*Bats, Bees, Birds, Butterflies, and the Wind* BIRDS: Why Hummingbirds Hum (And it’s not "because they don't know the words") Long ago, Hummingbird had a beautiful singing voice. But she loved flower nectar so much that she drank and drank and drank so much that she coughed and choked on the sweet drink. What's more, she spent so much time looking for flowers that she didn't practice her songs. After years and years of coughing and choking (and not practicing), Hummingbird’s voice began to shrink and shrink until it disappeared completely. And that is why hummingbirds hum.

Background: This story is listed as coming from the “American South.”

Set-up:

You might want to

remind listeners that the “hum” is actually the sound made by the hummingbird’s super-fast wings.

Participation:

A great way

to make the hum is to put your top teeth on your lower

Adapted from: Ingersol, Ernest. Birds in Legend and Folklore (New York, NY: Longmans, Green & Co, 1923).Miller, Candace R., ed., Tales from the Bird Kingdom: More Than 160 Legends and Pourquoi Stories About Birds (Lima, OH: Pourquoi Press, 1996). 94pp. $20.00pa. E-mail: [email protected]://www.naturestory.com/birdstories4,env.html

lip and make a “vvvvvvvv” sound.

Change the pitch to

make it sound faster or slower.

: More Participation: Create a little song for the hummingbird (and your listeners) to sing through the story.

Gestures and Movement:

Play with

coughing and hacking – you could invite your listeners to help.

1 For more information about the SMCC Storytelling Institute, visit southmountaincc.edu/storytelling/ Or contact Liz Warren, 602-243-8026, [email protected]

*Bats, Bees, Birds, Butterflies, and the Wind* BIRDS: Gifts to the Hummingbird Tzunuum, the hummingbird, was created by the Great Spirit as a tiny, delicate bird with extraordinary flying ability. She was the only bird in the kingdom who could fly backwards and who could hover in one spot for several seconds. The hummingbird was very plain. Her feathers had no bright colors, yet she didn't mind. Tzunuum took pride in her flying skill and was happy with her life despite her looks. When it came time to be married, Tzunuum found that she had neither a wedding gown nor a necklace. She was so disappointed and sad that some of her best friends decided to create a wedding dress and jewelry as a surprise. Ya, the vermilion-crowned flycatcher wore a gay crimson ring of feathers around his throat in those days. He decided to use it as his gift. So he tucked a few red plumes in his crown and gave the rest to the hummingbird for her necklace. Uchilchil, the bluebird, generously donated several blue feathers for her gown. The vain motmot, not to be outdone, offered more turquoise blue and emerald green. The cardinal, likewise, gave some red ones. Then, Yuyum, the oriole, who was an excellent tailor as well as an engineer, sewed up all the plumage into an exquisite wedding gown for the little hummingbird. Ah-leum, the spider, crept up with a fragile web woven of shiny gossamer threads for her veil. She helped Mrs. Yuyum weave intricate designs into the dress. Canac, the honeybee, heard about the wedding and told all his friends who knew and liked the hummingbird. They brought much honey and nectar for the reception and hundreds of blossoms that were Tzunuum's favorites. Then the azar tree dropped a carpet of petals over the ground where the ceremony would take place. She offered to let Tzunuum and her groom spend their honeymoon in her branches. Pakal, the orange tree, put out sweet-smelling blossoms, as did Nicte, the plumeria vine. Haaz (the banana bush), Op the custard apple tree) and Pichi and Put (the guava and papaya bushes) made certain that their fruits were ripe so the wedding guests would find delicious refreshments. And, finally, a large band of butterflies in all colors arrived to dance and flutter gaily around the hummingbird's wedding site. When the wedding day arrived, Tzunuum was so surprised, happy and grateful that she could barely twitter her vows. The Great Spirit so admired her humble, honest soul that he sent word down with his messenger, Cozumel, the swallow, that the hummingbird could wear her wedding gown for the rest of her life. And, to this day, she has. And so,

Set-up:

Let your listeners

know that this story comes from Mayan folklore

Language and names: Tzunuum is pronounced “tsoonoom, with the accent on the second syllable.

