Hummingbird Rescue

The cats spotted it first. Then I went to the sliding screen door to see what was so riveting to them.

Out of the corner of one eye, I saw a slight 'fluttering'. It took me a few seconds to spot the 'problem', mainly because it was well into dusk.

A male Costa's Hummingbird, one of the breeds common to my feeder, was on the patio floor, flapping around frantically. He kept trying to fly, but for some reason, just couldn't take to the air. He seemed exhausted and was breathing heavily, almost panting.

Since I've had a Hummer Feeder for YEARS, this kind of incident has happened to me before. Still, I didn't have a good feeling about this time, as I could see no obvious reason for this bird to be on my patio in this condition. You always have to try though, or at least I do.

I isolated the cats while I attended to the bird, which they were not at all happy about. I got out an old, small bird cage I keep in a storage closet for just such occasions. (I also have a small creature keeper, an animal crate, and a small fish bowl - you just never know, or at least I don't.)

With a soft clean cloth, I was able to pick up the bird, which HE was not happy about, and get him safely into the cage. He just laid on the cage floor, on his side, breathing heavily, half hidden under the cloth. I put the cage in a quite, safe place and checked on it often. I had grave doubts about his status.

After awhile, of 'resting' he got off his side, got his feet under him. A good sign. I waited about 5 minutes more before offering him 'nectar' in a dropper. (I MUST get one of those water bottles with a drinking tube that rodents use! I keep forgetting!)

He ignored the dropper and I actually put one little drop of nectar on the end of that tiny beak. A few minutes later, I tried to get him to take the nectar again, with the same result. By now there were several small drops of reddish nectar on the cage floor, right in front of the Hummer. I was hoping he'd notice it and drink, he didn't. I was beginning to have grave doubts about this little creature surviving the long night if it wouldn't 'eat'.

Hummingbirds use so much energy, especially in a 'stress' situation, they can actually get into some kind of metabolic crisis state and die if their reserves aren't replenished immediately. I was afraid this might be the case with this bird. If only I'd found him sooner!

Ahhh, but a few minutes more, when I again offered him the dropper of nectar, he got the idea and stuck his beak right into the dropper itself and actually drank a little. We repeated this procedure a couple of times at intervals of about 5 minutes. I was feeling better about the Hummer's chances of survival.

Then, suddenly, he shook out his feathers and jumped up to the perch! I was elated! Even in the approaching dark, I could see the green and red of him almost shining in what light was still available.

Just before full dark, I gave him some more nectar from the dropper, which by now he was taking eagerly. Then I held the cage up next to the hanging feeder (it has perches) and opened the cage door. He jumped right from the cage perch to the feeder, fed well, then took flight, steady and sure, into the wild. I felt so good.

I left the bird cage where Lucy and Ethel could see and smell it. They were happy cats for a few hours.

I was worn out by now, but I'd done something some good this day! A little life helped...