Now that two weeks of dense smoke have given way to both rain and blue sky in our region, an immense sigh of relief has swept across the land and through our bodies here atop the hill just in time for the autumnal equinox. We've also been treated to a flurry of bird activity over the past few days, as flocks of many species hop happily amongst the oaks and grasses, foraging and chittering after so many stressful stuffy days. The return of our Steller's jays, towhees, and robins signifies a much-awaited shifting of the seasons.
To be sure, summer brought energizing light and splashes of delight to hazy times, but the parting curtains of golden-brown leaves offer an opportunity for rejuvenation, deceleration, and transition. We'll have some big announcements to make about our autumn plans soon...
But before we wave goodbye to the last beams of the summer sun, we thought we'd take a bit of time to step back and reflect upon various happenings around the Hill during this year's dry months.
If you missed the previous editions of Hummingtunes, you can find them here: I, II, III.
Bandcamp Friday is upon us once again (Sept 4)! For today's edition, we've decided to keep things short and sweet by sharing a list of songs related to one of our favourite subjects—which may shock you—birds! Feathered friends have always served as a natural source of inspiration for composers and songwriters, so there was, unsurprisingly, no shortage of avian-influenced tracks for us to choose from on Bandcamp. We hope you'll enjoy these selections—instrumental and otherwise—from fellow bird-noticing artists we admire. We also invite you to join us in picking up some wholesome tunes this time 'round & supporting some talented music-makers in the process!
Tracks 1-7: Kate⎛⦾⩥ 🎵 ⪪⊝⎞ Tracks 7-13: Seán
p.s. You can find more tunes that we've been humming in our Are.na jukebox.
On a particularly hot, sunny day earlier this summer, I was out identifying plants in the garden when, rounding a bend, I was met with this sight on a mossy mound of rock near the bird bath:
They were absolutely still, frozen in their respective poses:
On Sunday she left us a cherry
On Saturday: water-logged bread
On Friday she left us most of a rat
On Thursday: a snake with no head
A corvid is feeding her offspring
Each afternoon, soaking their food
To some birds, the bath is for bathing
But for Raven, it helps feed her brood
On Wednesday she left us cat kibble
On Tuesday: a handful of rice
On Monday she left us some swollen dog food
A week’s worth of leftovers— nice
A corvid comes by, on a mission
Each afternoon, feeding her brood
To some birds, the bath is for bathing
But for Raven: a sink for her food
On Monday she left us another bird’s claw
On Tuesday: some limp deli meat
On Wednesday she left us a ratty mouse tail
On Thursday: a peanut-shell treat
A corvid comes by, on a mission
Each afternoon, soaking her food
To some birds, the bath is for bathing
But for Raven, it helps feed her brood
On Friday she left us a snail shell
On Saturday: bits of fish skin
On Sunday she left us a chicken leg-bone
And soon she'll surprise us again
Read on to reveal the inspiration for this bird bath ballad (warning – if you're squeamish about dismembered animal bits, don't scroll all the way to the end).
As the beaming rays of the summer sun begin to broil our hilltop habitat, rarely a minute of the day ticks by without some feathered visitor or other seeking a sip or a swim at our weather-worn stone basin. But a bird bath is far more than just a small pool of water providing relief for panting beaks – it's a crossroads of avian activity which sets the stage for all sorts of stories to unfold, featuring familiar characters, surprise guests, and thrilling plot twists.
Here's a sampling of the many fine programs on offer through BB-TV in case you're considering subscribing:
Seán and I have recently been scheming new ways to creatively capture scenes around the Hill, so I halved some card-paper offcuts I got from an art store. Now we have a nice stack of 3x3.5'' pieces that we're gradually making into tiny paintings.
One of my first attempts is a common sight around here: a fluffed-up, staring robin soaking in the bath:
As spring comes to a close, we thought we'd celebrate the shifting of seasons by sharing the gallery we've been assembling (~60mb) which showcases some of the myriad expressions of life which we've witnessed around Humm Hill this time of year. And while summer may be dawning across our hemisphere, we look forward to continuing to share and reflect upon these scenes in the months to come.
While you explore our noticings, you may also enjoy listening to this field recording taken here one rainy morning earlier this spring:
How many different bird calls do you hear? For the answer, read the description.
World Migratory Bird Day Spotlight: Rocky Point Bird Observatory 
A very soft and warm swainson's thrush being held gently by Kate
Hummingtunes IV 
🎶 On Sunday She Left Us A Cherry 🎵
Looks like someone's had a 