Don’t try

to master the other names. Just call them by their species name.

Dialogue:

Think of simple,

repetitive dialogue as each animal offers his or her contribution to the dress.

Gestures and Movement:

Use your body

and face to show the emotions and actions of the story.

2 For more information about the SMCC Storytelling Institute, visit southmountaincc.edu/storytelling/ Or contact Liz Warren, 602-243-8026, [email protected]

*Bats, Bees, Birds, Butterflies, and the Wind* the humility of one long-ago hummingbird cause its descendants to sport brilliant colors? Background: The website says this story is a Mayan legend, but I can’t find any source for it. In Mayan mythology, hummingbirds are more often associated with transforming bride-grooms and warriors. Could be a folktale? Adapted from: https://www.manataka.org/page1088.html Another very similar version: http://www.firstpeople.us/FP-HtmlLegends/Gift_To_The_Hummingbird-Mayan.html

3 For more information about the SMCC Storytelling Institute, visit southmountaincc.edu/storytelling/ Or contact Liz Warren, 602-243-8026, [email protected]

*Bats, Bees, Birds, Butterflies, and the Wind* BIRDS: The Maya Legend of the Hummingbird The hummingbird is one of the most fascinating birds in the Mayan world, which is beautiful, light as a feather and with a subtle and fast movement. But just as beautiful is its story as a thought traveling through the wind. The tale of the Hummingbird is a Mayan legend about the hummingbird or hummingbird. To them, their feathers were magical and mystical. The hummingbird was a very beautiful bird which had an order no less special than the bird itself. The elders and wise men of the Maya say that the Gods created all things on Earth, and in so doing, each animal, each tree, and every stone asked for a job. But when they had finished, they noticed that no one was in charge of carrying their desires and thoughts from one place to another. When they did not have mud or corn to make another animal, they decided to use a jade stone and with it they carved a very small arrow. When they finally finished, a divine breath on her and the little arrow came to life and that instant flew away. It was no longer a simple arrow; now it had life. The gods had created a new animal that they called Xts'unu'um (tsoo-noom), that is, the hummingbird. The Hummingbird, who was born so fragile and light and beautiful that the hummingbird could approach the most delicate flowers without moving a single petal, its feathers glowed in the sun like drops of rain and reflected all the colors. Because the hummingbird was very beautiful the men tried to catch it to adorn themselves with their feathers. The Gods, upon seeing him, were angry and said: 'If anyone dares to catch a hummingbird, he will be punished.' That is why no one has ever seen a hummingbird in a cage, nor in the hand of a man. The Gods assigned that the hummingbird would carry a commission as subtle and light as that bird: that it would be that from that moment the hummingbird would be in charge of carrying the thoughts of men to and fro. So, if you can ever observe a hummingbird probably someone sends you good wishes and love with their thoughts. Background: This story has been reposted many times on the internet, and I haven’t

Set-up:

Tell your listeners

who and where the Maya are, and that the sun’s rays are seen as arrows, or build that into the story. For the Maya the Hummingbird is important since he is literally the sun.

Gesture and Movement: Show the gods making the creatures and breath of life. Show the delicate bird approaching the flowers, etc.

Dialogue:

More dialogue

between the gods could be utilized.

