I felt a need to share this story with other bird lovers.
I had the privilege yesterday of participating in the rescue and revival of
a female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD. My 15-year-old daughter came home from
Roosevelt High School (Seattle) with the unconscious hummer in her
hands. She'd had the presence of mind after seeing her on the sidewalk to
ask a close by adult for some Kleenex in which to wrap her and keep her
warm on the way home. It was misting at the time and I had no idea how
long the hummer had been exposed but she was definitely alive so I called
someone for instructions who I knew used to rehabilitate injured birds. I
mixed a 4:1 water/sugar solution and proceeded to put the hummer's beak in
an eyedropper full of solution knowing it was vital that she have
food. During an anxious 10 minutes, the hummer lay still but moved when
stroked. It was a long wait but she finally took some of the solution and
during the next 10 minutes started eating and reviving. Right before she
flew into a nearby tree she was perched in my hand, clutching the Kleenex,
and eating from the eye dropper. WOW! Both my daughters (the youngest is
a blase' 13) and I were in awe at this tiny living bird that we've only
seen from a distance. My husband and I had put out a feeder earlier after
hearing a hummer but we live so close to commercial zoning that I doubted
we'd get any regulars to come. I invited this one to come back - maybe she
will. I believe that experiences like this one will positively affect my
girls as they mature into adults (there is so much negative influence out
there for parents to counteract that I sometimes despair) and I am very
proud of my high schooler who acted swiftly to save this little bird. Way
to go, Elspeth!!!

Patti Gotz
Seattle - Roosevelt Neighborhood
plsgotz at home.com