Wed Sep 18 14:22:00 UTC 2024: ## Hummingbird Season Ends, But Memories Linger
While we anticipate the crisp autumn air, football games, and vibrant foliage, one bittersweet truth of fall is the departure of our beloved hummingbirds. Local resident, Leonard Jones, shares his observations on the end of hummingbird season, reflecting on their antics and the special connection they bring.
Jones, a self-proclaimed hummingbird enthusiast, has been diligently tending to his feeders all summer, offering fresh nectar to his feathered visitors. He’s witnessed their territorial battles, the truce between two females, and the eventual departure of the first male, likely heading south for winter.
While he enjoys the work of keeping the feeders full, Jones notes the challenges of persistent squirrels and the guilt that comes with leaving on vacation. He shares anecdotes of people who train hummingbirds to feed from their hands and finds amusement in the birds’ occasional communication, like prompting him to check the ant trap or trim back the shrubbery.
Jones acknowledges the bittersweet nature of hummingbird season’s end, knowing that soon the feeders will be empty and the birds will be gone. But, he finds solace in the anticipation of their return next spring, when the cycle will begin anew. The hummers bring him joy and connect him to nature, reminding us all of the simple wonders that surround us.
First Piper 