Participation:

Create a

little poem or chant to invite people in to the story.

found a source version for it. The rays of the sun are arrows with little jade or flint tips – the hummingbirds. More background below from Star Gods of the Maya: Astronomy in Art, Folklore, and Calendars by Susan Milbrath:

4 For more information about the SMCC Storytelling Institute, visit southmountaincc.edu/storytelling/ Or contact Liz Warren, 602-243-8026, [email protected]

*Bats, Bees, Birds, Butterflies, and the Wind*

Adapted from: https://steemit.com/story/@edrivegom/the-maya-legend-of-

the-hummingbird

5 For more information about the SMCC Storytelling Institute, visit southmountaincc.edu/storytelling/ Or contact Liz Warren, 602-243-8026, [email protected]

*Bats, Bees, Birds, Butterflies, and the Wind* BIRDS: Heron and Hummingbird Heron and Hummingbird were very good friends, even though one was tall and gangly and awkward and one was small and sleek and fast. They both loved to eat fish. The Hummingbird preferred small fish like minnows and Heron liked the large ones. One day, Hummingbird said to his friend: "I am not sure there are enough fish in the world for both of our kind to eat. Why don't we have a race to see which of us should own the fish?" Heron thought that was a very good idea. They decided that they would race for four days. The finish line was an old dead tree next to a far-away river. Whichever of them sat on top of the tree first on the fourth day of the race would own all the fish in the world. They started out the next morning. The Hummingbird zipped along, flying around and around the Heron, who was moving steadily forward, flapping his giant wings. Then Hummingbird would be distracted by the pretty flowers along the way. He would flit from one to the other, tasting the nectar. When Hummingbird noticed that Heron was ahead of him, he hurried to catch up with him, zooming ahead as fast as he could, and leaving Heron far behind. Heron just kept flying steadily forward, flapping his giant wings. Hummingbird was tired from all his flitting. When it got dark, he decided to rest. He found a nice spot to perch and slept all night long. But Heron just kept flying steadily forward all night long, flapping his giant wings. When Hummingbird woke in the morning, Heron was far ahead. Hummingbird had to fly as fast as he could to catch up. He zoomed past the big, awkward Heron and kept going until Heron had disappeared behind him. Then Hummingbird noticed some pretty flowers nearby. He zip-zipped over to them and tasted their nectar. He was enjoying the pretty scenery and didn't notice Heron flap-flapping passed him with his great wings. Hummingbird finally remembered that he was racing with Heron, and flew as fast as he could to catch up with the big, awkward bird. Then he zipped along, flying around and around the Heron, who kept moving steadily forward, flapping his giant wings. For two more days, the Hummingbird and the Heron raced toward the far-distant riverbank with the dead tree that was the finish line. Hummingbird had a marvelous time sipping nectar and flitting among the flowers and resting himself at night. Heron stoically kept up a steady flap-flap-flapping of his giant wings, propelling himself forward through the air all day and all night.

Set-up:

This is a version of

Tortoise and Hare from the Hitchiti Tribe in Georgia. Be sure to tell people a little about the Hitchiti and where they lived.

Gesture and Movement: Zipping and Flapping!

Dialogue:

Add more

dialogue to move the story forward. Take advantage of the bird’s differences to develop their characters.

Participation:

Divide the

listeners into hummingbirds and herons.

Teach the

Hummingbirds to zip, zip, zip and the herons to flap, flap, flap and invite them into the story, at regular intervals.

6 For more information about the SMCC Storytelling Institute, visit southmountaincc.edu/storytelling/ Or contact Liz Warren, 602-243-8026, [email protected]

*Bats, Bees, Birds, Butterflies, and the Wind* Heron and Hummingbird, page 2 Hummingbird woke from his sleep the morning of the fourth day, refreshed and invigorated. He flew zip-zip toward the riverbank with its dead tree. When it came into view, he saw Heron perched at the top of the tree! Heron had won the race by flying straight and steady through the night while Hummingbird slept. So, from that day forward, the Heron has owned all the fish in the rivers and lakes, and the Hummingbird has sipped from the nectar of the many flowers which he enjoyed so much during the race. Here’s a condensed version of the story! Heron and Humming Bird agreed to race. They said to each other, "We will race for four days, and whichever first on the fourth day reaches and sits down by a big dead tree standing on the bank of the river shall own all the fish in the water." When the time for the race came, Heron started off, while Humming Bird went along or stopped as he chose. While he was going about tasting the flowers Heron overtook him and went on past, while Humming Bird when he got ready went on and overtook Heron. He passed him and when he got a considerable distance ahead tasted the flowers again. While he was flitting about, Heron kept on, reached him, and went past, but while he was going along Humming Bird overtook and passed him once more. When night came he stopped and slept. Humming Bird sat there asleep, but Heron traveled all night. He went on past and when day came Humming Bird chased him and again overtook him. They went on and the night of the fourth day Humming Bird also slept. He sat where he was until morning and then started on, but when he got to where the dead tree stood, Heron had reached it first and was sitting on it. When Humming Bird got there Heron said to him, "We agreed that whoever got to the dead tree first should own all of the water. Now all of the water is mine." Because Heron said to Humming Bird, "You must not drink water but only taste of the flowers when you travel about," Humming Bird has since merely tasted of the flowers. This is how it has always been told.

