Feathered Fans

On By Michele LeeIn meditation, nature, Verse
My feathered fans took notice of me
the one who turns their water sweet
calming breaths, but radiating heat
hovering close, they tried to cool me

Their feathered fans, a pleasant breeze
I appreciate their attempts to please
but they only tired their tiny wings
and I remained hot under my tree

Between the flying vampires and the stickiness, my sunrise meditation has been a bit of a hot mess. A true test of my ability to focus. 🧘🏼‍♀️ The Valley of the Sun was issued an “Excessive Heat Warning” for today – it is supposed to reach 110 degrees F. and tomorrow is looking even hotter. These temps are uncomfortable, to say the least, and sometimes dangerous, but I have seen temps soar to 122 degrees, so 110 is just another August day in the Sonoran Desert. 🥵

Hummingbird facts: They are very territorial, aggressively chasing each other away (I have seen this many times). They can reach speeds of 30 mph when flying horizontally and 60 mph when diving. They eat half their weight (less than 4 grams) in nectar every day. I make their sweet water with 4 parts water, 1 part dissolved sugar. Stay away from the red dye!

My song selection makes me laugh, and I do dream of “cool water,” but of course, the need for water in the Southwest is no joke. Stay hydrated! 💧😁 Thank you for visiting and reading. Be well. 💗 Michele

Photos: My images

Find my photos on Instagram ~ @mlsefton

Reference: Hummingbird Facts, https://www.hummingbirdsplus.org/facts/

© 2021 Michele Lee Sefton.

91 thoughts on “Feathered Fans”

  1. OMG Michele, I love my little resident hummingbirds. They can be funny sometimes with their whimsical personalities. You’re right, they can zoom faster than a speeding bullet and they are fascinating to watch as they stick their beaks into practically anything, tubular or not! I know the last part of that sentence sounds a little raunchy, but no pun intended! LOL 😂 🤣 What a beautiful ode you composed to them my dear friend! 🙌🏼 🌷 🐦

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    1. Kym, you are so right about their little personalities. I love their little chirping, that can sometimes be a piercing high pitch. Curious little creatures too. 💖 Good of you to clarify where you mind was, not. 😂 Thank you so much! I am happy you enjoyed my ode to the little feathered fans. 🥰 Have a lovely day. 🌞 🤗 😘

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      1. Ahhh, yes, I am quite captivated by my little hummers. I truly enjoyed reading your ode to them. 🙂 You stay cool out there in your neck of the woods girlfriend. 🏜 We just got a few showers, but that’s blown over now! 😦 The heat is on! Hugs and smooches!!! 🥰 😘 🤗

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    1. Thank you, Suma. 😊 I am glad you enjoyed my morning/heat/wing inspired post. 😁 Many more hummingbird facts where those came from. Yes, 122 was a hellish day! That was several years ago and is not typical, however, the temps can get in the high teens.😭 You take care too. Enjoy your evening! 💐

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  3. Thanks for the fun and uplifting post Michele. I love hummers and your fun tribute. They are fascinating birds. Be careful in those desert dog days. I wonder about humans living in the SW and other deserts. It doesn’t seem wise or sustainable, especially with climate change.

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    1. Thank you, Brad. 🌞 I do like to keep it light in between my diving deep moments. 😆 Yes, safety first, which means never leaving home without water. 💧 You do bring up some valid points about desert living. Some strides are being made, but water conservation needs to be emphasized more than it currently is. In my opinion. It is not sustainable or wise for me to continue spending summers here. 🥵 Enjoy your day! 🌻

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  4. In the nectar you prepare, and the kindness that you share, your heart, dear Michele, is sweet. Birds need the cool, clear water, as temperatures grow hotter, in Sonoran Desert heat.

    As a fan without feathers, I do appreciate your kind spirit and splendid poetry, my beautiful friend in cowgirl hat 🌞🌵 I think your hummingbird photographs are wonderful, and I also enjoyed your musical accompaniment – “Cool Clear Water” – with references to Tennessee💧😉 As previously noted, you’re always welcome to visit as a guest, and I’d be happy to show you around the area during such time ✅ Stay cool, Michele 😎

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    1. Well, look at you, dripping poetic lines. 😁 Thank you, Phil, very nice. 🙏🏼

      Your affirming words are quite sweet. Maybe more than one part sugar. 😆 I missed the Tennessee reference. Need to re-listen. It is a fun song that makes me smile and it makes me thirsty. 😂 A generous offer, thanks. I would slow down the Tennessee tour. 🤪 Have a lovely day, wherever your camera takes you. 🌞

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  5. Timothy Price

    That’s hot. Have you seen the hummers go after bigger birds? They are vicious little things. I’ve seen them chase robins into bushes and then wait for the robins to come out and continue their attack. They will also tease the cats, which is not very wise of them. We don’t put out hummingbird feeders. We have lots of flowers for them. Clear Cool Water is really vintage.

