Late summer lessons from the birds -

Today we closed up the lake place.  It is always a little sad as we know that winter is coming.  Since we still had drifts the end of May in the park, the summer seemed exceptionally short.  We had rain the last few days but a sunny, wonderful fall day to end the season.  Some of my family think I take too many pictures of birds.  But I was thinking about some of the pictures that I took of birds over the years and how we can learn from them.  See if you get the lessons they teach by filling in the blanks.  Here goes: "Never count your ____  _____   ____   _____."

Good one.  Here is another: "Birds of a _____  _____  _______."

You're on a roll.  Now try this one: "A bird  __  _____  ...

is worth ___  ___  ___  ____."

You should get this one: "It's hard to ____  ____  _____...

when you work with _____."

Boy, you are sharp.  Here is the last one.  Hummingbirds are the tiniest of birds but it's brain is 4.2% of its body weight, the largest in the bird world.  I guess you could say:

That hummingbirds are real bird ______.  See how much you learn from the birds?

I wonder who thought of these?

A Hummingbird's wings will beat about 70 times per second, their heart rate is about 1260 beats a minute, and their wings rotate in a full circle.  They get their name from the humming sound their wings make when flying.

Hummingbirds are the only birds that can fly both forward and backwards.

Hummingbirds can also hover in mid-air, fly sideways and even upside down.

The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, the female is here pictured, will fly 500 miles over the Gulf of Mexico while being in flight for 20 hours in their Fall and Spring migration.

Hummingbirds do not migrate on the backs of geese!

Females do all the nest building and get no help in raising their young from the males.

Hummingbirds are the tiniest birds in the world, but its brain is 4.2% of its body weight, the largest proportion in the bird kingdom.

Hummingbirds can hear better than humans, see farther than humans, have little to no sense of smell, have red as their favorite color, and can live up to 10 years.  Early Spanish explorers called Hummingbirds "flying jewels."  I agree, don't you?

Lake area critters

This week I had a variety of critters that I took with my camera that I thought I would show you.

On Labor Day this team came to give the kids a ride.  I don't know my horses, so let's just say they were powerful.

This family group crossed the road in front of us and stopped traffic.  I wish I could have gotten all of them in the family portrait.  There must have been 10-12 little ones.  Great prospects for turkey hunters.

This guy and a friend were circling around our place yesterday.  I haven't had much success getting a picture of him on his favorite tree near our camper.

These rascals are busy, busy this time of year.  They have the nectar from the flowers as well as our feeder.  They must be filling up before their long trek. 

I don't know their habits well, but the females seem to be the only ones around.

There is no way I can stop their wings from showing motion.  Amazing birds.

Speaking of amazing.  I named him Rudolf.  He looks like a jet ready to take off his carrier.

This was the sight the end of June when the loons had two babies... just a day old.

Now the parents only had one survive and the "baby" can dive and soon will be leaving after the parents for the south.  Smart birds.

This morning the sunrise was spectacular.

I grabbed my camera and headed toward the lake.

Another reminder of the fact that God likes color... spectacular colors.