Creativity – Air
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, my backyard, CT
alkyd oil & egg tempera on gessoed panel, 16 x 16 inches, $2,500.00

Little flying jewels, that is what hummingbirds are to me. Their beauty is unquestionable, their flying ability to hover and fly backwards, unmatched and their courage unending. How such a tiny, delicate creature can weigh so little (only about 1/10th of an ounce) yet be so hardy and resilient to be one of the miracles of migration. Some hummingbird species annually migrate as much as 3000 miles each way! They must be resourceful and creative to survive that year after year. Yet, according to BirdLife International, 39 of the known 365 species have been designated at risk of extinction. We must also be creative in our quest to conserve these ‘little flying jewels; from helping with groups dedicated to conserving faraway habitats to helping out in our own backyards with hummingbird-friendly native plantings. And a few nectar feeders don’t hurt either, especially in a climate where the birds seem to show up before the plants are flowering. They usually show up hovering at my kitchen window demanding their nectar feeders!