HUMMINGBIRD WARS


My husband and I have six bird feeders, three birdbaths, and seven hummingbird feeders on our property, but at this time of year the hummingbird feeders are the hot spots in our yard.

The feisty little flying jewels are everywhere. They buzz past our heads in raucous pursuit of one another, just missing us by inches as we’re outside enjoying our yard. They squeak as they suck down the sweet mixture in the feeders, fattening back up after their long trip north.

But, mostly they fight. They guard their food sources jealously, and face off all interlopers with all the spirit and bravery of a much larger creature. They fight with each other, bees, wasps, and other birds. Those tiny bodies seem to have no room for fear.

I once saw a hummingbird chasing an American Kestrel falcon across our backyard, all-abuzz with self-righteous indignation.

We often look at them and think that they could build up those all-important fat reserves faster if they didn’t spend so much time brawling. It seems like they expend more energy flying around like miniature demolition derby drivers than they’re getting from the syrup. There are plenty of feeders to go around and enough nectar for everyone, if they’d only learn to share. Every feeder could hold a couple hummers at a time, and they all could drink their fill.

That’s not how the petite pugilists see it. Instead of living in harmony, each bird feels the need to claim all the resources, and to burn up precious energy guarding them.

We laugh and shake our heads at how silly these little creatures are, but seriously, are humans any different?

The planet is big enough for everyone to live on in harmony, practice their religions and lifestyles, and share its vast assets. Instead, some hoard resources, guarding them jealously. Others brawl every chance they get, burning up more capital than they receive.

We squeak and squawk at each other, threaten and posture. We’re paranoid, territorial, and aggressive.

As the top of the food chain, and as an enlightened species, one would hope that maybe we had evolved beyond that kind of “law of the jungle” nonsense, and were a little more civilized than a hummingbird. Unfortunately, I’m not so sure.