Flights of Fancy

Hummingbirds appeal to my worst tendencies. People have accused me of being prone to hallucinations and imagined realities. Given hummingbirds’ size, speed, and color schemes, let alone their improbable existence, I’m never quite certain that these flashing darts of color are real.

So when I spotted what seemed to be a hummingbird dejectedly poking at an empty feeder Tuesday morning, I excitedly loaded all the feeders around my home for the first time this year. And sure enough, by evening I was tracking at least two species of these magical creatures.

A Cooper's hawk briefly watched from a maple tree in the front yard. It made odd growling sounds before soaring away. At least, I think that's what happened.