http://www.sacred-texts.com/nam/se/mtsi/mtsi116.htm Background: A Native American Myth (Hitchiti Tribe), retold by S. E. Schlosser. Learn more about the Hitchiti here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitchiti Go here to see pictures of the Hitchiti and the region they live in: http://www.pearltrees.com/t/team-awesome-pearl-treeperiod/id8935694/item86838096

Adapted from: http://americanfolklore.net/folklore/2010/09/heron_and_the_hummingbird.htm

7 For more information about the SMCC Storytelling Institute, visit southmountaincc.edu/storytelling/ Or contact Liz Warren, 602-243-8026, [email protected]

*Bats, Bees, Birds, Butterflies, and the Wind* BIRDS: The Legend of the Hummingbird Long, long ago . . . far up in the hills of Puerto Rico there was once a small pool fed by a waterfall that tumbled down the side of a mountain. It was the favorite place of Alida, the daughter of a great and powerful chief. One day when Alida came to the pool to rest after a long walk, she was startled by a stranger—a young man not from her tribe who was picking fruit from the trees.

Set-up:

Tell your listeners

where the story is from and that it is a Taino myth. Explain that the Spanish word for hummingbird is

Colibrí. (co-lee-VREE)

He told her about himself to make her feel at home. He was a member of an enemy tribe who had been left behind after an attack and had lived in the forest by the pool ever since. Alida and Taroo became good friends. They would meet often at the pool. Their meetings were always brief so that no one would discover their secret friendship. Despite, Alida’s precautions, there came a day when someone saw them and told her father. Alida was forbidden to return to the pool, and her father decided to arrange a wedding to a man of his own choosing to put an end to Alida and Taroo’s romance.

Gesture and Movement: Use your body and face to show the emotion in the story, and to show Taroo as a hummingbird going from flower to flower.

Alida was grief stricken and prayed to her god for help. “Do not let me marry this man whom I do not love!” The god took pity on her and changed her into a beautiful red flower. Meanwhile, Taroo, knowing nothing of all this, still waited for her by the pool, but she never arrived. One night, the moon took pity on him and called out “Do not wait for Alida. Your secret has been found out, and to avoid marrying another man, she cried out to the gods for help and was changed into a delicate red flower.”

Dialogue:

Some is included

in the story, but more could be added to move the story along.

“Help me to find Alida”, Taroo cried out. The gods took pity on him also and changed him into a small multi-colored bird saying “Fly, Colibri (hummingbird), find your love among the flowers.” His wings made a humming sound as he rapidly flew away. In the morning, the people saw the new bird darting among the flowers as swift as an arrow and as bright as a jewel. They heard the humming of his wings and saw him hovering over every flower he passed and kissing 8 For more information about the SMCC Storytelling Institute, visit southmountaincc.edu/storytelling/ Or contact Liz Warren, 602-243-8026, [email protected]

