Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Hummingbirds 101...



This evening, while trying to cool down from a very hot day here in the Pacific Northwest, I've been sitting on my porch watching my hummingbirds flitting around and fighting for the feeders hanging under the porch eaves...they are quite fascinating to watch...takes my mind off the heat. Below is a small excerpt from Hummingbird World and is exactly what I'm observing tonight...hope you all enjoy!

Have you ever observed a humming-bird moving about in an aerial dance among the flowers
--a living prismatic gem that changes its colours with every change of position

--how in turning it catches the sunshine on its burnished neck and gorget plumes

--green and gold and flame-coloured, the beams changing to visible flakes as they fall, dissolving into nothing, to be succeeded by others and yet others:

In its exquisite form, its changing splendor, its swift motions and intervals of aerial suspension, it is a creature of such fairy-like loveliness as to mock all description.

And have you seen this same fairly-like creature suddenly perch itself on a twig, in the shade,

its misty wings and fanlike tail folded,

the iridescent glory vanished,

looking like some common dull-plumaged little bird sitting listless in a cage?"

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