Friendly Hummingbird

by Donnie Green
(Calera, Alabama)

On September 20th, 2011 (my birthday) I went outside to change the sugar water in my front entrance feeder.

It’s the only feeder I have in the front yard.

I have 7 in the backyard garden area and they go back and forth from the front to the back feeders.

At the peak time we will see 2 or 3 dozen at a time in the backyard.

We have been lovers of hummingbirds for about 28 years now.

My wife and I have lots of unique experiences with hummers but this one on my birthday was a total surprise and what a gift on my birthday.

When I went out to the feeder, the male Ruby-throat flew down from our front yard Crepe Myrtle, their favorite hiding place before they swoop down at any other hummers going to their front yard feeder.

Today was different, as most of our visitors had already started heading further south.

I reached for the feeder and the hummer flew down and landed on the opposite side of the feeder.

I tried turning the feeder around where he was to my side.

At first he had nothing to do with that and fluttered and stared at me before landing back on the opposite side.

I rehung the feeder and went to my front door and asked my wife to bring her phone camera and take a photo.

When she opened the front door, I took the feeder off and the hummer flew from the tree and landed on the opposite side of the feeder again.

I turned it very slowly and he stayed and when he was just inches from my face I leaned down and put my nose on his tailfeathers.

My wife then took the photo.

It’s my favorite photo of all time.

Our local county seat town newspaper was doing stories on hummingbirds.

I contacted the editor about my photo.

I sent it in and it was on the front page of their next printing.

I was at church the following Sunday when a friend walked up and said, "I saw your nose on that hummingbird's butt".

I never laughed so hard.

The photo is in our den and has been a part of a lot of people asking about it, and I love telling the story about my favorite bird.

I cannot provide the photo as of now but I will at a later date. Sorry.

Donnie Green
Calera, Alabama

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