Thank you Bill, your photos and essay deeply bring honor to hummingbirds. Beauty and magic. Poetry in motion. Banding research has shown they often return to the same place every year, or where they were born. Some studies have shown they even have human facial recognition ! I believe they do. We’ve come to think of them as friends. Flying from their winter home in Central America, to join us in VT. I share our own anecdotal evidence.Late spring, for the past 17 yrs ‘our’ tiny Ruby throats’ fly in just about the same time we open our camp. A female comes right up to our open window, hovers there, and with her squeaks, she scolds us for not having the feeder ready on arrival.
Our communications continue throughout the summer. Though we have an abundance of flowers, we are always reprimanded for an empty feeder. Just this morning, I heard my husband talking to someone outside on our deck; “I know, I’m eating breakfast, then I’ll fill the feeder, ok?” Seeing there are just the two of us, I took a peek outside, about 2’ from his face , was the female Ruby throat squeaking her request. She flew to the feeder about 5’ away , then returned to her spot in front of him. Repeating this twice. If she could, she would have pointed her wing. They allow us a ‘front row’ view. I can stand a foot from the feeder and I am ignored. A week ago, my husband slowly reached out , and ever so gently, with one finger, stroked it from head to tail as she drank. She didn’t seem to notice until she turned to look at him, eyes widening slightly, and flew off. As we move closer to their departure , I thank them for choosing our humble abode and wish them a safe journey. And a “ we’ll be waiting for you next year”.
“You doze on a nut,fit into a diminutive blossom;you are an arrow,a pattern, a coat-of-arms…”
That is a really beautiful connection with a hummingbird. Sometimes I wonder about the way the birds call when I re-fill our bird feeder with sunflower seeds. I tend to assume they are talking amongst themselves, but what if they are really talking to me. Maybe your interaction with the hummingbird happens all the time with other birds in subtle ways and we just aren't quite open enough to perceive it.
I am trying to pay closer attention to this dynamic. I think I have a pair of Cardinals in my yard that have come to accept me. They are much more tame than other other Cardinals and will let me get close to them. I wonder if this isn't due to ten generations of habituation to me in the garden.
Our hummingbird connection is more of an in your face, ‘duh’ of course we’re communicating with you.
“I am trying to pay closer attention to this dynamic.”
Why should we be so surprised , makes perfect sense when you think about it. Like you , I’m going to do the same,pay closer attention. See and hear what we’ve been missing out on. Thanks Bill, sorry for the lengthly post, I couldn’t tell the story without leaving anything out. And I think you right about ‘your’
I always appreciate your comments. I think the conversations that happen in this space resonate with people. So, you should feel free to share your thoughts.
Thanks for this interesting article, hummingbirds are amazing indeed! We don't have them here in the UK of course, but I remember seeing one once on a childhood holiday to the US.
Your essays have helped keep my equilibrium in tumultuous times. I've learned so much about particular birds and more importantly, different ways of seeing. Thank you so much for sharing this comfort. Nick Cave had a pretty good Red Hand file recently on our collective disconnection from nature being the root of our loneliness.
Thank you for your feedback. It is nice to know that my writing is helpful to you. I am still learning new ways of seeing a new ways of being. I’m writing about a recent mothing event now and the more I reflect upon it. The more meaningful it becomes. I hope you like that one. There’s so much to explore with insects.
Hummingbirds are the dragonflies of the bird world. A wee female hummer flies by our picture window each day and hovers as if saying, "Where is my feeder?". I wave to her and apologize. We quit putting a feeder out because the tiny terrors fight over them and crash into our windows.
Thank you for this beautiful post to start my day. I'm so glad you mentioned anise hyssop because I think a lot of people overlook it as a weed-type plant. Anise hyssop arrived on its own in my garden and then self-seeded the next year and so on. Not only the hummingbirds like it. I leave the spent blossoms and don't remove the dead stems until spring because so many birds eat the seeds from the dead blossoms over our New England winter. At lunchtime we enjoy watching from the window as the birds land on the stems very hard and bend them over, sometimes even breaking them, so they can then stand on top of the snow and munch on the seed heads. Just glorious!
Thank you Bill, your photos and essay deeply bring honor to hummingbirds. Beauty and magic. Poetry in motion. Banding research has shown they often return to the same place every year, or where they were born. Some studies have shown they even have human facial recognition ! I believe they do. We’ve come to think of them as friends. Flying from their winter home in Central America, to join us in VT. I share our own anecdotal evidence.Late spring, for the past 17 yrs ‘our’ tiny Ruby throats’ fly in just about the same time we open our camp. A female comes right up to our open window, hovers there, and with her squeaks, she scolds us for not having the feeder ready on arrival.
