nosmo@pyuxh.UUCP (P. Valdata) (08/12/85)
Last year we had a hummingbird visit our azaleas. After several minutes of hovering, flying backwards, and feeding, during which it acted very bee-like, it landed on a tree branch just above the azaleas, where it wiped its beak on the branch and acted very bird-like. Interesting contrast! I have seen mockingbirds, blue jays, and kingbirds going after other--usually larger--birds, cats, and even people. I've also seen birds at a distance attacking hawks and crows, but they were so far away I couldn't tell what the smaller birds were; my impression was they were blackbirds, although I don't know what kind. Postscript on the serenading mockingbird: It has stopped, thank goodness; it seems to be something it does only in July! Its song began tapering off during the last week in July, dwindling to a couple of notes, and finally stopping. It has been blessedly quiet every night this month! -- Pat Valdata pyuxh!nosmo