Hummingbird Shaman - Symbols of Divine Presence » Hummingbird Facts

When Life Imitates Life – The Artificial Hummingbird

Hummingbird Shaman — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 19:59:55 +0000

There is a company in California that has created an artificial hummingbird, a machine that can hover and fly forward fast like a hummingbird. Video was released of this nano hummingbird, something that was actually developed for U.S. Defense research.

This nano hummingbird has a body shaped much like that of a real hummingbird, with a wingspan of just over 6 inches and a weight that mimics that of a live hummingbird of only two thirds of an ounce.

Life Mimics Life

Many of our inventions mimic life, but never come anywhere near the undeniable presence of the soul. Energy is movement, but it is not movement that captives our attention and awakens us. We can mimic the light of the sun, but artificial light cannot hold the radiance of sun light.

We can entertain ourselves with movies and television, and yet it is within our personal interactions with living, breathing bio-organisms that we open our hearts with the chance to walk away with far more than either party ever gave.

The Hummingbird – An Artificial Sign?

The hummingbird itself does not live in captivity, but it captivates our hearts. Small in stature, most often silent and unseen, the hummingbird is capable of awakening us from the spell of electronics and media, and the many other distractions that cause a detachment from our natural self. Leave it to the hummingbird to lift us from the ordinary, whether it’s an artificial hummingbird or the real deal.

When Life Imitates Life – The Artificial Hummingbird © 2012. HummingbirdShaman.com™ Walk With Wings™ is offered by intuitive awareness mentor and counselor Estee Taschereau. Intuitive Healing Sessions are available for those who seek clarity and resolution and an in-depth look at their own life experiences and meaning. All sessions are by appointment, offered via phone (US or Canada) or Skype (international).

Hummingbird Songs – Hum along if you don’t know the words!

Hummingbird Shaman — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 19:53:18 +0000

Delightful little creatures, those humming-birds. The hummingbird has a surprising number of sounds, and only half of their sounds are vocal. Similar to the crow the hummingbird knows how to get attention, when necessary, and beyond the whirling sound made by wings the hummingbird does have it’s own style of hummingbird songs.

The Humming-birds

Named for the whirling or humming sound make from their rapid wing movement, the humming-bird. This catchy little name is the common-name today. I’ve noticed that different species make different humming sounds. The small brown hummingbirds that migrate each year make a much more pronounced sound as they fly, while the Anna hummingbird’s wing movement is quieter.

What’s all this chatter?

Hummingbirds have a chattering-like sound that let’s me know I’m being “watched”. These attention-getting sounds have been associated with events like “the dog is near my feeders”, or “the feeders need refilling”. I’ve heard a hummingbird call me when I’ve been on a walk, and as I look around trying to locate that tiny presence amongst all the trees they occasionally flutter above the tree long enough for me to see where they’re located. On occasion they will branch out from their territory to make an unexpected visit along the walking trail, sharing a little chatter along the way.

Oh Snap!

One of the sounds I’ve recently been introduced to is the “snap” that male hummingbirds make during mating season. Last year I witnessed this flight. I was so amazed to see it in real-life that I neglected to take the camera out of my pocket to see if I could record a part of this flight. The male flies straight up, then dives in an arcing pattern, spreading his tail feathers out mid-flight. This makes the unusual snap or chirp sound. Incredible! Had I not seen it in slow motion on the Nature channel I would never have guessed this sound was made by his tail.

Hummingbird Songs – Hum along if you don’t know the words!

I’m told that hummingbirds do not sing, but I’ve witnessed a male hummingbird opening his beak, and heard the most wonderful singing sound. Sitting above him the female rested on a branch, appearing nonchalant about the whole courting demonstration. Sorry, I cannot give credit to some other bird in the background, I was only inches away. I’m hoping that some day, maybe this year, I will be honored with another hummingbird song in my presence.

Thanks for sharing these minutes with me here at HummingbirdShaman.com – and in the days that come I will post more stories of the healing qualities of the hummingbird as well as stories shared by the hummingbird spirits. In the meantime let’s do our best to honor both our spiritual nature and our physical presence, and together we will Walk With Wings.