*Bats, Bees, Birds, Butterflies, and the Wind* Legend of the Hummingbird, Page 2 the petals. They liked the bird with the music in his wings and called it a hummingbird. Ever since then the little bird has hovered over every flower he finds, but he returns most often to the red ones still looking for Alida. He has not found her yet. Background: This is a Taino (also known as Arawak) story from Puerto Rico (Boriquén). It’s a story of forbidden love (Romeo and Juliet) as the two lovers are from rival tribes. For another version with more background, go here: https://books.google.com/books?id=yUaXAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA21&lpg=PA21&dq=taino+legend+of+the+hummi ngbird&source=bl&ots=n0XNHoYNAq&sig=Gj30gicQqwOzR4qqVd7TMj98U4U&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjk 1MDG76bZAhUYwGMKHSJGDqMQ6AEITzAD#v=onepage&q=taino%20legend%20of%20the%20hummingbird &f=false

Adapted from: https://puertoricanmythology.wordpress.com/the-legend-

of-the-hummingbird/

9 For more information about the SMCC Storytelling Institute, visit southmountaincc.edu/storytelling/ Or contact Liz Warren, 602-243-8026, [email protected]

*Bats, Bees, Birds, Butterflies, and the Wind* BIRDS: How Hummingbird Got Fire Once, a very long time ago, the oceans of the world rose higher and higher until they covered the land. The Eagle and Hummingbird stood together on a mountain top surveying the destruction in great sadness. Eagle decided he would use his magic to heal the world. And so, he worked feverishly to dry up the waters. Then, he became very hungry.

Set-up:

Be sure to say

Linda Yamane’s name and the tribal name and where they live. Talk about Linda’s work to revive and preserve the Ohlone language and culture.

There was food to be found, but they needed fire to cook with. Eagle knew the one place where fire could be found, and he sent his little nephew Hummingbird to get it from the Badger People underground. The Badger people refused to share. “Cover the fire!” they shouted when they saw Hummingbird. They hid their fire by covering it over with a deer skin. But the deer skin had a hole in it, where an arrow had gone through. Hummingbird reached in with his long narrow beak. He took out a hot ember and carried it away. Before he could put it safely into his armpit, it flamed, turning his throat brilliant red. That is why Hummingbird has a red throat. And that is how there came to be fire in the world again.

Gesture and Movement: Watch the video of Linda Yamane telling a story about a bird.

She uses her

arms very effectively.

Dialogue:

Use the dialogue

provided and add more if you think it will move the story forward.

Background: This is a Native American story of the Ohlone people. The Ohlone lived on the Northern California coast, along the coast from San Francisco Bay through Monterey Bay to the lower Salinas Valley. Learn more here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohlone Hear Linda Yamane talk about Ohlone culture here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPh5XGLlPik And here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-fe8p2LTZk Adapted from: Adapted from “How Hummingbird Got Fire” A Rumsien Ohlone Story as told by Linda Yamane https://jamierizzo.wordpress.com/2013/02/22/hummingbird-got-fire/

10 For more information about the SMCC Storytelling Institute, visit southmountaincc.edu/storytelling/ Or contact Liz Warren, 602-243-8026, [email protected]

*Bats, Bees, Birds, Butterflies, and the Wind* BIRDS: The Little Hummingbird One day a terrible fire broke out in a forest – a huge woodlands was suddenly engulfed by a raging wild fire. Frightened, all the animals fled their homes and ran out of the forest. As they came to the edge of a stream they stopped to watch the fire and they were feeling very discouraged and powerless. They were all bemoaning the destruction of their homes. Every one of them thought there was nothing they could do about the fire, except for one little hummingbird. This one little hummingbird decided it would do something. It swooped into the stream and picked up a few drops of water and went into the forest and put them on the fire. Then it went back to the stream and did it again, and it kept going back again and again and again. All the other animals watched in disbelief; some tried to discourage the hummingbird with comments like, “Don’t bother, it is too much . . . you are too little . . .your wings will burn . . .your beak is too tiny, it’s only a drop . . . you can’t put out this fire.” And as the animals stood around disparaging the little bird’s efforts, the bird noticed how hopeless and forlorn they looked. Then one of the animals shouted out and challenged the hummingbird in a mocking voice, “What do you think you are doing?” And the hummingbird, without wasting time or losing a beat, looked back and said, “I am doing what I can.” - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Like the hummingbird, we each must do what we can. Imagine the drops of water that we can put on the fires we all face if we only have the determination of a hummingbird, just trying to do what we can. Imagine the Kingdom of Heaven coming close to us in fleeting moments, and imagine all of us working toward extending the kingdom in whatever way we can! Imagine what you can do. Background: This is from a folktale told by Quechua people of Ecuador and Peru. It has been made into a popular children’s book, but gained even more prominence when it was told by Wangari Maatha, the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Read this description of her from Creating Caring Classrooms: How to Encourage Students to Communicate, Create and Be Compassionate of Others, By Kathleen Gould Lundy, Larry Swartz.

