Hummingbird Repose

It is one of the places I go when I need to escape from the pressures of work and school. The hummingbird aviary at the San Diego Zoo is an ideal place to relax and reflect when everyday life becomes too demanding.

The experience begins even before I reach the aviary. I stroll across the zoo grounds, observing the crowds of tourists bustling from exhibit to exhibit. I cross to the relative calm between the children’s zoo and the arena where the sea lion shows are held. The hummingbird aviary is tucked away in that space, and as I walk down the winding path, shaded with lush vegetation, the noise of the crowd recedes behind me. I hobble carefully through the revolving door, then through a curtain of bright yellow chains designed to discourage escapees, and into the aviary itself.

The aviary is a small, oblong building about twenty feet wide and fifty feet long. The setting inside is that of a lush tropical garden. The entrance leads directly to an arched footbridge that crosses over the small stream that splashes over black volcanic rock and gurgles down the center of the enclosure. Sunlight from the translucent roof filters through vines and dapples the bromeliads and other tropical monocots. My first impression is generally one of quiet: even on busy days, the aviary has the same effect as a stately library; people inside tend to either remain silent or whisper. As I adjust to the quiet, bird songs begin to caress my awareness. Soon, eyes accustomed to the change in scenery, I begin to notice the hovering and darting of the tiny hummingbirds.

There is no mistaking that they are hummingbirds, and yet within the confines of that genus there is incredible variation. The long, thin, tubular beaks vary from half an inch to over two inches in length. Colors range from dull gray to iridescent greens and purples. Some of the birds are truly diminutive, just over two inches from tail to beak, while others sport long tail feathers and measure as much as six inches in length. If the aviary is not too crowded, and I stand still long enough, the birds soon become inured to my presence. They will pass close by me, the low, rapid thrumming of their energetic wings leaving an impression on my skin as well as on my ears. The brave among the birds will sometimes fly right up and investigate me. If I do not flinch, they will spend long minutes searching me for the scent of pollen. I am reminded often of an earlier visit when I watched a determined hummer carefully untie a lavender ribbon that adorned a schoolgirl’s hair.

With the birds humming and darting in every direction it is easy to be deceived by all the activity. Yet, as my mind adjusts to the surroundings and I become more sensitive to detail, I soon begin to notice another aspect of the hummingbirds’ existence. Scattered throughout the enclosure, resting on branches and rocks, are dozens of resting hummingbirds, sitting erect, wings folded, long, slender beaks questing about in the air. Though the hummingbird’s need for food is legendary, few people realize that they spend up to half of their time resting. Though my first impression of the birds is generally one of frenetic activity, eventually I am reminded that even hummingbirds seek respite from their pressing labors.

As I continue to watch the resting birds, the anxieties of daily life seem to dwindle. The serene splashing of the stream continues, songs still tickle my ears, the flutter of wings still whispers against my skin,

As I continue to watch the resting birds, the anxieties of daily life seem to dwindle. The serene splashing of the stream continues, songs still tickle my ears, the flutter of wings still whispers against my skin, but the press of life abates somewhat. I walk slowly back to the teeming crowds outside, through more yellow chains and multiple doors, refreshed and ready to face the tasks before me.

-- RonRisley - 01 Mar 1989