# One is the loneliest number **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 13, 2014, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-is-the-loneliest-number/688382 "2014-05-13T23:06:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-is-the-loneliest-number/688382/1 "2014-05-13T23:06:26Z")
Usually [Anna’s](http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/annas_hummingbird/id) hatch two eggs. Mama only got one this year, and it’s almost ready to fly: [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/7438/13994142189_abd5e89cd8_b.jpg "DSC\_4947") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/11822576@N08/13994142189/in/photostream/) ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-is-the-loneliest-number/688382/2 "2014-05-13T23:53:33Z")
One of the coolest things in my life happened a few weeks back: I was sitting on the back patio when a hummingbird came down to use the brand new feeder. A few seconds later, it flew right up to my face, hovered about 8 inches from my nose for 5 seconds or so, then flew away. Mrs. Burpo is the avian buff; can’t get enough of H-birds–she missed the entire thing. And she was sitting right beside me, but watching the dogs over her shoulder. She’s green with envy! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-is-the-loneliest-number/688382/3 "2014-05-14T02:25:06Z")
Did it chirp at you while hovering? If so, it was reminding you of whose turf it was. HBs are fearless. ---
**Author:** ![PurpleClogs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f04885/32.png) [@PurpleClogs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PurpleClogs)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-is-the-loneliest-number/688382/4 "2014-05-14T02:50:23Z")
Great photos! Hummingbird nests are so cute! ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-is-the-loneliest-number/688382/5 "2014-05-14T02:59:22Z")
> [@Little\_Pig](#): > > Did it chirp at you while hovering? If so, it was reminding you of whose turf it was. HBs are fearless. I don’t remember any chirping, but you can bet yer tuchis I’ll be listening in the future! :eek: Thanks for the tip. BTW, what can I expect from a HB attack? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-is-the-loneliest-number/688382/6 "2014-05-14T03:13:55Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > I don’t remember any chirping, but you can bet yer tuchis I’ll be listening in the future! :eek: Thanks for the tip. BTW, what can I expect from a HB attack? They’ll poke your eye out! (Actually, I’ve never heard of a Hummer attacking a person, although they may buzz you…) ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-is-the-loneliest-number/688382/7 "2014-05-14T21:15:23Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > I don’t remember any chirping, but you can bet yer tuchis I’ll be listening in the future! :eek: Thanks for the tip. BTW, what can I expect from a HB attack? Well, there’s [this](http://www.petersburgpilot.com/story/2014/05/01/news/wrangell-festival-caters-to-birders-of-a-feather/2376.html): > [@](#): > > “However, have you ever really watched hummingbirds interacting with each other?” he said. “They are the most mean, vicious, aggressive birds I think I’ve ever seen in my life.” > > Male hummingbirds will attack even females of the same species who get too close to the feeder. Two males Strycker discovered fighting in a ditch in Costa Rica were so infuriated by each other he was able to pick them up with ease. Their temper is likely a function of the high caloric intake required to sustain their furious, lonely and short lives, Strycker said. Hummingbirds suffer from a high rate of heart attacks and strokes, and leave virtually no evidence that they existed. Good thing they’re little! ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-is-the-loneliest-number/688382/8 "2014-05-14T21:17:55Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > Well, there’s [this](http://www.petersburgpilot.com/story/2014/05/01/news/wrangell-festival-caters-to-birders-of-a-feather/2376.html): > Good thing they’re little! Someone once said (to paraphrase) “People think of hummingbirds like they are fairies - small, beautiful, gentle creatures. They’re not - their more like fighter pilots in very maneuverable aircraft, and they don’t take crap from anyone!” ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-is-the-loneliest-number/688382/9 "2014-05-14T21:23:24Z")
Here in the Midwest we have Ruby Throated HB. I have several feeders out and they are great to watch. Ours only make a “tew tew tew” call and it’s not very loud. One of my feeders hangs from a suction cup on a window so I can stand inside and watch from about 12" away. Fearless little birds indeed. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-is-the-loneliest-number/688382/10 "2014-05-14T23:18:55Z")
Here’s one more. I suspect he/she will have left the nest by tomorrow - the baby looked like it was going to up and take off when I poked my camera in the tree… [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/5191/14164835806_40a76a0337_b.jpg "DSC\_4972") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/11822576@N08/14164835806/) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-is-the-loneliest-number/688382/11 "2014-05-14T23:59:44Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > I don’t remember any chirping, but you can bet yer tuchis I’ll be listening in the future! :eek: Thanks for the tip. BTW, what can I expect from a HB attack? beowulff is correct. I have never been attacked but the may buzz you and will hover before you, looking you right in the eye. The HBs that visit my feeder are used to me. I can sit next to the feeder and they don’t mind a bit. Generally they hover while feeding but sometimes they’ll rest on the little roost of my feeder. Fun birds to watch. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-is-the-loneliest-number/688382/12 "2014-05-15T01:32:09Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Someone once said (to paraphrase) “People think of hummingbirds like they are fairies - small, beautiful, gentle creatures. They’re not - their more like fighter pilots in very maneuverable aircraft, and they don’t take crap from anyone!” I’ve come to the conclusion that a lot of birds are better thought of as velociraptors with feathers. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-is-the-loneliest-number/688382/13 "2014-05-15T01:34:33Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Here’s one more. I suspect he/she will have left the nest by tomorrow - the baby looked like it was going to up and take off when I poked my camera in the tree… > > [DSC\_4972 | beowulff | Flickr](https://www.flickr.com/photos/11822576@N08/14164835806/) OK, I looked out there again, and it’s gone… Hope it thrives out there in the big, big world!