REAL HUMMERS


 We have
on our back patio
two separate fountains



Each morning is witness to a hummingbird display that rivals anything at the zoo.  Up to a dozen hummingbirds will flock to the fountains for their morning bath, and buzz about the patio in an excited mode.  Over the years I have learned how to ‘speak hummingbird’, i.e. been able to reasonably replicate the sounds they use to communicate with each other.  Sticking my head out our partially opened back door, the hummingbirds and I will carry on a lively conversation, while they are busy cleaning up their act.  They will buzz from fountain to fountain, oftentimes stopping in front of me to say, ‘Good morning!’, and then continue on their way.

Because we leave our patio door ajar for our dog to go in and out, we have, on occasion, ended up with a hummingbird in the house found trying to escape through a skylight.  This precipitates getting out an eight-foot ladder, and slowly ‘shepherding’ the lost soul into one corner of the skylight, until it finally gives up, and I slowly ‘capture’ it in my hands.  What transpires is a talk about how all will be right with the world once it is released.  This is also accompanied with a few gentle strokes on its head, and a release once back outside.  More often than not, the little guy will be hesitant to leave my hands, and just hang around for a few minutes.