Page 2B
Reporter
April 3, 2019
MONROE OUTDOORS by Terry W. Johnson
7
ApCOUple of weeks
ago I voiced my
inion that,
spite of the
unseasonably warm weather
we enjoyed during the lat-
ter stages of winter, ruby-
throated hummingbirds
would probably not
arrive early this year.
As it turned out, my
prediction missed
what took place by a
long shot.
To date, I have
received eight reports
of hummingbirds
arriving in the
county before March
18. aree Monroe
Countians reported
birds arriving at their
homes prior to March 15. I
saw my first bird March 14.
This was a personal record.
To top it aU off, Carolyn Per-
kins reported the first bird of
the year showing up March
9. According to my records,
this marks the earliest a
rubythroat has appeared in
Monroe County since I be-
gala keeping records of such
events some three decades
ago.
Interestingly, to date the
only report I have received
regarding the arrival of a
female came from Taylor
County. A female ruby-
throat showed up at a feeder
near Buffer March 18. Since
TERRY W.
females typically arrive later
than the males, this is an
indication a wave of female
ruby-throated humming-
birds is now making its way
northward across Middle
Georgia. As such, ffyou have
yet to see a rubythroat, your
first hum-
mingbird
of the year
might be a
female and
not a male.
Several
times over
the years, my
first bird of
the spring
JOHNSON has been a
female.
People
sometimes employ novel
ways to encourage the first
hummingbirds of the year
to stop in their backyards.
Although I cannot attest
to whether any of these
strategies actually work, you
might want to try one or
more of them in your yard.
Since it is well-known
hummingbirds are attracted
to the color red, some folks
put out red objects to decoy
the first migrants of the year
to their yard. I know one
woman that hangs short red
streamers on small trees and
shrubs about her backyard.
Another hummingbird
enthusiast glues pieces of red
cloth to clothespins. She
then dips the dothesp'ms
to vegetation growing
around her house The
most extreme strategy I
have heard was employed
by a man who placed a red
traffic cone atop his home
in an effort to attract a
sharp-eyed hummingbird.
In each case, the home-
owners hoped humming-
birds passing through
would spot what appeared
to be red nectar-laden
flowers in their yard and
swoop in to investigate
this potential source of
nectar and discover their
hummingbird feeders.
Some folks take a differ-
ent approach. They simply
hang large numbers of
hummingbirdfeeders
about their yard. Their
hope is that any hummers
that discover this bounty
of food will be enticed into
staying.
Until someone can
demonstrate any of these
strategies worL I am going
to stick to hanging a single
feeder out in the same loca-
tion it hung the previous
year.
One thing is certain, few of
the birds that find their way
to our yards in the spring
stay for any length of time.
The reason for this is hum-
mingbirds have a strong ten-
It is obvious we
witnessed an earlier
migration this year. ,
Several of the "
folks that reported '
early birds wrote that
within a day or so of -
erecting their first
feeder, a bird showed
up. In another in- -.
stance, a woman said
she put her feeder
up when she got
home from work and
within an hour, she
saw a hummingbird
feeding at her feeder. "
This leads us to ::
wonder ifwe had our :
feeders up by March
1 or earlier, would we -,
have recorded our
A male ruby-throated hummingbird hovers over a { - cJer. Hummers were sight- first hummingbirds
ed in Monroe County earlier than usual as they migrated to where fhey were of 2019 earlier than
raised in North Georgia, Tennessee or even Canada. (Photo/Terry Johnson) March 9?
dency to return to the area
in which they were raised.
Consequently, most of the:
hummers that pass through
our yards in spring are
headed elsewhere to where
they fledged in places such
as North Georgia, Tennes-
see, Virginia, New England
or Canada, to name a few.
As such, our backyards offer
them much needed stopover
sites along their migration
pathway.
Since food is scarce when
the earliest of these long-dis-
In any event, I, for
tance migrants are passing
through, the nectar provid-
ed by our feeders enables the
birds to quickly re-fur and
head on their way. Without
our help, these birds would
have to spend more time
seeking food before continu-
ing on their epic journey;
this requires a lot of ener .