Hummingbird Songs – Hum along if you don’t know the words! © 2011. HummingbirdShaman.com™: Walk With Wings™ is offered by spiritual healing mentor and counselor Estee Taschereau. Spirit and Soul Level Healing Sessions are available for those who seek clarity and resolution. All sessions are by appointment, offered via phone (US or Canada) or Skype (international).

Hummingbirds – Love Songs, Chirps and Chatter

Hummingbird Shaman — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 19:03:30 +0000

Spring is in the air, and we all know what happens in springtime. Life “springs forth” with great gusto. As for me, I know I must tend to the hummingbird feeders more often. I’m not sure if it is a flurry of new activity for the local hummingbirds, or if our population suddenly increases. Spring is here, a welcomed time of year for all.

hummingbirds sounds

In recent years I’ve had the opportunity to interact with the hummingbirds in what seems to me to be a more interpersonal way. They greet me as I return home, and perch on the the nearby tree as I pack my car on the way to a special healing class or workshop I am offering. While in a session by phone I often walk through my house, and during times when the energy builds in anticipation of a shift a hummingbird will perch outside the window to assist in holding a sacred healing space for my client. I’ve also been lucky enough to watch the courting acts of the hummingbirds, and love to be within the pathway of the hummingbirds to feel that amazing energy.

Hummingbird Singing?

Most people think that hummingbirds do not sing. That is not true. One afternoon I returned home from a walk and crossed through the living space directly into my back yard without stopping. I was on the phone at the time, sharing exciting stories of the day, and didn’t even take the time to take off my coat or even put down my camera. I looked up, and suddenly paused mid-sentence, and shared, “The female hummingbird is perched inches from my face”. Within a heartbeat a male flew up and perched on a branch below her, and to my surprise he opened his beak quite wide and sang to her. She glanced down with a look that teasingly said, “ho hum”, and he poured his heart out. I was happy to have my camera in my hand, but did not have video. All I can do now is ask for a repeat performance at a time when I am outside with camera in hand.

Hummingbird Chirp

This past year I had the chance to see the courting flight of a male hummingbird as he swooped down at high-speed, spreading his tail to make a loud chirp sound. I’d say that’s got to be nature’s sonic boom, at least at hummingbird level. He repeated his arc’ing flight 4 times, each time making one loud chirp.

Spring is here, and I look forward to many new adventures with the hummingbirds on many levels.

© 2011. HummingbirdShaman.com™: Walk With Wings™ is offered by spiritual healing mentor and counselor Estee Taschereau. Spirit and Soul Level Healing Sessions are available for those who seek clarity and resolution. All sessions are by appointment, offered via phone (US or Canada) or Skype (international).

The Language of Hummingbirds – Native Words and Meanings

Hummingbird Shaman — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 16:22:26 +0000

There are few “primary” languages used in the america’s these days, with english and spanish being the most prevalent. Underlying those “selected” languages, there are many native languages that remain today in stories and cultural events.

The hummingbird has been admired in many of these cultures, viewed at times as a sacred vessel that connects the human middle world with the the spirit world. Let’s look at some of those tribes and cultures, and the words they have used for the hummingbird:

Cherokee: wa-le-lu
Blackfoot: naamóísisttsii
Hummingbird: tanagila
Navajo: da-he-tih-hi

Of course we cannot forget the basic spanish translation: picaflor. This reminds me of the world flora, or flower, a reasonable and beautiful connection between the hummingbird and its source of nectar.

Oh, and in those “common” languages I seem to have overlooked one of the languages of one wing of my family: french. In french the word hummingbird is oiseau-mouche or colibri.

These are just a sampling of languages with their own word for this delightful, magical bird. In English many of our words have roots in latin or other ancient languages, but the word hummingbird, which started out as “hum” and “bird” is strictly American, dating back to the 1600′s.

