Hummingbirds

I love Hummingbirds! Do you know anybody who doesn't like them? They are truly amazing creatures. Even the lady I recently heard talking about "humblingbirds" likes them. The next 4 pictures are from a lady who began standing close to her feeders until the birds became accustomed to her and then went out one day with a cup of sugar water and the birds literally ate from her hands.

How cool is that? Thanks, Laura, for forwarding the pictures. And thanks, Helen, for forwarding the great close-up pictures. I wish I could take credit for the outstanding photography, but these were taken by someone with a much nicer camera than mine.

Aren't those amazing pictures of these incredible little birds. I have always found them fascinating, but the appreciation has grown in recent years. Some of that can be attributed to the natural process of getting older and slowing down to enjoy such simple pleasures. But part of the appreciation goes beyond that. It is tied to the time when my dad was battling prostate cancer. For a while he was in considerable pain and could not do much but sit. This was before he was confined to bed and while his mind was still sharp. When we would visit, we would spend lots of time on their carport and the hummingbirds would buzz all around, running each other away from the feeders. It was amazing to have them buzzing all around your head. It was a time when my reasoning told me that dad was going to die soon but my emotions refused to accept that fact. Lots of thought processing went on as we sat on that carport and comment on hummingbird behavior. While my emotions battled my reasoning, I knew these were just unique little birds but part of me began to see them as little angel-messengers. It seemed like little angel-messengers were constantly hoovering around and standing at the ready for when dad needed an escort to his new home. I know that is not very good theology nor logic but regardless of how illogical it is, I still sense those times near the end of dad's life whenever I see hummingbirds. And I have become MUCH more attuned to them. I now often hear the unusual "chirping" sound they make and turn to spot one approaching a feeder or flower. I even watched one last week hoover at the back of a Maxima and check out the reflection of the sun in the tail-light lense (have you noticed how much it resembles a hummingbird feeder?). So I just wanted to share these great pictures of little angel-messengers to brighten your day.