With John Helms
Still Waiting on Autumn Rain
Yesterday I wrote about the garden spot—how the ground’s too dry to work, how the dust hangs on like it’s got something to prove. We hadn’t seen a measurable rain in weeks here on our patch of land in central Mississippi. Well, yesterday we finally got a little something. I wish I could say it changed things, but I can’t.
Less than a quarter inch fell here. Just enough to dampen the topsoil and stir up hope. Meanwhile, folks just a few miles down the road—family and friends within a 25-mile stretch—measured an inch or more. Their fields soaked. Ours sighed.
So I’m still where I was: waiting on cooler weather to start building the greenhouse, and waiting on a real autumn rain to soften this stubborn earth. We need the kind that sinks deep and brings life back to the ground. Until then, I’ll keep watching the sky and listening to the land.
Hummingbirds Will Be Migrating Soon
Every fall, as the days shorten and the goldenrod blooms, ruby-throated hummingbirds begin one of nature’s most astonishing migrations. These thumb-sized dynamos leave their summer homes across the eastern United States—including right here in Central Mississippi—and head for the tropics of Central America. They don’t travel in flocks or follow a leader. Each bird, even the newly hatched ones, makes the journey alone, guided by instinct and the quiet cues of the changing season. It’s a solo flight that spans up to 2,000 miles, and every single one of them must make it.
Golden Rod in Bloom
Despite their size, ruby-throats are built for endurance. They fly about 100 to 200 feet above the ground, skimming treetops and fields where nectar and insects are plentiful. Their wings beat up to 80 times per second, and they can cruise at 25 to 30 miles per hour, with bursts up to 60. To fuel this journey, they must eat constantly—doubling their body weight before departure and consuming up to half their weight in sugar daily. Nectar is their main fuel, but they also hunt tiny insects for protein. Without this relentless feeding, they wouldn’t survive the trip.
So next time you see a ruby-throat darting around your feeder, know that you’re hosting a seasoned traveler. Whether it’s a returning veteran or a brave first-timer, that little bird has crossed mountains, oceans, and borders to find its way back to Mississippi. And it did it alone, powered by nectar, grit, and a compass written in its bones.
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
Created in CoPilot AI
Their route takes them across the Gulf of Mexico in a single, nonstop flight—500 miles over open water, with no place to land. From there, they weave through the forests and fields of Mexico and Central America, eventually settling in places like Honduras and Panama for the winter. Come spring, they reverse the journey, returning to the same gardens and feeders they left behind. Some even find their way back to the exact patch of land where they were born. In Mississippi, their arrival is a sure sign that winter’s grip is loosening and the earth is waking up.
Despite their size, ruby-throats are built for endurance. They fly about 100 to 200 feet above the ground, skimming treetops and fields where nectar and insects are plentiful. Their wings beat up to 80 times per second, and they can cruise at 25 to 30 miles per hour, with bursts up to 60. To fuel this journey, they must eat constantly—doubling their body weight before departure and consuming up to half their weight in sugar daily. Nectar is their main fuel, but they also hunt tiny insects for protein. Without this relentless feeding, they wouldn’t survive the trip.
Flying solo isn’t just a quirk—it’s a survival strategy. Traveling alone reduces the chance of attracting predators, and it allows each bird to move at its own pace, stopping when needed and adjusting to weather and terrain. Even the fledglings, who’ve never seen a migration route before, somehow know when to leave and where to go. It’s a marvel of nature—no GPS, no guide, just a heart full of instinct and a sky full of possibility.
So next time you see a ruby-throat darting around your feeder, know that you’re hosting a seasoned traveler. Whether it’s a returning veteran or a brave first-timer, that little bird has crossed mountains, oceans, and borders to find its way back to Mississippi. And it did it alone, powered by nectar, grit, and a compass written in its bones.
Hummingbird Facts from the Porch Swing
Species: Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)
Migration Route: Eastern North America to Central America
Distance Traveled: Up to 2,000 miles one-way
Gulf Crossing: 500 miles nonstop over open water
Altitude: Typically 100–200 feet above ground; up to 1,200 feet over water
Speed: 25–30 mph cruising; up to 60 mph in bursts
Travel Style: Solo flyers—no flocks, no guides
Fuel Needs: Must double body weight before departure; consumes up to half its weight in sugar daily
Diet: Nectar for energy, insects for protein
Survival Strategy: Flying alone reduces risk of predation and allows for flexible pacing
Navigation: Guided by instinct, environmental cues, and possibly Earth’s magnetic field
Return Accuracy: Many return to the exact garden or feeder they left behind
...until next time.
Copyright © John Helms 2025
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