Hummingbirds and Such

While relaxing and leaning against the railing of the deck, I notice several hummingbirds jockeying for position on the feeder nearby. I think little of it as it’s usually a daily occurrence, and honestly, I’m more concerned with the ice-cold drink I just opened after mowing the grass in the hot summer sun. This is all about to change, though. Two of these tiny behemoths decide to do battle just above my head. I duck. Recovering quickly, I reach for my carbonated beverage and suddenly find myself staring into the tiny eyes and needle-sharp beak of one of the hummers hovering just twelve inches from my face. It looks at me with curiosity or indifference perhaps, but then two others decide to attack him and I realize I’m in the middle of something I shouldn’t be in the middle of. Another hummingbird and then another and another joins the fray and still I’m not worried… they’re only hummingbirds, right? Think again. After ten or so near misses, I am now watching the conflict from the safety of the kitchen window.