplyDeleteSalmon is still like $20/lb in the stores, at least it was when I checked years ago. But I would never buy from the grocery store so I don't look. I've seen signs on the street saying $20/fish for salmon, which is cheaper depending on the size of the fish (6-9 lbs likely) and what kind it is.
Love your questions! All sorts of things I don't think about!
Thank you for the info!
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