** Reply to note from Hughbirder at aol.com on Mon, 24 Aug 1998 21:01:05 EDT

> While I was back in the Denver area recently, there was a half page article on
> hummingbirds in the Sunday, July 26, Denver Post. A large part of the article
> was an interesting story about a Broad-tailed Hummingbird which I believe is
> worthwhile passing on. A specific place was not given, other than it occurred
> in Douglas Co. which is just south of Denver. The story was quite lengthy, so
> I have taken the liberty to summarize it.

<snip>

> "I've always been an environmentalist, but this experience altered me," she
> said.

In the vein of birds being capable of something we humans would equate to
emotion, I offer the following. About five years ago I was at work when I heard
a smack against the office window. It was April and migration was revving up.
Looking down below the window casement, I noted a pair of Savannah Sparrows. The
one which had hit the window was either dead or unconscious and definitely
immobile on the cement. What I took to be its mate was standing right next to
the lifeless form. During the next 20 minutes, the mate would occasionally reach
down and nudge the downed bird. Abruptly, the dazed bird started to come to and
after a while it was strong enough to fly away, its mate along with it. I had
read the literature about how some species of birds will come to the aid of
fallen flock members, but it never really sunk in until that encounter. My
fervent wish is that if there is ever a second go-around after we shirk this
mortal coil, that we at least have the ability to converse with our fellow
creatures so we know if they can indeed "think" and " feel".

- Jack

==========================
Jack Bowling
Prince George, BC
jbowling at direct.ca