Paper Mache
One of the joys of living in Yuba-sutter is our front row seat to the annual fall migration of birds from the north as they head south for the winter from their summer breeding grounds in the Arctic. This time of year, the Canada and White Fronted Geese and the Tundra swans along with myriad duck species conspicuously announce their arrival overhead. The visual and sonic display is spectacular to behold.
On a more subtle note, is the arrival of a less well-known, less loquacious species, the Rufous Hummingbird. Of the 366 or so species of hummingbirds known in the New World (the last known Old World hummers died out some 30 million years ago), the Rufous is one of only a dozen or so hummingbirds known to migrate. It travels 3,900 miles one way from Alaska to Mexico. Most hummingbirds live in tropical locales with temperate year-round climates, so why leave? I know fall has arrived when I see the shiny, copper penny-hued, bronzy speed demons flitting from feeder to feeder and hear the unique sounds of the Rufous which are quite different from the more common Annas that we see yearround. Rufous make an abrupt, high-pitched “zeee,” a buzzing sound along with squealing notes. In the Spring, they again make an appearance for a week or two during their trip back up north.
I have been obsessed with birds and especially hummingbirds all my life. My earliest career goals were to be either a photographer like my dad or an ornithologist. Once, when my daughter was an infant in Los Angeles, we were painting our home. While painting the trim, we had the screens off the windows in her bedroom which faced the backyard. Nectarivorous hummingbirds from our feeders would occasionally fly in and out of her bedroom and linger over her crib, somewhat fairy like. I even caught some of their visits on my old VHS video camera.
No wonder my daughter has a similar affinity for these tiny creatures as evidenced by her hummingbird tattoo. Could hummingbirds, in fact, have been the inspiration for early fairy myths in folklore?
I’ve always thought that feeding birds in your yard and hummingbirds especially is pretty cheap entertainment. Just a little sugar water keeps them coming back for more. And remember, the official recipe is four parts water to one part sugar, white sugar only, no other sweeteners, and never use any red dye. You too can join the ranks of hummingbird enthusiasts who can be quite competitive as they brag about their number of feeders and ability to attract hordes of hummers.
Hummingbirds in art have been popular subjects for centuries. Indigenous New World people decorated themselves with images of hummingbirds and gave Pilgrims hummingbird earrings when they first arrived. Audubon chronicled several species in his “Birds of America,” and 19th century American artist Martin Johnson Heade portrayed many species in lush, tropical settings. Today, hummingbirds are more popular in art than ever before. The inspiration of the tiny creature with iridescent feathers is revealed through every artistic outlet available. There are several wonderful photographers in our area that have captured beautiful images of hummingbirds. Next up in the Gallery at the Sutter Theater Center for the Arts we welcome guest artist, Pam Nowak who will be displaying her latest monograph, “Fancy Flights.” These paintings, though based on actual hummingbirds, are more fantasy birds. Pam’s use of metallic watercolors gives them the iridescence of the real-life birds that are her inspiration. Learn more at yubasutterarts.org.