As such, there is a distinct
possibility they would arrive
in poorer physical shape
had we not provided them
backyard re-fueling stations
along the way.
one, plan on putting up my
feeder much earlier next
year just in case rubythroats
arrive early again.
Terry Johnson is retired
Program Manager of the
Georgia Nongame-Endan-
gered Wildlife Program. He
has written the informative
column 'Monroe Outdoors"
for the Reporter for many
years. His book, "it Journey
to Discovery7 is available at
The Reporter. Email him at
qwoodduck@bellsouth.net.
0
By Richard Dumas with 95.5 points while eighth in the 100-meter County Middle School gids seconds, Abbey Stembridge, feet, 2 inches, and Amiya
forsyth@mymcr.net Peach County finished in hurdles with a time of 17.14 squad amassed 31 points gs who placed sixth in the Davis, who placed eighth
third place with 79.5 points, seconds, and Jesean Wilson, Pike County Middle als 800 meters with a time of in the shot put with a heave
The Monroe County Mid- Monroe County boys who placed fourth in the took the girls meet with a 2 minutes, 59 seconds and of 25 feet, 6 inches. Also,
die School boys and girls athletes who scored points discus with a throw of 91 total of 115 points. Upson- placed second in the 3,200 Monroe County's No. 14
track teams each placed at Saturday's meet included: feet, 8 inches. Also, Monroe Lee Middle narrowly meters with a time of 13 x 100-meter relay team of
eighth at the Zaxby's Cen- J.T. Owens, who placed County's No. 1 4 x 100-me- finished behind the Lady minutes, 34 seconds, Jaliyah Bigham, Barkley, Ah'Zoria
tral Georgia Middle School fifth in the 100 meters with ter relay team of Athan Bur- Pirates with 113.5 points to Johnson, who placed eighth Hardy and Serenity Bland
Athletic League (CGMSAL) a time of 12.21 seconds, leson, Owens, Davis and place second while Peach in the 800 meters with placed fourth with a time of
Championships in Jackson Brandon Alford' who Alford placed seventh with County came in third a time of 3 minutes, 10 54.05 seconds.
on Saturday. placed seventh in the 200 a time of 50.27 seconds. 52.5 points seconds, Kadence Brown, Other girls teams compet-- .
The Monroe County meters with a time of 25.91 Other boys teams corn- Monroe County girls who placed fo .u h in the hag on Saturday in order
Middle School boys squad seconds, Austin Adams,peting on Saturday in order athletes who scored points 1,600 meters with a time of highest to lowest finish ;:
amassed 25 points to fall who placed third in the of highest to lowest finish at Saturdays meet included: of 6 ,milautes, 47 seconds, induded: Lamar CountyliT:
well short ofboys meet 800 meters with a time of 2 included: Lamar CountyAnyana Barkle) who Quaneshia Brown, who Middle, Kennedy Road,;::
champion Pike County minutes, 29 seconds, Seth Middle, Kennedy Road, placed seventh in the 100 placed sixth in the 100-me- Cowan Road, Henderson, :
Middle, who finished with Davis, who placed fourth in Cowan Road, Henderson,meters with a time of 13.34 ter hurdles with a time of Carver Road and Rehobath
98.5 points. Upson-Lee the 100-meter hurdles with Carver Road and Rehobath seconds, Zora Bigham, who 19.65 seconds, Bella Toles, Road. ::
Middle finishedjust behind a time of 16.17 seconds, Road. placed eighth in the 200 l who placed seventh in the
the Pirates in second place Jacob Webb, who placedMeanwhile, the Monroe meters with a time of 28.95 shot put with a heave of 26 i
AAP RAqI:RA/I innings in Game l, strangely came pletegame, while giving up 2 hits, before,An drewsprovidedthe win at Spalding in Game 2.
