The Hummingbird's Departure: Part Of A Natural Cadence
Plus, 'tis the Season ... to Travel!
After one of the most active ruby-throated hummingbird seasons in recent memory at our home in Slidell, Louisiana, the charm migrated away near the end of October. The last recorded sighting a week before Halloween:
2023-10-23
Hummingbird volume diminished, but not yet extinguished. There are still a few birds visiting and defending both feeders in the backyard. No males sightly lately, only females.
Two feeders then, down to one now for any stragglers left behind, or perhaps for a vagrant black-chinned hummingbird at some point during the Winter. One can only hope.
At season’s peak, the feeders were refilled every day. There were dozens of bejeweled birds in the backyard then, all vying for vital last sips of home-brewed nectar before making the big journey further south into Central America. Some ruby-throateds travel as far south as Panama, some even fly over the Gulf of Mexico in a single go.
They are gone from here for now, but not forever.
The same, also, for these heretofore consistent Monday letters. The holiday season is upon us again, yes, and is a busy time for all of us, what with all the engagements and errands. All of the traveling too, to see family and friends and old places and maybe even some new (to us) places.
It’s time to spend some time — and attention — elsewhere.
For us personally, in addition to regular life and holiday obligations, we are traveling to Peru and Arizona in the coming months to hike, eat, and experience. We’ll also make our annual trek to St. Jude in Memphis, Tennessee, to celebrate fundraising efforts and participate in the marathon weekend — Sarah runs the half, I the 10K — and of course take our usual weekend trips to Baton Rouge for football games and family affairs.
So, until the next letter migrates back into your inbox on some future Monday, happy holidays, best wishes, and safe travels y’all.