Readers who follow my blog posts know that I wrote one in late June titled “Where Have All the Hummers Gone?” Except for one reader who joked that she thought I meant the behemoth, gas-guzzling vehicles, most wrote with sympathetic sentiments about my dearth of hummingbirds and sent helpful suggestions about how to attract some.
In this my last word on the hummingbird (well, for this season anyway), I’m happy to report that I have one! For three months I faithfully watched that forlorn feeder, changing the nectar often. I even tried different varieties of feeders, but no visitors arrived. Finally I saw the familiar, precious silhouette of a hummer early one morning in mid-July. I’m delighted to say that he (and I’m just assuming it’s a he) now visits in the first light of dawn each day. And I have learned to be ever so grateful.
Those of you who enjoy a plethora of hummers dipping, diving, and buzzing around your feeders may wonder how I could seem so content with just one, but it’s all a matter of perspective. Because he always arrives during my morning quiet time, it’s as if the Lord sends him as a special blessing on my day. One is enough to deliver this blessing. One is enough to bring me joy. One is enough.
And there are other lessons to be heard from hummingbirds. I had lunch with a friend a few weeks ago, a friend who lives in a canyon south of town by the mountains and has to fill her feeders several times a day. She commented that the rufous always comes around to chase all the other birds away from the feeder, but then never drinks himself! “Isn’t that just like people?” she mused. “We think we want what somebody else has, but we really don’t need it!”
Another friend texted to tell me her feeder on the west side was buzzing with nine hummers at once. I was pleasantly surprised by my reaction when I realized I wasn’t the least bit jealous! I could have been, but I wasn’t. Instead I was truly happy for her and relieved to know that at least hummingbirds were alive and well somewhere. Anyway, I have one. And one is enough.
Maybe part of my contentment comes because we had the opportunity to go up to the mountains twice this summer and I got to enjoy the hummingbirds there. Or maybe it’s just the old adage that “you don’t miss what you have until it’s gone” at play. I really missed having a lot of hummingbirds, so now I’m content with my one little buddy.
So drink deeply, tiny friend. My offering of nectar is all for you, and I’ll see you in the morning.
God does help us separate our wants from our needs. Thanks for the reminder
Thanks, dear. You fall into both categories for me!
We too have only one little guy that comes around several times a day, if he’s not scared off by the pesky wasps. Living in Pueblo we do not get many especially this year, so it’s a blessing to just have one who’s been a regular. Humming birds seem to give one a calm, peaceful feeling and they always put a smile on your face.
Congrats, Joan! I know your joy!
So happy you have a little companion to enhance your morning quiet times. Seems that’s when we receive the sweetest inspirations… when God’s creations great and small heighten our senses to see His ever-present love.
Amen, Charlie. Those little guys just have “blessing” written all over them!
The humming birds have been few and far between at my feeder, too. When I catch a glimpse of one it lifts my spirits so maybe as you say, “One is enough.”
Thanks, Betty. Let’s celebrate these “solo” flights! 🙂
Do you think the cats on the deck chair make those guys nervous? At least one knows he can move faster than Molly so enjoy.
I have wondered, Eileen, but it never affected all the ones I had at the other house. I think it’s primarily the location. But thanks for the suggestion!
Perhaps seeing a humming bird is like seeing a butterfly–one is enough. Then we know they are still out and about.
True, Sue. And that’s the important thing after all!
Love the just one perspective, Nancy. I was planning to ask you the other night about a return of your humming bird(s). I was grumbling about all those noisy blackbirds back in June and then when the mama and papa and babies left my apple tree and yard, it was kind of lonely. Every now and then I hear them in the ‘hood and I smile. God has His way of teaching us through Nature.
Yes, He does. An artist displaying His masterpieces! 🙂
Quintessential Nancy!
sweetness, light and love
for the littlest
the least
the less than
mirroring
HE is enough
and we are more that satisfied
As always you stated this truth so poetically, Alice! Thank you.
I just live around the corner from you and I too only have one hummingbird visiting. But he makes me smile when I hear that high-pitched sound as he comes for a visit. I always enjoy your posts……this one is especially sweet!
Nancy, I’m so happy you finally have a hummingbird. I have at least four ruby-throated hummers at a time at my three feeders in East Tennessee. But they prefer my blue Salvia flowers to the hummingbird feeders. They say for ruby-throats to multiply the number you see at any one time by 4 and that will give you a truer picture of how many are actually around your yard
and using your feeders. Licensed hummingbird banders learned this by capturing and recapturing hummers in the same yard. Also, during migration, the hummer you see tomorrow is not always the same one you will see tomorrow. My friend Linda puts up about 15 feeders on her wooded property with a creek and has 30 or 40 hummers at a time. Like you, I am happy with what I have. Love, Marcia