The Hummingbirds' Gift: Wonder, Beauty, and Renewal on Wings

We are so fortunate to be entertained daily by these amazing tiny creatures. We are always looking for stories and as much information that we can get about them. So when we saw that Sy Montgomery had written a book about her experience with them, we were thrilled to read it. She has not disappointed us yet with her books about nature’s wonderful creatures!

The pictures of the hummingbirds were a plus. The work that Brenda does with the wee ones is extraordinary and it was so interesting to follow her determination to keep these abandoned babies alive. I kept wishing I could see her hummingbird garden which the author described so beautifully! We are so glad that there are such very special people like Brenda to do what she does and for Sy who's words describe it in a way we can all enjoy!

This book is a gift from the author. The lovely descriptive passages bring crisp clear images to the reader’s mind. I have met Ms. Montgomery and have even had the honor of being in one of her books. Her obvious love of her subject is in every word. I mean,who hasn’t stared in wonder and joy in watching this bright, diminutive creature hover unafraid at the nearness of a human?

I've read many of Sy Montgomery's books and without fail, I come away with an increased awareness of our animal world, culture differences in some cases, appreciation of those that are "in the field" working to watch over and nurture these animals and Sy's writings report all this and help keep us connected with nature.

The Hummingbirds' Gift is another gem, that while I was a bit disappointed in the length, I really enjoyed the content and the story of how two little orphaned hummingbirds were rescued and were raised to be brought to release. The book's diminutive size fits with the size of the birds and is chock full of lots of information that you didn't know about hummingbirds (and their rescuers). The photos included were a special treat! It's worth the read!

but this wasn't it. Never could really get into the book and I'm a person who really enjoys hummingbirds. Fortunately it's a pretty small book, both in size and pages so it didn't take long to get through it. Will donate it to the local library book sale where I'm sure it will find a more appreciative home.

Sy Montgomery's The Hummingbird's Gift was a sublime book. It tells the story of Brenda, a woman who has dedicated much of her life to rehabilitating hummingbirds.

There is a mix of poetry and scientific details in this book. We learn that the life of a hummingbird can be quite a struggle. They are attracted to the color red, even frequently colliding with red cars, and are extremely sensitive to pesticides. Having fast metabolisms, they consume half their body weight in bugs and nectar, feeding every 10-15 minutes. Each minute, they flap their wings 4000 times, breathe 250 times, and beat their hearts 500 times. Additionally, they compete with each other for nectar-bearing flowers, as well as watch out for predators such as eagles, owls, cats, fish, and others. "Each is just a speck -- a firefly, a flash, a brilliant atom. Yet each is an infinite mystery" (50).

This story follows Brenda raising and helping two rescued baby Allen's hummingbirds until they are released into the wild. Every twenty minutes, she has to feed the baby hummingbirds: she has to do this very carefully and delicately, or they may pop. Essentially, hummingbirds are little balls of air with many large air sacs. "They are little more than bubbles fringed with iridescent feathers -- air wrapped in light" (17).

Her setup includes small baskets as well as outside cages for fledging. Raising these tiny creatures requires Brenda to use a magnifying glass, and hummingbirds face a serious obstacle in the form of mites. By using qtips and microwaving nests, Brenda is able to eliminate mites with a very precise and methodical process. While grounded in an arduous reality, there is much tenderness and compassion. Still, hummingbirds are awe-inspiring like glimmering, sleek jewels

I was amazed at how aware and curious hummingbirds are. When the Allen's hummingbirds are finally released into the wild, we see how adaptable they are, learning from experience to outwit each other for feeding on flowers and avoiding predators. They also ask for help from those who have helped them in the past. "Hummingbirds are curious and astute observers. Backyard hummers quickly learn to recognize individual humans and approach people who feed them -- even if they are not carrying food. (Sometimes they'll hover at windows to attract a particular person to come out and refill an empty feeder)... Many folks who feed hummers report that if they're slow to get their feeders out in the spring, hummers show up and hover right where the feeder used to hang the year before" (67).

Overall, I would highly recommend The Hummingbirds' Gift. It helps deepen compassion for all sentient beings. It shows that no matter how small one is, it is the bigness of the heart that counts... And, man, do hummingbirds have big hearts!

I have a lot of hummingbirds, so guests are often asking questions about them. This is the perfect coffee table book for them to thumb through. Great author. Credible research.

Love this quick, beautiful and thoughtful book!

gave as a Christmas present, had to be passed around as other family wanted to read it too

I listen to the author on the radio and when she spoke about this book which made me immediately think of my friend who talks incessantly about Hummingbirds about a month before his birthday. Perfect timing and he loves it. My advice would be to acquire this book as a classic.

My sister-in-law so enjoys the hummingbirds that she feeds every summer, so I thought this might be the perfect gift for her, even though she’s not a voracious reader. She absolutely loved it! She said it is such a sweet story and short enough to read in one sitting. Score!!