Set-up:

This story has a

clear environmental message, as well as the message that everyone, even the smallest, can do something to help. Consider ending the story after the hummingbird says, “I am doing what I can.” Or add a short simple statement of what the story is asking us to do, for example, “And that is all any of us can do.” Let the story do the work and don’t preach. Tell listeners it is a Quechua story from Ecuador and Peru.

Participation:

Invite

listeners to join you in discouraging the hummingbird. You could teach them a refrain to include between the hummingbirds trips to the river and the fire.

11 For more information about the SMCC Storytelling Institute, visit southmountaincc.edu/storytelling/ Or contact Liz Warren, 602-243-8026, [email protected]

*Bats, Bees, Birds, Butterflies, and the Wind*

Adapted from: https://erasingborders.wordpress.com/tag/the-hummingbird-inmayan-culture/

12 For more information about the SMCC Storytelling Institute, visit southmountaincc.edu/storytelling/ Or contact Liz Warren, 602-243-8026, [email protected]

*Bats, Bees, Birds, Butterflies, and the Wind* BIRDS: How Hummingbird Got Her Colors Long ago, when the world was young, the hummingbird wore a dull, pale dress. With her wild, spinning wings and a heart so big and fierce, she flew this way and that, just as the hummingbird does today. And just like today, she loved to sip nectar from flowers, but she longed for something more. She wished to be noticed. She longed to wear a dress of many colors. She pined for attention. She traveled among the flowers. At the sight of their exquisite colors, she trilled, winging this way and that, for she longed to be as beautiful as those flowers. She asked them, "Tell me, where I can find a dress as pretty as yours?" The flowers did not answer. They simply yawned, opening their petals wide. "Have your nectar," they sighed, "but don't bother us with questions we cannot answer." But everyone knows how envy works -- once it's there, it's hard to shed. The hummingbird's envy grew larger and larger. That envy became heavier and heavier. After a while the hummingbird had trouble even flying, she was so weighed down by her envy. In another part of the forest, the panther was padding along, minding his own business, off to find a stream, when he accidentally stepped on a mouse nest and crushed it. The panther did not know what to do, but before he could do anything the mother mouse came along. When she saw her crushed nest, she squeaked and wailed so loudly that the leaves began to quake, and the panther's heart broke, just like the mother mouse's heart. "I'm so very sorry," he said, "so sorry ... I didn't mean ..." But the mother mouse wailed again. "What good is sorry now that I have lost my children? You shall pay for this!" She scurried away. The panther could not imagine how a little mouse could harm him. He was sorry, of course, but what could he do? So, he kept walking, and before long he came to a stream. He drank a great deal of water until he was tired and full; so he lay down beneath a palm tree to sleep. As the panther slept, the mouse appeared. In her little paw she held a concoction of palm oil and mud, and this she pushed into the panther's eyes. She then hurried away. As the panther slept, those blinders hardened under the sun. When he woke and tried to open his eyes, he realized he was blind. "Help!" he cried. "Somebody help me! I cannot see!" It just so happened that the hummingbird was winging past, and when she heard the panther's cry, she flew down to see what was wrong.

Set-up:

Explain the story is

from South America.

Gesture and Movement: Use your body and face to show the emotions in the story.

