Sunbirds

a sunbird on a twig

A pair of sunbirds visit my balcony regularly, especially during nesting season. They peel the papery dried layers off the stems of my dracaena - Old Faithful - and use it for their nests.

They were shy at first, flying away the moment they sense movement at the balcony door. Since I have three cats, it was wise of the birds to be wary.

Recently they start singing whenever they come by. Their voices are cheery and clear.

Good thing my cats are growing too old to be curious.

Occasionally my youngest cat, Duck, would chatter in indignation at their audacity, or observe them from a hiding spot on the balcony, but she is not very fast nor sneaky. The birds are safe from her and she gets her entertainment.

For the past three years, whenever I brush out Duck's loose fur, I'd stick balls of it between Old Faithful's twigs. I like to imagine little sunbirds growing up warm and comfortable because of a fat calico cat's fur. Generations of sunbirds coming to the same spot to get fur and papery dracaena stem bark for their nests.

Someday I won't be able to give the birds any more nesting material. Maybe they'll find another donor of loose cat fur. A tiny tradition for that one family of sunbirds.