Rumpolephoreskin's Existential Wanderings in and Around Negril

[justchuck]

This is great reading! I'm looking forward to reading about your next visit to Sips n Bites . . .

[gerryg123]

Very good reporting with Clarity-style photos interspersed ... Not bad my friend .... It was good to spend the last part of my vacation with you while you were on your first part .... Though you did seem to warm up to the place rather quickly. ... You're a true Negril pro, Rum.

[Clarity]

“Wow, not only Van Gogh colors but a likkle Fauvism thrown in for good measure.”

Love it!
You know a lot about Art, Rum..
You mentioned you were a teacher.
I can tell by your vocabulary, you have a great way with words!
What do you teach?

Oliver, our host, seated us then took a chair for himself. He began the hard part of his job, calling in the Dr. Birds. Oliver assumed a soft, falsetto voice and began his gentle coaxing, “birdie, birdie, here birdie. . . etc.”. I thought to myself I don’t care how much he makes this must be the best job in the world. His blood pressure must be perfect.
More to follow . . .

I agree!
Love the pics!
I really want to go to Rockland Bird Santuary so I’m eager to read more about it!
Please keep it coming!

[Rum-polephoreskin]

Then the Dr. (bird) arrived. They buzzed in. They buzzed out. They buzzed back in again, and then lit in nearby trees. Mrs. Peel and I each held an Appleton miniature filled with sugar water. The bottle was capped and the caps were neatly punctured so the Dr. Bird could dip his bill.


The tongue of a hummingbird (Dr. Birds are hummingbirds) is long and resembles the pistol of a flower but when it leaves the hummingbirds mouth it essentially divides in half length-wise.


Each side resembles a hollow straw except the sides of the hummingbirds tongue are split. They open when they contact fluid then zip closed once their tongue is loaded. The H/B’s tongues flick sugar water 20 x a second.


Wing beats up to 90 x a second. Heart rates can exceed 1200 beats a minute. We are blessed in this world, I’m pretty sure we don’t deserve it.


I was completely moved by the experience. A wild bird landing on your finger is a complete marvel. I felt touched by god (yet “we [I] believe in nothing Lebowski”). There is a you-tube video of a young woman crying as she is immersed in the Rockland’s experience. I’m sure she was overwhelmed with emotion, I was nearly crying myself.
Another couple entered the arbor while we were there. No problem, there were enough birds to go around. It seems you can stay until another (large) group comes along. We sat there and absorbed the wonder for probably an hour and a half. When another loaded tour bus arrived. Oliver gently led us away to investigate the grounds, while the new group with another guide took over the arbor.

[Crusher]

That's one of the coolest things I have seen on here. What a great experience!

[Lady Jane]

Terrific! Loving all of this. I have had chickadees land on my palm to eat seeds but NEVER fed a Humming Bird before. Looks so cool

[NikkiB]

Thanks for posting about Rockland and for including such wonderful pics! I've not heard of it before so it's now on the to do list.

[Guirigay]

Wow Rum! Now I have a bit of a dilemma. I've been planning on just one road trip this reach and was really settled on Mayberry Falls but the bird sanctuary looks amazing. Hummingbirds landing on your hand?!? That's incredible and probably a pretty romantic experience and memory as well I'm pretty sure we'll end up at the falls - Daisy, Markus and Jamar's descriptions and photos were amazing, but this does present a bit of a quandry. The lady loves birds... and waterfalls...

[Patty Sather]

Wow Rum! Now I have a bit of a dilemma. I've been planning on just one road trip this reach and was really settled on Mayberry Falls but the bird sanctuary looks amazing. Hummingbirds landing on your hand?!? That's incredible and probably a pretty romantic experience and memory as well I'm pretty sure we'll end up at the falls - Daisy, Markus and Jamar's descriptions and photos were amazing, but this does present a bit of a quandry. The lady loves birds... and waterfalls...

My 2 cents worth , and can be worth a dollar to some..lol....
I have been to both ....But if i had to only pick one it would be hard , I would pick Mayfield falls ..for the fact I love the out doors (which they both are) But with mayfield you can be active in whats going on....where as Rockland and all its fabulous calm, you have to wait and hope something comes along ..which it did ...hope this didnt confuse things..

[T&A]

I have thought about going to the bird sancturay before but this certainly clinches it for me. Next reach we will be going there for sure. Looks amazing!
Thanks Rum....