I have discovered that while there is not a sanskrit word for the hummingbird there is reference in Hindu, with the name marmara pakShii.

Other languages:

German: Kolibri
Swedish: kolibri

No matter what we may call it the hummingbird will remain, in the eyes of the open-hearted, a symbol of love, hope and strength. We do not always see our own inner beauty, nor do we alway see the gleaming colors on the hummingbirds feathers. These tiny beloved winged ones continue to inspire and delight us, adding value to our everyday lives.

Learn of your own connections to the hummingbird energy with a special reading to interpret the magical, inspirational, or spiritual gifts you carry that reflect in the qualities of the hummingbird. Schedule a private 20 minute intuitive reading session focusing specifically on your spiritual gifts. Sessions are via phone or Skype, and are by appointment.

Songs from the Heavens – Hummingbird Sounds

Hummingbird Shaman — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 20:52:43 +0000

We all know of the whirling sound made by the wings of a hummingbird. They actually have many voices, for such a quiet bird. There is the sound like chattering, an excited voice used at times by one particular young male when he’s approaching a feeder. They have called out to me from their hidden perch, either in the lilacs or the cherry tree, to let me know its time to fill the feeder, or to wish me luck as I prepare to leave for a healing or reading session event.

They also make what I call a clicking noise. At times when the feeders are refilled I will mimic this sound and suddening a hummingbird appears in defense mode, only to see me standing there with a renewed feeder in hand.

There is yet another sound they make, one that is not vocal in any sense. I had the pleasure of watching one day as a young male did his rise and swoop, making this sound. He repeated this ritual three times, as a courtship action for the female relaxing in the nearby tree.

Today while walking along the creekside trail I could here a hummingbird in the vicinity. With so many trees and dense foliage I never did spot him, but was happy to here his voice, nonetheless.

After returning home I found this video, and share it with you today.

The Infinite Magic of the Hummingbird Wings

Hummingbird Shaman — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 00:07:42 +0000

A part of the hummingbirds alluring quality is its speed and agility. Wings move at a pace that blurs in our vision. With our amazing technology we are now able to photograph the movements of the hummingbird and see it in slow motion.

This simulation shows the movement pattern of a hummingbirds wings, a pattern that is unique among birds.

Hummingbird Feeders – Design or Beauty?

Hummingbird Shaman — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:18:11 +0000

There are many styles and sizes for hummingbird feeders, each with their own merits. There are many details to consider, depending on your environment, and how dense the hummingbird population. My own feeders are ferociously guarded and owned by my year-round hummingbirds, and each day is filled with maneuvers maneuvers maneuvers chases as the new younger hummingbirds enter the scene. In other areas the a couple of feeders can support dozens of hummingbirds, requiring daily refilling. What type of feeder should you use? Is design or beauty the most important detail?

Is the feeder easy to clean, giving you the ability to run your hummingbird feeder cleaning brush in every nook and cranny? Don’t think you can just bleach out any deposits! Never use bleach or soap in your feeder. Clean often, use your brush with hot water, and refill.
How many hummingbirds visit? A big feeder might take weeks to empty. While this seems like the easy route the sugar water will likely go rancid before you think of refilling. If you have many hummingbirds visiting you may need that bigger sized feeder!
Is the design and color(s) appealing to you and the hummingbirds? I have a feeder gifted by a friend that is purple. I love the color but the hummingbirds would not visit this feeder, even when it was the only feeder available.

By design, this has to be my favorite feeder. I like the covering, though it doesn’t offer actual shade for the sugar water, and you will have to refill often, but this one works for my situation, as one of many feeders offering variety. This feeder is called the Parasol Bouquet Basketweave Shelter Hummingbird Feeder.

No matter which hummingbird feeder you use, always give clean, fresh sugar water. Do not add food coloring, it coats the tongue and is harmful to the hummingbirds.

Many admire the hummingbird, sharing special moments or feeling that there is some spiritual meaning in those rare visits. Hummingbirds are, in my opinion, the most special of birds, and it is a blessing to have hummingbirds in our lives.