Movie Filming Takes over Downtown

Updated: Thursday, 27 May 2010, 10:27 PM CDT
Published : Thursday, 27 May 2010, 10:27 PM CDT

This story was on Fox TV, by James Irby,  in Austin, Texas:

Hummingbirds are here in Smithville and here are some interesting information on them.       

 Hummingbird FAQs
By Bill Thompson, III
Editor | Bird Watcher’s Digest

The hummingbirds are back all across North America after their absence during what felt like a long, cold winter. Now that the backyard feeders are abuzz with hummingbird activity again, many avid watchers are reminded of lingering questions about these remarkable little acrobats. Here are just a couple of the commonly asked hummingbird questions we hear at Bird Watcher’s Digest each year.

  Q: Is it possible to estimate how many hummingbirds I feed each day?

A: Hummingbird experts Nancy Newfield and Bob and Martha Sargent generated a formula whereby you count the number of hummingbirds you can see at one time at your feeders and multiply this number by six to determine how many birds are visiting your feeder. They arrived at this number based on years of banding and color-marking hummingbirds at feeders.

At our feeders here in southeast Ohio, we feed a half-gallon of solution a day, and we have calculated by the above formula that we get 139 hummingbirds during the busy part of the summer. Thus each of our hummingbirds is consuming 0.46 ounces of nectar per day. There are 64 ounces in our half gallon of daily solution, so if we divide 64 (the number of ounces consumed) by 0.46 (the per-hummingbird daily consumption), we get 139 hummers at our feeders. Wow!

Although this is not strict science, it’s fun to do the calculations!

 Q: How do I keep ants and bees out of the hummingbird feeder?

Select a hummingbird feeder with bee guards. These plastic devices allow the longer tongues of hummingbirds to reach the nectar. Bee guards prevent shorter insect tongues from reaching the nectar. Replace any dripping feeders.

You can also do things to discourage ants from getting to your feeders. Laundry detergent applied with a paintbrush will work. Paint whatever surface the ants use to gain access to the feeder (but not the feeder itself). The solution interferes with the ants’ chemical navigation. Refresh the application several times the first day. After a few days you won’t need it anymore.

Q: Is it true that hummingbirds at my feeder will not migrate if I leave my feeder up in fall?

A: No. This is another in a long line of bird myths. Birds are genetically programmed to migrate when their internal “clocks” tell them to do so. They will depart when the time is right whether your feeders are up or not. Leaving your feeders up in fall and getting them up early in spring may help early or late migrants that are passing through your area.

 Q: Why does our male hummingbird fly in a U-shaped pattern?

A: This is the pendulum display flight of a male to a perched female. He zips back and forth and flashes his ruby throat (gorget) at her, hoping to impress her into mating with him. It is common to see this behavior in early summer.

Q: How do I foil a “bully” hummer?

A: Most hummingbird species defend feeding territories, and assemblages at feeders usually develop hierarchies. The behavior exemplifies natural selection at work, and you should do nothing except enjoy it. If you’re worried about hungry hummingbirds, put up several more feeders near your original one. The bully will be overwhelmed by sheer numbers of other birds and will quit being so territorial.

For additional information of what is available in Smithville, see: www.smithvilletx.org Also, if you plan on an extended stay, feel free to email me (pHantompHrog) for additional information.

We plan on this being a friendly event for all families and individuals who attend.

May 1, 2010 is the date for this year’s annual Railroad Reunion. That is the first Saturday in May and the location this year is the Smithville Recreation Center.  Smithville, Texas is just 43 miles east of Austin.

Prior to the reunion there will be a dedication of the Texas Star located at the Railroad Park.  The Star dedication is at 10:30 AM, and the doors of the Rec Center open at 11:00 AM.  Lunch will be served at noon.  All rail fans are invited to attend, especially those that love the M-K-T RR and the U P.   The Katy House Bed and Breakfast was named after the Katy Railroad (M-K-T).  The house is full of antiques and railroad memorabilia.   The Railroad Park is at the end of our historic Main Street, just next to the Chamber of Commerce office.  Please visit the Railroad Museum while in town.

While most of our Katy House guests this weekend were antique shopping at Warrenton and Round Top, we had a couple from Denmark visiting. They were here to run in the 50-mile Hell’s Hills race held at Rocky Hill Ranch on Saturday, April 3. This was a trail run consisting of a 50-mile, 50k, and 25k race and one of the Tejas Trails series. There will be three more events at Rocky Hill this year. Rasmus and Tracy Høeg, natives of Denmark and living temporarily in Wisconsin stayed three days at our bed and breakfast. They didn’t come to relax, they came to win. And win they did! Tracy was third in the 50-mile run women’s division, and Rasmus was first overall. Breakfast on Sunday was a celebration of treasures found at the antique shows, stories of a great family reunion nearby and certainly the victory at Rocky Hill Ranch. A great time was had by all.

Our 6th Annual  Fly-In & Pancake Breakfast is Saturday, May 8th, 2010.  The Fly-In is at Smithville Municipal Airport  84R . Located at Highway 71 and Hw 95,  it is Bastrop County’s only airport. Pancakes will be served from 9:00 AM to Noon.  For more information call the Smithville Chamber of Commerce at (512) 237-2313 or see the web site at www.smithvilletx.org .    Downtown Smithville is a treat, and there will be transportation available to go visit Main Street for a few hours. Plan to spend the night at the Katy House and we will pick you up at the Airport.  Katy House Bed and Breakfast phone is (512) 237-4262

Thunder Biker Rally, near Smithville, TX

the count down is two days till the great Biker Rally in our park!

Smithville’s Mary Nichols Art Center presents

Pamela P. Latham, LPC, a member of Lost Pines Artisans Alliance.

Join her in learning ” Sand Mandalas” Saturday, March 27th, 2010 from 2-5PM, at 301 Burleson Road, Smithville, Tx.

 For more information see the Lone Pines Artisans Alliance web site, www.lostpinesartisansalliance.org  or (512) 360-4608

See the web site for upcoming Workshops!  Lost Pines Artisans is a proud member of the Smithville Chamber of Commerce.

The cost is $30.00

Five Time Champion”, a feature length film, was filmed here in Smithville, Texas. Our Bed and Breakfast had a few of the crew stay with us during the filming.  We are excited that it will soon be released.  As a member of the Smithville Music and Film Commission, I think it is great fun to see productions that have been filmed around our town.   “Five Time Champion” is a film about love, hope, petty theft, adultery, and the boundless opportunities presented by science.

The Director is Berndt Mader.  He is a director and writer living in Austin, Texas. He has written and directed films that have screened at festivals around the globe. His film A NEUTRAL DENSITY won Best Screenplay at the 2005 Cinematexas Film Festival, and was honored with a screening at the Director’s Guild of America Theater in Burbank. His most recent film, “ROAD TO TLACOTEPEC,” won the Audience Award at the 2008 Austin Film Festival. Mader holds an MFA degree in filmmaking from the University of Texas at Austin and is co-owner of the Austin-based production company The Bear Media. “FIVE TIME CHAMPION” is Mader’s first feature film to write and direct.

IF you would like to know more about the filming in Smithville, please visit the Smithville Chamber site.  If you would like to plan a trip our way, visit our web site. Reservations at the Katy House Bed and Breakfast can be made on line, or by calling (512) 237-4262.  

www.KatyHouse.com