Month: May 2024

I was thinking about the wide-ranging group of friends and acquaintances in my life.  Many are professionals in business, finance or the arts. Some are four-legged and some have wings.

This past season in Palm Springs I can add among the list of people I’ve met a professional opera singer, a designer/hotelier, a dating expert, a nightclub owner who moonlights as a female impersonator, an energy healer, a 93-year-old book author and two younger ones, the protégé of a famous deceased person, a big pharma whistleblower who was awarded an historic settlement and a few more accomplished artists, entertainers, philanthropists and local legends. It all makes for an eclectic bunch.

But then there’s the fascinating hummingbird whisperer. His name is Steve; a musician and former long standing jeopardy contestant who prefers to see the lighter side of life.  Steve has a special ability to attract, interact with, and understand his fine feathered friends. He has a deep appreciation for these tiny birds and knows their behavior, habits, and preferences.

Steve is fondly known as the Hummingbird Whisperer of Palm Springs by a select lucky few (although the numbers seem to be growing), for a good reason. Steve is a trove of information on all things hummingbirds. He sets up tons of feeders outside his home including swings they love to perch on and knows them individually.  He also has a YouTube channel (Palm Springs Hummingbirds) where he sets up a camera each night at feeding time to film the activities. It’s a remarkable sight to witness so many of them all in one area.  Plus they seem to know him.  The dedication he has for them is astounding.  And you can ask him pretty much any question about hummingbirds and he knows the answer.

I first found out about this delightfully knowledgeable man after seeing a Facebook post of a friend showing a video of her feeding hummingbirds with some of them perched on her hand.  I contacted her to find out where this place was because I wanted to go.  She could not give out the address (which makes sense; it is after all, his home) but she told me to meet her somewhere and she’d take me there. Now that I know where it is, I’ve since taken others there myself. As it so happens, it’s within walking distance from my place.  It’s always best to go at sunset.  That’s when the swarm starts.

If you’ve ever had an experience with a hummingbird up close and personal, you know how precious it feels.  You don’t know why exactly, it just is. These little light feathered beings are resilient and can teach us a lot.

To some people, these tiny fliers are an inspiring sign of hope and good luck. Hummingbirds also can have a spiritual significance and mean the spirit of a loved one is near. But whatever the meaning, it’s always special to see one.  Imagine seeing hundreds all at once! Everyone loves the experience, especially when the hummingbirds feel comfortable enough with trust to come and eat out of your hands. A sight to behold...literally.

 Here are some fun facts which Steve knows:

1.       Incredible metabolism: Hummingbirds have an incredibly high metabolism. They need to consume about half their body weight in sugar each day just to maintain their energy levels.

2.      Hovering prowess: Unlike most birds, hummingbirds can hover in mid-air by rapidly flapping their wings in a figure-eight pattern, allowing them to feed from flowers while remaining stationary.

3.      Migration marvels: Some species of hummingbirds are migratory and undertake remarkable journeys. For instance, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird can fly non-stop for up to 18 hours during its 500-mile migration across the Gulf of Mexico.

4.      Remarkable memory: Hummingbirds have exceptional memory skills. They can remember every flower they have visited, how long it takes for flowers to refill with nectar, and the specific location of each flower.

5.      Color perception: Hummingbirds are attracted to bright colors, particularly red and orange. This is because these colors often indicate the presence of nectar-rich flowers.

6.      Extraordinary tongues: Hummingbirds have long, extendable tongues that allow them to reach deep into flowers to extract nectar. Their tongues can extend up to twice the length of their beaks.

7.      Tiny nests: Hummingbirds build the smallest nests of any bird species. They often use materials like spider silk to construct their nests, which allows them to expand as the chicks grow.

8.     Aggressive behavior: Despite their small size, hummingbirds can be fiercely territorial and will aggressively defend their feeding and nesting territories from other birds, including much larger species.

9.      Exceptional flight skills: Hummingbirds are incredibly agile flyers, capable of flying forwards, backward, sideways, and even upside down. They can reach speeds of up to 30 miles per hour.

10.  Longevity: While the lifespan of most hummingbird species is relatively short, ranging from 3 to 5 years, some individuals have been known to live for more than a decade in captivity.

These are just a few of the many remarkable aspects of hummingbirds that make them some of the most fascinating birds in the world!

And isn’t it wonderful that someone takes the time, energy and love to set up and clean so many feeders each day?  I look forward to going back again and again.

Have you ever had a similar experience?