HUMMINGBIRD LOGIC

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

18/XI/2025

Hummingbird-Hummingbird everywhere and not one to photograph to take. It is just like saying water-water everywhere and not a drop to drink. Let me explain…..

It has been four years since we moved into our home. Birds and butterflies of all kinds frequent our garden. They sing, chirp and flutter the whole day, entertaining us with their chirps, whistles, tweets, coos, woos, songs and dance.

One bird which has fascinated us so much that we fell in love with her. Her call is a real tweet. Tweets on twitter derived that name from the melodious chirp this girl makes.

We started a small garden as a hobby, but with construction and movement of so many people in and around the house, birds got disturbed and moved away, without us realising it. Once things settled, they returned to see how ‘their’ home had shaped up.

Initially, we didn’t know how to welcome them. Winters turned to summer, we humans felt the sweltering heat here in the Suncity, it was obvious that they too felt the same.

It all started with finding the lid of an ‘earthen pitcher’. It was filled with water and kept in the window sill. Soon, sparrows, bulbuls and babblers found a cool drink to quench their thirst. Water would finish quickly. I had all the time in the world to keep topping it up.

One day, I saw a black hummingbird sipping sitting on its berm. They were around but had never come that close. My mind got to work. I added a teaspoon of sugar to that water and it became an oasis. Birds would fight for the sweet liquid. At times, they would topple the container.

Tiny red ants made a beeline for it. It became difficult to clean that small saucer. One had to abandon the programme as ants started creeping inside the house, sometimes giving a nasty bite, even invading containers in the kitchen. It was catch 22, whether to feed them sweet water or not. It was the latter.

For two consecutive years, hummingbirds found our garage an ideal place to nest. We had to do something to keep them coming. Hibiscus flowers were lined up for them. They loved its nectar. Seasonal flowers were a great attraction too. We needed something more to pull them.

A few videos helped me to DIY a hummingbird feeder from disposable food containers. It didn’t work, except for attracting ants. An online portal was selling hummingbird feeders but they were not available in India. I requested a relative to get them along from the US. It became an instant hit.

During this time, I discovered the Hummingbird vine. We had seen it growing many years ago. In this limited space, we would have to experiment growing the vine in pots.

I always wanted to photograph a hummingbird on a hummingbird vine. We took the plunge. It grew so beautifully and arched our entrance and garage roof.

The lush green vine with red, pink and white flowers was the new playground for so many birds, insects and bees. The vine climbed steadily and reached our balcony. With it came the tailor birds and many predatory birds, hunting both birds and insects.

It became a hub centre of bird and insect activity as it covered the ‘Khaprail’ (Clay roof tiles) of the garage. Flowers bloomed in abundance. Birds loved the ambience.

Now, we had a clay water pot, fish tubs, flowers and a hummingbird feeder filled with sugar water for birds to enjoy. They could dip and sip at will.

I caught the hummingbird on hibiscus, on the bamboo, on our railing and all other plants, less the hummingbird vine. This morning I got to see her in action. She hovered as she sucked nectar and this was a moment to photograph. By the time I could click it in action, she flew away.

Then she came to the hummingbird feeder and I asked her. “You sit and pose for me here, why don’t you do so when you are feeding on the vine”? She cutely replied, “you have not seen a cat on the prowl. I cannot sit and enjoy nectar safely like I do here”. “I see”, I said and understood her apprehension.

She also pointed out the numerous drumstick trees around which are laden with flowers. “I like to get my immunity boosted by sipping natural and herbal tonic full of minerals and antioxidants. It is only when I feel very thirsty do I return to the feeder. Thank you for keeping it topped up”, she said, and went furrrrrrrrrr……..

I understood her logic. Then today she posed for me on the vine. Will she bring other hummingbirds also? I wonder!!!!!!!