Hummingbird magic

I photographed this lovely hummingbird at our feeder today. They have always appeared magical to me, like they somehow crossed over from the faerie realms. After our son Juneau passed into the light in August of 2013, seeing these birds took on extra special meaning for me. Juneau used to love drinking water, and he always drank deeply for long periods of time. As I was missing him, I saw a hummingbird drinking deeply from the feeder and knew it was a sign from Juneau and Jarvis. It brings lightness to my heart and I smile every time I see one.

If you also enjoy seeing hummingbirds, it is easy to make homemade nectar for them. Simply bring 1 part sugar & 4 parts water to a boil, stir for 1 minute, then allow to cool completely before putting it in the feeder. It needs to be replaced every 3-4 days, sometimes even more frequently if it is very hot out. They can become very ill and even die from spoiled nectar, so if you decide to provide it, please make sure it is always fresh. You can make a double portion & store the rest in the fridge, just allow it to reach room temperature before putting it outside for them. They also love native flowers and planting those (and refraining from spraying them with pesticides) is a great addition or low maintenance alternative to sugar water.

Below is a photo of Juneau from December 2012.