| From West by Northwest.org Voices of Spencer Creek A Hummer's Gift of Peace and Joy By Edie Self Dec 8, 2004
The eye must be something like the sun, Otherwise no sunlight could be seen; God's own power must be inside us, How else could Godly things delight us? -Goethe The hummingbirds brought Christmas to my front porch early this year. Two months after they were supposed to have departed south for the winter, one of them zipped up to where the feeder hangs and flew in place, looking in at me through the window, with "Where's the juice?" written all over his face. I gave in. I'd been holding out, encouraging them every time I came outside to be greeted with their vociferous demands, to get with the program and head for winter quarters. They didn't go. And I remembered that they were here so much earlier than I expected them that they may have wintered here last year too, and I just didn't notice. Furthermore, with so much rain forest being cut down these days, perhaps they lost their southern winter home and no longer have an other place to go. So I filled the feeder and hung it back up. Now I see lots more of them than I did in the summer, for flowers are fewer and farther between, and I expect the feeders are too. Their colors seem different--winter plumage, I suppose. The heads are amazing, appearing a dull black until the angle and light are just right, then suddenly shining a metallic red that reminds me of some of the beautiful old glass ornaments on past Christmas trees. With direct sun, one could imagine that head as a Christmas tree light with a bill attached, decorating the top of that shiny green body. Such piercing beauty in a tiny little feathered tyrant, who still believes he runs this place. Merry Christmas, little friends. I'll keep you in hummer juice, and you can just go right on lighting my home and my life with your joyful presence. Copyright 2004 by Edie Self Afterword: Contrary to popular belief, hummingbirds' migrations are not "spoiled" by winters feeders. As climate and habitat changes, their winter needs change also. You may want to find out more about the joys of birds and birding at: The Cornell Lab of Ornithology The Audubon Society of Portland Ms. Self grew up on the sunny side of Spencer Butte and is a member of the Spencer Butte Writer's Group. Visit the down-home Joy of Life stories by Edie Self at West By Northwest.org: Curtains in the Wind by Edie Self One Early Harvestby Edie Self Wash Day for Robins by Edie Self The Sunnyside of Spencer Butte: Two Winter Tales and Birding on the Butte by Edie Self Summer at Grandma's by Edie Self © Copyright 2000-2004 by West by Northwest.org |
