Hummingbirds
[1]
Hummingbirds are one of nature’s most amazing creatures. Native only to the Western Hemisphere, these small birds are known for their deft flying abilities. They have a unique ability to hover in midair by rapidly flapping their wings as much as 80 times per second. In fact, hummingbirds are named for the distinct humming sound created by this rapid wing beat. Hummingbirds are the only birds that can actually fly backwards, and they can move quickly and easily in almost any direction. Therefore, if you’ve seen a petite bird appearing to dart and hover from one spot to the next, you were most likely watching a hummingbird.
[2]
Hummingbirds use their unique ability to hover in place while feeding on flower nectar. They sip their sweet meals by reaching inside the flower with their narrow bills and split tongues. They also eat hundreds of insects each day. In fact, their flying style requires so much energy that hummingbirds must consume enough food to nearly equal their body weight each day!
[3]
Hummingbirds make delightful and beneficial visitors to any garden. They help pollinate plants and flowers much as bees do. Attracting these fascinating creatures is easy. Simply set up a hummingbird feeder in early spring, and keep it filled with a syrupy mixture. Before long, your garden will be “humming” with activity.
[4]
Hummingbirds are migratory and will leave in late fall when the weather gets too cold. Keep the feeder up two to three weeks after the last hummingbird is spotted. It might serve as a helpful feeding spot for passing hummingbirds migrating south. Don’t worry about delaying migration, because hummers know when it’s time to leave, even if that means passing up a free lunch.
Passage 2:
Among the Leaves
Barbara Evans Stanush
1
[1]
You found it, high amid the thick branches
upright on a twig, plastered with lichen1
blending with the live oak.
You spied it, bright-eyed daughter,
[5]
keen to find another life
among the hard leaves. You climbed
to watch a hummer feeding nestlings;
their tiny beaks gaped red. The mother
did not scare. The nest bulged with growing.
[10]
You called me to the mystery - so slight
I lost the nest each time my stare wavered.
You balanced on the ladder, took a photograph.
2
Opening a box chock full of unclaimed views,
I gaze at live oak leaves. In black
[15]
and white, a puzzle
until you, long grown and distant, recall
the hummingbird, remind me of the nest.
The littlest nest crafted by a mother
who fused spiderwebs and moss into a bowl
[20]
of softest down and laid two pulsing ovals,
warmed them, brooded them to flight.
Moments
hidden in the live oak
large among the leaves.
Both the poem and the article address the theme of -
Responses
A enjoying nature
B studying the weather
C developing a hobby
D holding onto memories
A enjoying nature
Both the poem and the article focus on the beauty and wonder of hummingbirds and their interactions with nature. The poem describes the experience of discovering a hummingbird nest among the leaves, while the article provides information about the unique abilities and behaviors of hummingbirds. Both pieces celebrate the joy and fascination of observing these tiny creatures in their natural environment, suggesting a shared theme of enjoying nature.