My favorite time of the year is Spring. Spring brings in such an enthusiastic wave of new life, I love the energy of all that is new and fresh. We spent just under a month away from home. It was not a time I would have chosen to leave, but circumstances were such that our leave had to happen from April into May. That is when I want to watch the migrations happen and watch nature come back to life, not be away out on the road. Upon arriving home again I was a bit exhausted and depressed, so early first morning home, I sat down to look out at the yard to watch the birds feeding on the feeders there. As I sat still watching it all unfold, a little creature buzzed up to my face against the kitchen window and beckoned for food. Startled, I realized my little hummingbirds were telling me that they are back for the mating and procreating season. The buzzing signal meant that they were begging for some food, and reminding me that I needed to fill the hummingbird feeders. I have never been primed as such at the beginning of the season to put out feed. During the season they have come to the window to signal for a refill, but never before has a hummingbird tweeked me to tell me they were back and needed some chow now. This little moment lifted my spirits as only little miracles like that can, and so has charged me to get going and enjoy the life that spring brings in.
After the prompt I mixed up some serum, filled a feed, then two, then three; and set them out for meals. As I watched to see how long it would take for my tweeker to return, I looked for other hummers, but saw none. Hoping that my little beggar was a returning bird, and not a passer through, I watched with baited breath for my hummer to come to feed. In less than half an hour he was back. Yes, it was a he and he continued to feed all day.
Next morning while dressing I considered the possibility that I might get another bird this second day. Upon arriving in the kitchen I found three hummers on the feeder. One male and two females were busy eating breakfast. My heart jumped for joy...I know so silly! As the day progressed I swore that there were more hummers showing up as the day went on. By mid afternoon I had identified three males and three females, minimum. I had seen 3 of each sex feeding simultaneously, concluding a minimum of six birds using my feeders. In one day they consumed a cup of hummingbird food.....so there could be more than I can count. By any measure, that is an out and out success. From what I read hummers return to the same territory every year. I have been feeding them for about four years, so that could be the key to my success. Each succeeding year has brought me more hummers and I am thankful for the blessing.
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