wr ii unglued. Second baseman Zach 2 runs, both earned, one walk and kmingsbig blast with a three-run The Bulldogs, trailing 2-0 in the 21
( onhnued from / 15
Thomas booted a ground ball off 2 strikeouts home run shot down the leftfield top of the fourth, scored a trio of :i
the bat of Snow to start the game. Meanwhile, West Laurens Brant- line to put the Dogs in front 5-0. runs on a Kite sacrifice fly, a How- 21
trotting around the bases, he was
The next hitter, Claxton, then ley had a miserable night, largely Spalding scored a pair of runs off ard RBI single and an Andrews f
mmmng Nlan, manK kJO(1 UllS
: reached on an error by shortstop thanks to the horrendous defense of MP starter Claxton in the top of RBI double, respectivdy. Watson
game Is over lnat was melongest
' Scott. scoring Snow. MPs next behind him, pitching two-and- the third, the first coming on a Kite recorded the win for the Bulldogs, :i
game Ive ever playeu nonesw.
three hitters, Kite, Moore and " two-thirds innings, giving up 14 throwing error and the second on pitching 5 innings, allowing 6 hits :
vmore nmsnea me game 2 4
- Howard respectively, each singled hits, 17 runs, 6 earned, 3 walks and a solo homer by Tristan Tidwell. and 2 runs, both earned, while 21
warn a oouole, a nomer, 3 walks, 4 off of Raiders starter Wade Brant- one strikeout to take the loss. But the Bulldogs came right back striking out 9 while walking just 5
runs scored and 3 RBIs Howard
ley and suddenly MP had a 3-2 MP head coach Clae Mathis in the b tt--om of the third with 2. Claxton pitched the final two ='
and Claxton also had multi lait
- lead. Two batters later, Watson hit said he never anticipated a 15-run, two of their own on a pair of innings, recording 5 strikeouts, to
games Ior the tmuaogs ton the
". . a looper to short center that was win over a team of West Laurens Holmes wild pitches. Spalding got earn the save. Snow, who added
mound, Moore threw 5 mnmgs,
misplayed by Mathis, allowing a caliber but he reiterated that hes one run back in the bottom of the an RBI hit in the top of the fifth
up a season high 8 hits and,
gmng - . fourth run to cross the plate. The known all year his 2019 squad was fourth, but Moore prevented the fortheDogs fourth and final run, ,
5 runs, all earned, while sUikmg MP a er then sin '
next fourb tt s gled, capable of big things. Jaguars from inflicting any more was the lone Bulldog with multiple
out aria wawung m renei, WlU ,
. . . . - driving in four more runs. Finally, I think this team is special. I damage when he gunned a rtmner hits, going 2-3 with a run and an ,-
mgham, who picked up the win,
the Raiders committed their fifth knew they were different; Mathis athomelplate from centerfield to RBI.
gallantly pitched 6 innings" gwmg,*
. . error of the inning when Branffey said. We got down 5-1 in the first end the i rame on a bullet throw One night earlier, on Tuesday,
up 8 hits, 3 runs, 1 earned, with 1
made a poor pickoffthrow to third game and we didnt bat an eye. that reached the catcher Kite in March 26, MP opened the three- ,
walk and 3 strikeouts
. ' base, allowing Claxton to score for Ihis is what I expected. I think the air Tne Bulldogs took an 8-3 game series with Spalding with a
Stars tor the Raiders included: "
. MP s ninth and final run. that we hit the ball up and down,lead m the bottom of the fifth on 3-0 home shutout wctory over the
Franks, who was 3 6 with a homer,
,-- 2 After a shaky first, Watson the lineup, and today we did in a Jaguars throwing error and then Jags.
z runs scorea ano o m ls aria
retired the final seven batters he both games. To get 10 runs on padded their lead in the bottom Moore was the star of the night, 7
mngmer, wno waos J o wlm a
-, faced as the Bulldogs tooka 9-2 them is one thing. Those first two of the sixth on a two-run single hurling a complete-game shutout :
aotmie, a nomer, a run scoreo anO
lead into the bottom of the third, pitchers we saw are D- 1 guys. by Kite, followed by a sacrifice fly while pitching 7 innings" giving up "
ru ls un me moun rran
"; With Branffey almost inexplicably They re talking about the first guy by Moore and another'run on a just 3 hits and no runs while strik-
Dtcne.a 4 ana z/J innings" gwln. g still on the mound, the Butldogs (Franks) getting drafted. They had wild pitdh, respectivdy. Leading ing out 5 and walking 2. 2
up.4,hits, 5 runs au e arnea, w m bats finished off the demoralized a scout here watching him today. 12-3, Mgthis pulled Claxton, who The Bulldogs scored all three
/ WalKS and 5 strIKeOUtS m rellei,
" Raiders. Another West Laurens And we scored like five or six on pitched 6 innings, giving up 7 hits, of their runs in the bottom of the
Wilson and Mathis combined to throwing error enabled a 10th MP him and we scored three or four 3 runs, 2 earned' 3 walks and 5 second inning off of Spalding
pitch 6 innings" yielding 6 hits, 5
runs, 3 earned, with 3 walks and 5
strikeouts.
