Feeding the Hummingbirds

Have you ever seen a hummingbird? I didn't until I was about 23 years old, and living in the Seattle area. I walked down the hallway and there she was, hovering in the center of the hall, on her way to the hummingbird friendly nectar bushes on the side. I froze, she hovered, and then darted away. Here in Texas, we have hummingbirds mostly year round, but especially this time of year as fall starts to creep quietly in and the birds head this way to migrate down to Mexico for the summer. I fill these two gorgeous purple hummingbird feeders in front & back yard and wait. Watching them from the front yard, you learn how possessive and aggressive they can be. A little bird with white chest and black vest, like a tiny little priest will perch on a tree branch watching any bird that dares use HIS feeder. A new bird will hover nervously, poke his beak into the spout, and Mr. Possessive will dart down and there will be a hovering face-off. I don't know how they win-- they don't actually ever peck each other that I've seen, but they do claim their own "turf."

I love em. I love sitting on the couch in what we call "the good living room" watching the dance of birds, the sweet loving energy bundles. It's one of my favorite parts of Fall. Which we are feeling today with a cool breeze and temperatures ONLY in the 80s. (You know you've lived in Texas a lonnnng time when you think... "Wow... only 86!" and that actually is kind of cool-ish.)