In her New England studio, artist Chloe Barcelou was surprised to find herself accompanied by an unexpected visitor.
A tiny ruby-throated hummingbird, seemingly in distress, flew and perched beside her.
“I think he came to ask me for help. He flew and perched right next to me.”
Sensing the bird’s need for assistance, Barcelou offered a sugar-water mixture, which the hummingbird gladly accepted.
“I felt surprised to see him in our workshop but also a bit worried for him because I knew right away he was stuck. I was also excited, in the back of my mind, to be having such a close-up encounter with a hummingbird. It looked like a little fairy!”
Here’s a video of their encounter:
Within minutes, the bird regained its vitality and flew away.
The following day, Barcelou reencountered the hummingbird, seemingly expressing gratitude for her help. It was a remarkable and enchanting encounter, leaving Barcelou in awe of the beauty and connection with nature.
“That’s just my personal intuition, that it was the same bird with a message because it looked the same. It just seemed fitting that it would have come back and said thank you!”
To make hummingbird nectar, you will need the following ingredients and steps:
Ingredients:
- 1 part white granulated sugar
- 4 parts water
Instructions:
- In a saucepan, bring the water to a boil.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the sugar.
- Stir the mixture until the sugar dissolves completely.
- Cool the nectar to room temperature.
- Pour the nectar into a clean hummingbird feeder.
- Hang the feeder outdoors in a location easily accessible to hummingbirds.
- Replace the nectar every 4-5 days, or more frequently in hot weather, to prevent fermentation and ensure freshness for the hummingbirds.
Please note boiling water is unnecessary as long as you use filtered water.
Remember not to use artificial sweeteners, honey, or food coloring in the nectar, as these can harm hummingbirds. Stick to the simple sugar and water mixture for their safety and well-being.