Hummingbird Shock and Awe

by Mary
(Flatwoods KY)

We are lucky enough to have many hummingbirds frequent our flowers and feeders. They have amused us all summer, our first as avid bird watchers. We have seen what appear to be younger birds at our feeders lately and love watching the acrobatic maneuvers they display.

Occasionally, we have had some near misses with windows. It appears that they like to watch us as much as we watch them - or they are just tormenting the poor cat as she sits in the window. Rarely, we see one hit the window, hover and look dazed for a second, then zoom off as if nothing had happened.

This past weekend when going outside, we sadly found a young hummingbird lying on the deck next to sliding doors. At first, we thought it had died. But, looking closer, we noted that it was still breathing but not moving.

Looking at this tiny, fragile, beautiful creature, I feared that we would witness its death. I carefully picked it up, amazed at the silky feel of its wings. As I did this, the tiny talons closed on my fingers as it laid otherwise unmoving in my palm.

As a doctor, I know what to do for a person in what appeared to be shock. After trauma, IV fluids are often helpful. But, in the case of this tiny hummingbird, I was lost.

After a couple of minutes there was no change; it was still not moving. Assuming there was nothing to lose, I took some fluid from the feeder and put the beak into the fluid. The bird's tongue took a few sips. After a few moments of gently stroking the amazingly soft creature, it stood in my palm, shook for a second, then flew off without a glance back.

The bird may have temporarily been in shock, but I was definitely in awe of the opportunity to have held this gift of nature in my palm and see it fly off with it's friends.