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    1. Yes, it is a scorcher! 🔥 I have witnessed their not-so-pleasant side. I saw a few of them surround a wounded red tail hawk. They were very aggressive! I thought it quite odd that the hawk did nothing. The next morning the homeowner found the hawk on the ground with a broken wing – she called rescue. I pray he was able to make a full recovery. This happened in Northern Arizona. Yes, so vintage it is new again. 😆 Have a wonderful day! 🌄

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      1. Timothy Price

        I seen hummers challenge Cooper’s Hawks. The hawks pay little attention. I’ve seen some major dogfights between crows and various hawks. And some unpleasant exchanges between crows and seagulls. We get seagulls flying up the Rio Grande.

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      5. Timothy Price

        You are welcome, Michele. I also have photos of seagulls in France and one in San Diego. Seagulls are interesting birds if you don’t have to deal with them all the time.

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      7. Timothy Price

        They seem happy in Paris, the south of France and San Diego. As you saw, they are pretty silly by the time they get all the way up here.

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  7. Oh that heat is killer (living in a hot weather area myself). A wonderful poem to our quick flyers, I love watching them. Oh so true they can indeed bully one another without mercy. Stay safe and yes it’s very important to hydrate.

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    1. It sure is! A few monsoon storms have actually happened this year, and with that the mosquitoes and other annoying blood-thirsty bugs are bad! Thank goodness for rain though. 🙏🏼 The tiny flyers are entertaining, zipping around. 😁 Thanks for the visit, I hope all is well with you. Have a wonderful rest of the week! 🌞

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  8. I feel very blessed to get to see hummingbirds frequently around my house but never could photograph them! I am so impressed at the pictures you took. They are so pretty and amazing birds. Lovely poem! I have lived some years in those triple digit temps and it is hot!! Stay cool, take care 💛✨

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    1. They are a wonderful addition to natural surroundings. I am amazed that they survive these high temps! I suppose they are stronger than they appear. Thank you about the poem and photos. Photography is a joy and I am always learning something. I hope you are having a lovely summer, in a cooler location. 💚 Enjoy the rest of your week! 🌞

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  10. Beautiful poem, beautiful pics. ❤️I love hummingbirds. So graceful, elegant, and, in some ways, mysterious. I love that. Wow! That’s hot. I remember when I first moved to Phoenix, was during summer months, and there was a day that got to 117. Hot. Yet, when you live there, as you write, it becomes, in many ways, just another day. Sending coolness your way. 🥰🥶

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    1. You have described the little colorful birds so beautifully. 🥰 It is a treat when they get up-close and personal with me. 117 degrees is pretty damn hot! Awful! So 110 is not so bad. 🤪 You live in a gorgeous place now! 🌲🌳 There is no perfect place… well there may be a few spots. Best case scenario w/b to travel to ideal locations with each season. 😁 Anyway, thank you for stopping by and sharing your always appreciated thoughts. I hope the semester is going well and that you have nice week. 😊

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      1. They are so very beautiful. I don’t see as many here, yet at times. Ha! 110 is hot. 🥵 Perfect place, hmmmm…the beach? 😄 Experiencing the seasons is blissful. You’re welcome, Michele. Is always my pleasure to read your work. Ah, thank you. A lovely week to you, my friend. ❤️

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    1. Yes it is hot, hot, hot! A/Cs are always cranking, as you can imagine. Will do, thank you. 🙏🏼 It is a fun song and I know how fortunate I am… I can turn on the tap, not all dry places have that luxury. 😟 Have a wonderful evening. 🌃

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  17. Beautiful post (and a pretty feeder, too)! Hummingbirds are such a blessing this time of year. This post made me think of a hummingbird documentary I watched this past Sunday. May be of interest to you. It’s called Hummingbirds: Jeweled Messengers, with David Attenborough. Really fascinating.

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  22. Such a beautiful poem on those adorable hummingbirds, Michele. It’s great to know more about them! I have never really seen one up close. Your photography is quite impressive, I must say! Stay blessed dear one. ❤️📸🙏🌹🤗

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  23. Michele, I love this post! It reminds me of a nickname my Grandmother (Hummingbird) gave to me and later in college my professors added to it (Spastic) 🤣 I asked her why I was like a hummingbird and she told me because I was tiny, fast, and loved sugar. Naturally, I have found hummingbirds to be an endearing memory, one of the few happy ones from my past. Thank you for the reminder! 😉

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    1. A lovely nickname and memory. A little extra energy is a good thing! 😆 I am happy you were able to make a personal and sweet connection to my post. Thank you for sharing! Have a wonderful day. 🦋

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  24. Such a lovely and observantly penned poem! The tiny hummingbirds had been my little friends in my previous residence and they filled my days with wonders…. I truly appreciate this poem in which you dedicated to them!💕🥳 a rare found, Michele 💗

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  26. I have no hummingbird feeders so I enjoy these incredible, dazzling birds that fly as surely and swiftly as the temperature rises as they hover around my hydrangea bushes and inspect the morning glories. Love that you skip the red dye!

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