Dialogue:

The story

includes quite a bit of dialogue – adapt and add more as fits best for you.

13 For more information about the SMCC Storytelling Institute, visit southmountaincc.edu/storytelling/ Or contact Liz Warren, 602-243-8026, [email protected]

*Bats, Bees, Birds, Butterflies, and the Wind* How Hummingbird Got Her Colors, Page 2 "What is it?" she asked, and the panther felt the brush of wind on his face as the hummingbird fluttered her wings. "I'm blind," he said. "The mouse has blinded me." The hummingbird looked closely at the panther and she saw something in his eyes. "Yes," she said, "I see there's something there, but before I help, can you help me?" "What is it? Anything," the panther said with desperation. "Tell me how the flowers get their beautiful colors, and how do the rainbows get their shimmering hues? How can I become as beautiful as the lianas and lilies and roses? I'm so tired of looking dull." The panther laughed. "The flowers get their color from the earth, of course." This puzzled the hummingbird. She looked down at the earth, but she saw only clay. "There's only dirt here," she said. "Look more closely," the panther said, for he was remembering now -remembering how beautiful the world was, how dazzling and how detailed, how important it was to pay close attention, to look at everything, to see the mysteries in even the smallest things. "The clay is gold, and it is silver, and it is red and brown and blue and black and gray. Look more carefully, hummingbird. Treasure your gifts. Don't let envy blind you to the beauty in everything." Hummingbird listened closely and began to understand. When she looked around she saw the beauty that surrounded her -- the flowers and the sky and the earth and the rainbows. They were not to be envied. They were to be loved. She looked at the panther, and her heart swelled with love for him. "I'll help you now," she said, and she began to peck at the mud in his eyes. She pecked and pecked, for she was a tiny thing, and the mud blinders were caked hard by the sun. But she didn't give up. She worked deep into the night and long into the next morning. At last she removed the blinders. The panther roared with pleasure. "Thank you, thank you, thank you," he roared again and again. So, he spent that day and the next combing the forest, searching for every color he could find, for stones and jewels and sand, the silver of the moon, the gold of the sun, the green of the leaves, the black of night. He called upon the spiders to help, and before long they wove a dress so soft and beautiful and multicolored that hummingbird gasped at the sight.

Story Crafting:

Use the

summary at the end of the story as a guide to shorten the story. You probably don’t need the beginning with Hummingbird being envious and wanting attention. She could just see her opportunity when the panther needs her help.

14 For more information about the SMCC Storytelling Institute, visit southmountaincc.edu/storytelling/ Or contact Liz Warren, 602-243-8026, [email protected]

*Bats, Bees, Birds, Butterflies, and the Wind* How Hummingbird Got Her Colors, Page 3 The forest creatures gathered to give the dress to hummingbird, and this is the dress she wears to this day. She is one of the most brilliantly colored of the forest birds, but she is modest; she doesn't like to show off, for she understands the whole world is full of beauty. Here’s a summary of the story from The Newbery Companion: Booktalk and Related Materials for Newbery Medal and Honor Books By John Thomas Gillespie, Corinne J. Naden

Background: I haven’t been able to find exactly who told this story, or what country it came from. It’s reproduced a lot on the internet, but it all goes back to Tales from Silver Lands by Charles by Finger. The stories in the book were collected by the author during his travels in South American at the beginning of the 20th Century.

