Before we rebuilt our place in the woods to be year-round, we'd arrive in late April or early May to open the place up. After turning on the water and various other start-up activities, my wife and I sat down to enjoy the sunny day by reading books and occasionally glancing up at the lake.

I heard a buzzing sound and looked up to see a ruby-throated male hovering at eye level not three feet from me. Not only was he requiring that the feeders be filled, he knew that I was the one who did the deed.

"Get off your fat ass, Monkey Boy! I've got flowers to pollinate and fancy flying to do!"