Our post lady rang our bell a while ago to tell us a hummingbird baby was on our front walkway. Because it looked so still I thought it was dead at first, but this little one is still very much alive, and actually opening its mouth and trying to flutter its wings.
I moved it up to the garden area next to the path so it wouldn’t get stepped on and tried to feed it some agave liquid. Without an eyedropper that ended up being a sloppy mess.
I went back inside, watched a video online about how someone saved a little hummer by feeding it sugar water from an eye dropper and walking it around the plants in her garden. It practiced flying from her hand to her arm and back again. Pretty soon it was in a bush, flying from branch to branch.
I improvised with a little squeeze bottle with a sugar water mix and went back outside. The bird let me hold it while it took some sips of the liquid drops I squeezed out. And it seems a bit rejuvenated now. It’s moving about on the ground, but not flying yet. And it keeps opening its mouth when I drop sugar water toward its little pointy beak. The problem is I have no idea how much to give it.
Hopefully its mother is around and coming by to feed it once in a while as well. And maybe some of you can tell me your success stories. I especially need to know what I’m doing wrong.
Of course there’s no telling whether I’ll be successful or not. But, at least it’s worth a try.
5 comments:
Wow, Madeline. I have no words of wisdom to offer yet wish I were in your shoes. Hummingbirds amaze me. I'll put a link to your Twitter feed. I'd say feed the babe as often, as much as you can. More than any other bird, they need gallons in order to sustain the energy required for flight. Can't help but wonder if his/her visit to you relates to an unlift in spirits from last week. I think like that! Enjoy for me!
Wow, Madeline. I have no words of wisdom to offer yet wish I were in your shoes. Hummingbirds amaze me. I'll put a link to your Twitter feed. I'd say feed the babe as often, as much as you can. More than any other bird, they need gallons in order to sustain the energy required for flight. Can't help but wonder if his/her visit to you relates to an unlift in spirits from last week. I think like that! Enjoy for me!
Wow, Madeline. Do you think he/she landed in your yard to boost up your spirits...from last week? Always wonder about those things..Will send u via Twitter a Hummingbird link I love. They need gallons of liquid for energy..more even than we do! So I'd say feed the babe as much as you can..as he/she will take in. Lucky you :+))
Thanks for your encouragement. I'm actually so surprised that it is still surviving. I bought a feeder yesterday and left it on the ground beside it, and it must be taking that too because it's much friskier today. It likes to sit on the walkway. I always find it back there so it must be moving around when I'm not looking.
One never knows about why it came around, but it sure is an interesting assignment.
I'm so glad you are able to help this little creature. Years ago I found a hummingbird by the side of a pond, it had a broken beak. My sister and I took it to my home and tried to feed it with a dropper, but it did not survive our "care." Baby birds (I know this from having had baby parakeets) can be easily over-fed and die pretty much instantly. I felt awful, but the reality was that with its broken beak, it didn't have a good chance. I loved seeing it so close, seeing its beautiful iridescent feathers. How beautiful small flying creatures can be!
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