Researcher Develops Bond With Over 200 Hummingbirds

Near the UCLA Court of Sciences, there is a wing-flapping, darting, squeaking colony of 200-plus birds that make their home around the campus office of the “hummingbird whisperer,” as Melanie Barboni is sometimes called.

The assistant professor in the UCLA Earth, Planetary and Space Science program built the community of 200 hummingbirds, who live outside her office and are known to come and complain every time she forgets to bring food out for them.

Melanie is native of Switzerland, a country which is pretty scarce of hummingbirds; the species are practically non-existent in the alpine country. That is why she has always been obsessed with hummingbirds, ever since she was a child. She says:”My dearest dream as a child was to see hummingbirds. Imagine my joy when I found out that my next job assignment would bring me to Los Angeles, where hummingbirds live year-round.”

Now the AP can’t imagine going to a place where there are no hummingbirds. She says that the tiny birds make her happy and that, no matter how cheesy it may sound, she has even witnessed the rapid wing-flappers helping people.

“Having a crappy day? Who cares — there are hummingbirds around… Having a good day? Hummingbirds make it better…” concludes Melanie and we couldn’t agree with her more! They do seem like real-life mythical creatures.

Credit to 'UCLA'.