This morning two male ruby-throated hummingbirds attacked each other in front of my kitchen window. Every year they zoom to my feeder that has been empty all winter and become annoyed when there’s no nectar to sip. I rushed to mix up some sugar and water and now they seem contented, coming and going, males and females. I guess it’s too early for much natural nectar from flowers other than dandelions and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a hummingbird with its beak in a dandelion.

Last year a hummingbird flew into our store and I found him almost lifeless on the counter. I picked him up and remember how fragile and tiny he felt in my palm. I carried him to the porch and asked Bill to mix some sugar water into an eyedropper. The bird was too weak to hold his head up so I placed the eyedropper at the tip of his beak and let the sugar water dribble out. After a few moments, he began sipping at the water. I must have sat holding the bird for fifteen minutes before he shook his head, beat his wings, and flew in the direction of the red begonia.