Adapted from: http://www.uexpress.com/tell-me-a-story/2010/6/27/the-panther-and-thehummingbird-a

15 For more information about the SMCC Storytelling Institute, visit southmountaincc.edu/storytelling/ Or contact Liz Warren, 602-243-8026, [email protected]

*Bats, Bees, Birds, Butterflies, and the Wind* BIRDS: How the Wren Became the King Many years ago, all the birds of the world gathered to decide which of them would be the king of the birds. After many days of debate, they decided that they would hold a contest. Whichever bird could fly the highest would be the king of the birds. On the day of the competition, all the birds took off into the air. The small song birds quickly tired, their fragile wings unable to carry them far. They were soon joined by the ducks, crows, and many others. In short order, only the strongest of the eagles still climbed into the sky. This eagle climbed higher and higher, until the last of his competition gave up and returned to earth. He smugly congratulated himself, and began his descent. He was exhausted from the competition, and needed to recover. As he was falling, he heard a small bright voice above him calling “I am king! I am king!” It was the little brown wren, fluttering above him. She had carefully, quietly, hidden among his feathers, and ridden his back into the sky. The eagle was furious, but he was too exhausted from the competition to fly higher. When the wren landed the small birds cried in joy and surprise. They were sure that one of the larger birds would win the competition, but had been too afraid to complain. The large birds were furious. “You only won through trickery and cunning, and that’s not fair,” they complained. “Eagle would have won through strength and brawn. Why is that better than cunning? If you have your doubts name another challenge and I will win once more,” the wren replied. The large birds chatted among themselves, and came up with a solution. “We have a new competition. Whichever bird can swoop the lowest will be the king of the birds.” The birds began the new competition, diving down to glide along the ground. Wren saw a small mouse-hole in the earth and climbed into it. She called out “I am king! I am king! I am the lowest!” The large birds were furious, and decided that the wren could be the king, but she would never rule them. They each took turns standing guard at the hole, waiting to kill the wren if she tried to climb out. Days passed, and wren stubbornly remained in her hole. One night, the owl was guarding the hole, watching the wren with large yellow eyes. When the morning sunlight peeked over the horizon, it momentarily blinded the owl. The wren saw this as her chance, and quickly escaped

Set-up:

Tell listeners

about the connection to St. Stephens day and the holidays.

Gesture and Movement: Use your face and body to show the drama and humor in the story.

Dialogue:

There is plenty

of dialogue included in the story.

Use it to move the

story forward.

16 For more information about the SMCC Storytelling Institute, visit southmountaincc.edu/storytelling/ Or contact Liz Warren, 602-243-8026, [email protected]

*Bats, Bees, Birds, Butterflies, and the Wind* How the Wren Became King, Page 2 from the hole. The little brown wren is still the king of the birds, but she is so afraid of the eagles and hawks that she stays hidden in hedges and bushes. They will kill her if given the chance, as they are ashamed that she won their competitions. All the other birds visit her for advice, as she is so clever and cunning. Background: This story is based on a traditional folktale from the British Isles. The wren is a small brown bird, commonly referenced in Celtic folklore, and symbolizes life, energy, and cleverness. On December 26th, the feast day of St. Stephen, it was traditional to hunt the wren. The bird would be placed on a decorated pole and paraded through the village. In modern times a fake bird is used, and the day is celebrated with music and dancing. Consider using part of the Wren Song in your telling: The wren, the wren, the king of all birds, St. Stephen's Day was caught in the furze, Although he was little his honour was great, Jump up me lads and give him a treat. Chorus: Up with the kettle and down with the pan, And give us a penny to bury the wren. Listen to the Chieftains sing it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyA1zKBUhxM

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For more information on St. Stephen’s Day and the wren, visit: A Christmas Celtic Sojourn: The Wren Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeTsyueyGuo Wikipedia: Wren Day: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wren_Day Here are links to other versions of this story: Jo Heaney: How the Wren Became King of the Birds: http://www.joeheaney.org/default.asp?contentID=805 Untold Stories.org: King of the Birds in Ireland: http://www.untoldstories.org.uk/storytelling/irish/ir_story02.html Sacred Texts: Why the Wren Flies Close to the Earth: http://www.sacredtexts.com/etc/bnm/bnm23.htm

Adapted from: http://littlebrownwren.com/2015/11/24/how-the-wrenbecame-the-king-of-the-birds/

17 For more information about the SMCC Storytelling Institute, visit southmountaincc.edu/storytelling/ Or contact Liz Warren, 602-243-8026, [email protected]