Charlie Cupples never expected to slow down.
The Richland Parish native has spent his whole life on the go, visiting with friends and trying to help anyone he meets along the way. He’s become a familiar sight in Rayville.
Then, like many people, he had a fall. Surgery and the looming weight of age tried to force him into idleness. Battling COPD often left him breathless, but Cupples needed to do something.
“I’ve never been able to just sit still and not do anything,” Cupples said. “I needed something to do.”
The idea came to him while he sat on his porch watching hummingbirds in his yard.
Like Cupples, the birds were always on the move.
“If you watch them, they fly the same way helicopters do,” Cupples pointed out. “They use their tails like a rotor.”
Cupples said he’d always enjoyed watching the restless, shimmering creatures flitting from feeder to feeder.
“They can’t walk,” Cupples said. “They don’t have knees.
“The Native Americans believe hummingbirds carried healing energy, delivering wisdom from the spirit world. There was something healing about watching them.”
So he put out a feeder. At first, it was just a few feeders. Then a few more. Then, when he realized he had the time, he poured everything into it. A total of 101 feeders now hang across his yard, along with a fountain bubbling like a welcome sign for the thirsty travelers.
“It isn’t just hummingbirds,” Cupples said. “Deer and other birds and animals like the fountain.”
He calls the sanctuary he’s created Hummingbird Have Sanctuary and it’s become a full time job.
“The feeders need cleaning, need fresh nectar and care,” he said. “You have to wash and refill them all. I do five at a time, wash them all out good and refill them, then I sit back down in my lazy boy, drink a cup of coffee and do five more.
He even makes his own nectar for the feeders.
“It’s like making tea,” he said. “You have to boil the water. I use about four cups of water for each cup of sugar and boil it until it all dissolves. It’s just like making tea.”
Just like making 100 cups of tea for hundreds of guests day, but Cupples gets it done.
His work with the birds and feeders in his sanctuary led Cupples to become an active member of the International Hummingbird Society, an organization committed to the protection and celebration of one of the world’s most extraordinary birds.
Charlie Cupples
Cupples said he’s commited to the preservation of hummingbirds, which are facing serious threats worldwide. With 10 percent of the 370 known species currently considered at risk of extinction and declining populations observed in nearly 70 percent of all species, the Society’s mission is more urgent than ever.
“Being a member of the International Hummingbird Society means standing up for these tiny, remarkable creatures,” Cupples said. “They deserve our attention, our admiration, and our protection. These birds have brought so much joy into my life.”
Hummingbird Haven Sanctuary, Cupples said, is just the latest chapter in his life, but it continues the same kind of work he’s always done -- trying to help others.
Cupples began his journey in the U.S. Navy, flying medical evacuation helicopters, ensuring critical transport and lifesaving support.
His commitment to service extended beyond the military, as he later joined the Richland Parish Sheriff’s Department and later worked with the State Fire Marshal and the Rayville Fire Department, documenting fire scenes with precision as a photographer.
Expanding his talents further, he became a freelance photographer, contributing to the Richland Beacon-News and the Monroe News-Star. His work earned him notable accolades, including first place for action picture from the Louisiana Press Association two years in a row.
Beyond his professional achievements, Cupples is a dedicated community leader. His contributions to the Kiwanis Club earned him the Kiwanian of the Year title and the prestigious Ruby-K Award for his outstanding service. He has also worked with the Salvation Army, helping those in need. He also volunteered with the Rayville beautifi cation board, where he helped gather donations for the Welcome to Rayville sign, adding to the town’s charm and civic pride.
“I just like to say busy,” he said.
