Posted by Robert Kelley on November 25, 2002 at 18:00:27:
In Reply to: North Broward MHOC posted by Paul on November 24, 2002 at 13:19:15:
Roger Hammer says that our humming birds eat
the pollen of the live oak trees.
Bob Kelley
An early walk through the native hammock of Mary Help of Christians church was very productive. Many hummingbirds were seen feeding on the Brazilian Pepper flowers and the Live oak (are they in bloom?). At least 10 hummers were sighted but identification was not achieved as the distance was great and no one knows anything about hummingbirds. Despite that discouragement the viewers were then rewarded with a tree top perch (about 14 feet, and very unusual) of a male Painted Bunting who sat very still for about two minutes in full early morning sun. What a sight. Overhead were many black and turkey vultures and at a very high altitude were 10 wood storks. We guessed that they were at least 3000 feet and circling on a very good thermal. A Great blue took alarm and flew out from the hammock as we shouted and pointed at the wood storks. This Heron now roosts every evening in the hammock in a tree about 25 feet from where the osprey roosts. Catbirds were heard but not seen and palm warblers were everywhere. One yellow-rumped warbler appeared and was somewhat quiet. On Saturday three visitors to the hammock reported seeing an otter in the south bank canal. Killdeer are also present in numbers and are often seen at night on the grass parking lots probably after the mole crickets that are present in large numbers. Ring-necked, Eurasian, Mourning, and collared doves are all present and the grackles and black birds make enough racket at feeding time to draw in the red-shouldered hawk. But it had no luck today. Raccoons and fox tracks are everywhere, and the squirrel population has shrunk by two. The question is Who Did IT? Wrens are a great annpyance...they scold and scold but are never visible. How to differentiate by scolding? Ah, there is the question.
: If you have some time in the early morning, or in the beautiful glow of pre-sunset, come on up and stroll the hammock and north area. We love to hear what we have in the "critter" area, especially identification on the hummers.