Our communications continue throughout the summer. Though we have an abundance of flowers, we are always reprimanded for an empty feeder. Just this morning, I heard my husband talking to someone outside on our deck; “I know, I’m eating breakfast, then I’ll fill the feeder, ok?” Seeing there are just the two of us, I took a peek outside, about 2’ from his face , was the female Ruby throat squeaking her request. She flew to the feeder about 5’ away , then returned to her spot in front of him. Repeating this twice. If she could, she would have pointed her wing. They allow us a ‘front row’ view. I can stand a foot from the feeder and I am ignored. A week ago, my husband slowly reached out , and ever so gently, with one finger, stroked it from head to tail as she drank. She didn’t seem to notice until she turned to look at him, eyes widening slightly, and flew off. As we move closer to their departure , I thank them for choosing our humble abode and wish them a safe journey. And a “ we’ll be waiting for you next year”.
“You doze on a nut,fit into a diminutive blossom;you are an arrow,a pattern, a coat-of-arms…”
That is a really beautiful connection with a hummingbird. Sometimes I wonder about the way the birds call when I re-fill our bird feeder with sunflower seeds. I tend to assume they are talking amongst themselves, but what if they are really talking to me. Maybe your interaction with the hummingbird happens all the time with other birds in subtle ways and we just aren't quite open enough to perceive it.
I am trying to pay closer attention to this dynamic. I think I have a pair of Cardinals in my yard that have come to accept me. They are much more tame than other other Cardinals and will let me get close to them. I wonder if this isn't due to ten generations of habituation to me in the garden.
Our hummingbird connection is more of an in your face, ‘duh’ of course we’re communicating with you.
“I am trying to pay closer attention to this dynamic.”
Why should we be so surprised , makes perfect sense when you think about it. Like you , I’m going to do the same,pay closer attention. See and hear what we’ve been missing out on. Thanks Bill, sorry for the lengthly post, I couldn’t tell the story without leaving anything out. And I think you right about ‘your’
Cardinal friends.
I always appreciate your comments. I think the conversations that happen in this space resonate with people. So, you should feel free to share your thoughts.
Thank you for the amazing articles you prepare. They provide me with knowledge and insight to appreciate nature even more.
Thanks for this interesting article, hummingbirds are amazing indeed! We don't have them here in the UK of course, but I remember seeing one once on a childhood holiday to the US.
Stunning, exquisite, detailed, beautiful photographs. Lovely words beautifully read. Thank you both so much.
Birds are a passion of mine. Next stop Costa Rica.
A wonderful photo essay and lovely poem, Bill! Thank you! Hummingbirds here are feasting on cleome as I post this!
Your essays have helped keep my equilibrium in tumultuous times. I've learned so much about particular birds and more importantly, different ways of seeing. Thank you so much for sharing this comfort. Nick Cave had a pretty good Red Hand file recently on our collective disconnection from nature being the root of our loneliness.
Thank you for your feedback. It is nice to know that my writing is helpful to you. I am still learning new ways of seeing a new ways of being. I’m writing about a recent mothing event now and the more I reflect upon it. The more meaningful it becomes. I hope you like that one. There’s so much to explore with insects.
Hummingbirds are the dragonflies of the bird world. A wee female hummer flies by our picture window each day and hovers as if saying, "Where is my feeder?". I wave to her and apologize. We quit putting a feeder out because the tiny terrors fight over them and crash into our windows.
The translucent wing feather is an amazing image!
Thank you for this beautiful post to start my day. I'm so glad you mentioned anise hyssop because I think a lot of people overlook it as a weed-type plant. Anise hyssop arrived on its own in my garden and then self-seeded the next year and so on. Not only the hummingbirds like it. I leave the spent blossoms and don't remove the dead stems until spring because so many birds eat the seeds from the dead blossoms over our New England winter. At lunchtime we enjoy watching from the window as the birds land on the stems very hard and bend them over, sometimes even breaking them, so they can then stand on top of the snow and munch on the seed heads. Just glorious!
This was wonderfully written, a brilliant start to my day, and with a lovely Ode by one of my favorite poets. Thanks, Bill!
Id like to shout, …”more than like
So beautiful ❤️ Thank you 😊 ❤️
Gorgeous photos!