The Hummingbirds' Gift

Wonder, Beauty, and Renewal on Wings

De: Sy Montgomery

Narrado por: Sy Montgomery

From the beloved New York Times best-selling author of the “fascinating...entertaining” (The Daily Beast) National Book Award finalist The Soul of an Octopus, a charmingly perfect gem of a book about the most exquisite and extraordinary of winged creatures - hummingbirds.

As one of the most beautiful and intriguing birds found in nature, hummingbirds fascinate people around the world. The lightest birds in the sky, hummingbirds are capable of incredible feats, such as flying backwards, diving at speeds of 61 MPH, and beating their wings more than 60 times a second. Miraculous creatures, they are also incredibly vulnerable when they first emerge from their eggs. That’s where Brenda Sherburn comes in.

With tenderness and patience, she rescues abandoned hummingbirds and nurses them back to health until they can fly away and live in the wild. In The Hummingbird’s Gift, the extraordinary care that Brenda provides her peanut-sized patients is revealed and, in the process, shows us just how truly amazing hummingbirds are. With Sy Montgomery’s signature “joyful passion” (Library Journal), this inspiring little book celebrates the profound gift that hummingbirds are to our planet and is the ultimate gift for nature lovers and bird watchers everywhere.

©2021 An earlier version of this material appeared as a chapter in Sy Montgomery’s book Birdology (2010).“Birds Are Made of Air” from Birdology ©2010 Sy Montgomery. Introduction ©2021 Sy Montgomery. All rights reserved. (P)2021 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Fabulously and Endearingly Told

This short piece by Sy Montgomery focuses on hummingbird development, physiology, and ecology from the lens of hummingbird rescue efforts. Montgomery is best at deep dives on the lived experiences of a particular species--see her book, "The Soul of an Octopus"--and "The Hummingbird's Gift" delivers.

Part memoir, this story follows Montgomery as she visits, interviews, observes, and supports a hummingbird rescue outfit in California. I am blown away by how tenuous and phenomenal the hummingbird life cycles is, not to mention their marvelous agility and aerobatics while airborne. I now have a deep respect for all those who dedicate tireless schedules and profound fortitude in rearing orphaned hummingbirds, releasing adults into the wild, and cultivating pollinator habitat in their neighborhoods.

This is just my kind of work, and I'm so glad I read it. I recommend to all those interested in Montgomery's other works, bird watching, hummingbirds, pollinators, animal rescue and rehabilitation, memoir, ecology, and popular science.

Wonderful!!!

OMG! This is sooooo sweet!!! I love Sy Montgomery’s work! We have tons of hummingbirds and it was just great to learn more about their life!

Such a beautiful and touching book!

Loved loved this book! As a lover of all things this story was heartfelt but educational all in one! Hummingbirds are fascinating and this was beautifully portrayed!

Brief and Bold.

I loved how short and enlightening this was.
I will care for my hummingbirds with much more empathy.

Amazing

Sy is the best science writer I’ve read. This was as beautiful as The Soul of the Octopus.

Who knew???

I had no idea the work that rehabbers do. Every 20 minute feeds, mites, grinding fruit flies…..this was just a fascinating study of nature and survival that I had no idea about. Just a joyful read in today’s hectic, hate filled world. Bravo!

Beautifully narrated, loved every bit of it.

Wonderful tone, love that the author narrated it. I had no idea about the tiny world of hummingbirds until now!

A sweet, hopeful and educational story.

A wonderfully narrated and educational story about the rescue and release of two baby hummingbirds.

Hummingbird

I wasn't sure what to expect. This little book was a delight to read. Really enjoyed ☺ the author reading the book.

Humming Birds A wonder bird

A wonderfully written story about the world's smallest bird. You'll love the outcome of the rescued pair.