On a recent cool morning, I sipped coffee in my rocking chair on the patio, watching the hummingbirds zipping around the flowers in our back yard.
One of the hummers, a reddish-brown bully, chased the other birds out of the area, his wings buzzing furiously as he claimed my yard as his territory.
Then I saw something I’d never seen before. The hummingbird went after a lizard that was twice his size.
We have lots of lizards, and they love to run around on the rough concrete wall that lines the rear of our yard. On this day, a really big one was sunning on top of the wall.
The hummer zoomed at the lizard, coming to within inches of it, wings whirring. The lizard, apparently annoyed, ran a couple of feet along the top of the wall to get away. This merely emboldened the enemy. The hummingbird buzzed the lizard again and again, chasing it along the top of the wall all the way into the neighbor’s yard.
That’s when I went into the house. The hummingbird had chased everybody else from the yard. I figured I was next.
- The 20th annual Ducky Derby comes to Redding later this month, but you can help support the fundraising effort this Thursday by dining at one of three restaurants on Hilltop. Applebee’s, Marie Callendar’s and Logan’s Roadhouse will accept coupons to send 15 percent of sales to support the Ducky Derby. To get the coupon or more info, click here. The yellow ducks drop at 4 p.m. on Sept. 27.
- Here’s a great event this Saturday: Clyde’s at 2961 Churn Creek will accept donations of computers, televisions, VCRs, camcorders and other electronic equipment, no matter what condition or age. The stuff will be sorted and reused in a Computers for Classrooms program. What’s not useable will be properly recycled. Also, people who have proof of need (food stamps, Medi-Cal card, etc.) can purchase computers at reduced rates during the Saturday event.
- Mark Your Calendars for Sept. 30, when College Options hosts College Quest at the Redding Convention Center. More than 50 colleges and universities will be represented, along with military recruiters and career advisors. The event runs from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. For more information, click here.
- World Alzheimer’s Day will be marked on Monday with an open house at Willow Springs Alzheimer’s Special Care Center, 191 Churn Creek, from 9 to 11 a.m. There will be coffee and doughnuts and resources from the Alzheimer’s Association.
Tips appreciated: Send news tidbits to steveb.anewscafe@gmail.com.
