Hummingbird Shaman

“The hummingbird is back”, my friend shared, totally out of the blue.  “The last time I saw him was the last time you were here”.  I turned and looked out the window at the feeder.  Sure enough, it was one of the light brown hummingbird that migrates from Mexico.  I was glad to see one, and even happier to know that fresh food was in the feeder.  I’d known for a few weeks that they were near.  The time was now.

Later that morning I returned to the ranch down the road, to the house I had been staying at while its owners were away.  This beautiful country setting was a peaceful place to work on my writings.  Later that day I made an excuse to drive into town.  My true mission was to buy a feeder, I couldn’t find the one in storage at the house I was staying at, and the time for providing food was now.  I filled my new feeder and hung it on a small cedar tree within sight.

It didn’t take long for this sweet treat to be discovered.  In the morning I walked out on the patio to sand my drum ring before the Healing Drum Retreat weekend.  It was dry, at least, and sunny off and on.  The dog was delighted I was within reach, and I found a stick protruding through the middle of the drum with her sweet eyes saying, “play with me”. Sand the drum, throw the stick. Repeat.

Suddenly I heard the loudest whirling sound.  I looked around, and saw a little figure swoop past the feeder and onto a nearby branch. After a minute the temptation was too much to bear, and he returned to the feeder for a drink.

Camera time, the drum can wait.  Funny, I had the camera within reach of the door.  I chose a chair closer to the feeder, and waited.  Soon I heard those wild wings resonate like a loud buzzing as a sign of this hummingbird’s approach.  Was this variety louder than the local hummingbird’s, or was it just a lot less noisy out here in the country?  I was careful in my movement to avoid spooking this bird, after all we had just met.  After a battery failure and change I managed four good pictures.

Later that day I  noticed that we had not one but two birds visiting, and fighting over the feeder.  Welcome back, little brown wonders!