Hummingbird Wars and Dragonflies

This is the time of year when the hummingbirds start coming around, and the dragonflies are hatched, mating, laying eggs and just looking magnificent. At dawn on any given day, we can go out to sit on the deck or patio and just watch the little hummers start their day by defending their assigned feeder. Some hover high up in the tree tops to get a good view of who’s in the neighborhood, while others light on a near by tree limb. They are very territorial and ferocious little fighters, and there can never be enough feeders out for them. There is a sentry for each one.

They weren’t at war this morning … just a few females darting back and forth to the feeders. They seemed to be taunting each other. This one is MY feeder. All others stay away! On occasion, one of them would dart over to another’s feeder; only to be fiercely chassed away by the sentry assigned to that feeder.

About two years ago they were so plentiful that there would be about 15 or more flying right over our heads on the patio. We had five feeders out, and each one was guarded by a different hummingbird. You could hear them smack in mid air. They are tenacious little creatures, never leaving their post. They hide in the trees above the feeders, watching for trespassers. As soon as one lights on a feeder the sentry assigned to that one darts out of the trees to chase them off, and sometimes they wage war.

Getting out to the battlefield early, I was armed only with my bowl of cereal, a cup of coffee and my trusty watch dog, Hank. As we sat there on the patio watching the war, I noticed that Hank was paying close attention to the lawn chairs on the patio. Upon closer examination, I saw that that there were little pink spots all over the patio chairs. Oh! My gosh! It’s hummingbird poo! Good job, Hank! I finished my cereal, and then got the hose to spray it down. Little did I know that this was going to be a morning ritual for a couple of weeks more. The Royster managed to get some really good pictures of these tiny warriors in mid-flight.

As the days went by, we invited people over to enjoy watching the warring little birds defend the feeders. Their numbers increased, and at times we couldn’t count how many of the little hummers were buzzing round our heads. They weren’t afraid of us, and some would come within an inch of my ear, zooming about. When they’d fight in mid air, and as I said before, we could hear them smack together. They are very tough little birds, but unfortunately, we found a couple of casualties. Our guests didn’t seem to mind the little pink dots on their clothing, if they noticed at all, and darned if I was going to tell them if they couldn’t figure it out for themselves. Why spoil a perfectly good show.

In the late afternoon, the dragonflies make a splendid appearance in great numbers. They zoom in and out of plants and soar off to other flowers. I found that I could coax a dragonfly off of the plant that it lit and onto a stick that I held. Not only would the beauty stay on the stick for long periods of time; but even if you startled it away, it would fly back to light on the end of the stick over and over again. I could study up close the color, the eyes, the gossamer wings, and the segmented body of the dragonfly. Eventually, I got one to sit on my hand. What a beautiful creature! For some reason I felt very privileged as well as empowered. At the same time I felt humbled that such a beautiful thing could choose to study me as well. It stayed there for a long time. I was totally enchanted, studying the dragonfly at every angle. Eventually it flew off.

I had the opportunity a few weeks ago to show a bunch of children how to catch a dragonfly and study it. They too were enchanted. They spent the next hour, each trying to catch their own dragonfly on a stick. Nearly all of them were successful. My day was made.

I‘ve always wondered if it wasn’t a sign of getting old, or older to be so enrapt with the nature in my own back yard, whether it’s feeding the squirrels and watching their antics or spying at woodpeckers, jays, mockingbirds and hawks with the binoculars. And, if that means getting old or older, then I will take it.