A Hummer In Hand
Every fall it seems we look forward to interacting with the nest-building Anna’s Hummingbird, the tiniest of our CA birds (Calypte anna)– usually as they flit around refueling at the driveway nectar biodiesel depot and checking out the Chinese elm real estate. This morning, however, we had a close encounter of the most unwelcome kind when the studio cat (a.k.a. panther) managed to grab and deliver a female (we think?) to our doorstep. Fortunately, it was not too apparently damaged; after twenty-five minutes warming up in hand, it flew off to the neighboring hibiscus bush and quickly was lost in the glorious foliage and flora. That hibiscus used to be covered in white fly and droopy crepe flowers. But after applying several inches of worm castings and eliminating all summer supplemental water, it is now fly-free and covered in 6″ – 8″ wide hot pink blossoms — a truly climate-appropriate beauty that made excellent cover for our little hummer gal. So, a bird in the hand was worth at least one in the bush.