Following his latest heroics,
Moore said MP's togetherness has
been the key to the Dogs' 2019
succe~.
"This year we're really buying in
as a team; he s d. "We really en-
joy each other, and we haven't had
any kind ofpmblems at all. And
we just love playing the game to-
gether and we play well together."
With Game 2 starting about
two hours later than expected,
the Raiders struck for two runs in
the first inning offofMP starter
Conner Watson on a Slaughter
two-run double. Wxth a two-run
lead and a series victory still a
possibility, the Raiders' defense,
which made a single error in 11
run to score. Snow then crossed
home plate sliding on an infield hit
by Claxton. Howard drove in two
more runs on a single to lefffield.
Watson then grounded to short,
but yet another error, the Raid-
ers' seventh of the game, allowed
two more runs to score. Finally
Snow put the Raiders out of their
misery with a two-run double
over Mathis' head in centerfield,
giving MP a 15-run advantage and
invoking the mercy nile.
Snow and Howard were the
offensive stars in Game 2 as MP's
freshman shortstop went 3-4,
including a double, with 2 runs
scored and 4 RBIs while the Dogs'
hulking first baseman was 2-3 with
2 runs scored and 3 RBIs. Watson
picked up the win on the mound,
throwing a rare three-inning com-
on the other guy So yeah, it's not
a shock to me. Now, did I think I
was going to show up today and
leave with a three-inning game
against them? No. But we gave
up two runs and answered with a
nine-spot. There's just not enough
words for how proud I am of them
right now:'
The Dogs' doubleheader sweep
came three nights after the
Bulldogs completed a three-game
sweep of region rival Spalding with
a 12-6 home victory on Frida
Having already taken the first
two games in the series, MP scored
five runs in the first inning off of
Jaguars' starter Dreylin Holmes.
Snow scored the first run when
Moore was hit by a pitch with the
bases loaded. A Howard ground-
out then knocked in another run
strikeOuts to earn the win, in favor starter Grant Adams as MP man-
of Kite. Kite gave up a pair of hits aged just five hits. Howard was the -
and fou walks en route to three lone Bulldog with multiple hits,
Spalding runs, and Moore was going 2-3.
forced tO come in to dose out the said of the Spalding
game, which he did with a four- sweep: I'm very proud ofus this
pitch strikeout of Ben Stewart. whole week We've really answered :'
G
to a number of Jaguars' the call:' .
walks, wild pitches and errors, the
Bulldog scored 12 runs on just 5
base hit . Kite was MP's top offen-
sive star vith a 3-4 night, including
3 runs s4ored and 2 RBIs. An-
drews was also a standout with a
homer, 2 walks, a run and 3 RBIs.
Mathis said of Andrews'first-
inning shot: "That cemented a
big inning, and it k ,d of deflated
them a IRtle bit too.
TvW cgh mrs earlier' n Wednes-
day, MP came back from an early
two-run deficit to take a 4-2 mad
The Bulldogs were next sched-
uled to travel to West Lanrens for
Game 3 of the three-game series
at 1 p.m. on Wednesday. MP will '
then host Perryin Game 1 of a -
three-game set at 5:55 p.m. on '.
Monday. "
Meanwhile, the Monroe County ,:
Middle School Bulldogs were
next scheduled to play at ACE in a
doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. on
Thursday. The C-Team Bulldogs
will then host Clifton Ridge at 4:30 ,
p.m. on Monday.