Hummingbird rescue

This poor little guy was found 'bound and gagged' lying on his side on our garage floor this morning. His little feet were caught up in a wad of spider web with more web wrapped around his wings and beak. I didn't have my glasses on at the time and, at first, thought he had been stepped on or run over and his 'innards' were hanging out. I couldn't even see his feet or wings - it looked like his whole backside was missing and his 'insides' were outside. He made the most pitiful sound when I picked him up. I didn't have the strength to put him out of his misery so I took him inside to hold and comfort him until he passed. Once my glasses were on I could see that those 'innards' were a wad of spider web! Thank goodness I didn't put him down while in the garage. I cut away the biggest wad of web and used tweezers to remove the remainder on his wings and beak. He drank sugar water from a spoon and recovered very quickly. It was all over within 10 minutes - he flew off to sit on a tree branch and contemplate his mortality. Bet he's out there now telling all the others to 'stay away from that lady unless she's wearing her glasses'! LOL!

Debra

Oooohh, poor little thing...you saved him in the nick of time....good job Debra!!!!

What a GREAT story. Well done, Debra!!

Carla

That is a great rescue!! I felt so bad for that little guy through the first few sentences, and then was so relieved when you said you rescued him and he recovered so well. Whew!! I would not know what to do in a situation like that!!

Wow! great save and I'll bet he is yacking way more about mean old spiders than near sighted ladies. Thanks for the picture, too, I've never seen a humming bird stting still anywhere.
Serena

That little baby is probably as happy as can be right now. So, do you think he just flew into the web or he got caught and they continued to wrap him up? Better watch out for those spiders, they were set on having one heck of a meal and now----

Isn't he a cutie? or she? I think it's probably a female ruby throated hb. We've had to rescue them from spider webs before but never have they gotten as tangled as this one was. Guess I need to do a better job of housekeeping in our garage. There is a large window over a work table and it's always full of spider webs. When a hummer wanders into the garage they automatically go to the window trying to get out.

Have you ever experienced a hummer playing 'dead'? My DH rescued one from the window once and it just keeled over in his hand like it had died. After getting over the shock, I recalled that they will play dead and suggested he walk outside and hold his hand up. Sure enough, that little stinker came 'back to life' and flew off!

Debra - that is so touching. I too was getting really sad until you put your glasses on! So glad you did!

LOL! We cross posted, crystalnurse. I'll watch for hungry spiders! I think he flew into the webs described above. Can't figure out how he got all the way on the other side of the garage, though. They usually get hung up in the window. This little guy was lying on his side like a roped calf.

poor baby. Glad you found him when you did. Yes under extreme stress they will go into what is called torpor(spelling)

WOW!!! Glad you rescued that little hummie!!!

Almost makes me wonder what size of spiders ya'll have?! EEEK!!!

I know some of those orb weavers have really strong webs. I freak out when I run into them...can you imagine being a wee bird and getting all wrapped up in one. Glad the spider didn't kill it.

~ Cat

Debra - That was one lucky little hummer to have been found in his/her hour of need. I bet that made your day have saved it. It would have made mine! Spider = 0, Hummer = 1

Great photo of the little birdie, too! What a cutie! I would be tickled to be that close to a hummer. What a thrill for you and what a lucky day for this hummer! I bet it sticks around your yard knowing he's got some caring humans looking out for him/her!

I agree with Becky. That hummer will probably be with you for awhile knowing you saved his life like that. What a great day for you and what a great thing you did. Gotta feel good about that. And he is so cute. I just bet he is telling all his friends how close he came to the big one and how the nice lady saved him. Awesome.

Leslie

Yes, it did feel good to save that little guy. He wouldn't have lasted much longer in the hot garage. It is amazing to hold one. They are so tiny! We have had more hummers this year than ever before. Sometimes as many as a dozen at a time. I've counted as many as 8 or 9 at one feeder. (it's hard to count them when they are all moving) At times it's like bees out there - swarming. We keep between 4 and 6 feeders filled and have to refill them every other day. I intended to try to get them to eat out of my hand but haven't worked at it yet. I'll start tomorrow!

Hey, did anyone know that praying mantis will eat hummers?!!! I was reading about them the other day and all the garden pests they eat then it mentioned they will also eat hummingbirds. Arrrrrgh! I hope I never witness that sight! Don't think I'd ever recover.....

I saw some photos of a hummie in the wicked grasp of a praying mantis a few years back. My Dad and Uncle swore they saw one being eaten at the ranch earlier in the year. No camera either...grrrrr! I have since bought Dad a pocket digital camera.

~ Cat

Oh noooo.....please don't post that photo! That's just too much to take!

Wow Debra! What a story. You are a nurse after all. ;o)

LOL, Kim! Yeah, here's my medical tool.

Wow, quite the medical tool. I think I have one of those laying around here somewhere. I saw the pic of the mantis and the hummer. That was one big mantis. I don't think they grow that big here or at least I have never seen one. Would hate to have something like that happen in my line of sight.

And oh Debra you actually got to hold the little thing. How sweet is that. You are a hero girl, you really are. And thank goodness for those glasses.

Leslie

That was so good. I actually laughed out loud! (I'm at work) I "rescued" a hb last year for the same reason. It was such a joy to be able to hold one of those things in my hand. That little thing held so still for me while I picked the web off him.

Leslie, where DO they grow mantis that big? I'll be sure NOT to go there! LOL! Praying mantis and walking sticks give me the creeps anyway. Giant ones give me the giant creeps!

pdoyle, don't you think they know you are helping them? Do you have many hummers?

Are walking sticks predators to butterflies or hummers? I have tons of them in my yard. They live in the butterfly house out in my front yard. LOL!

I have a bunch. I know I have counted 8 at one time and I swear I thhought there were more. I have 3 feeders kinda in a triangle. I am filling up one feeder every other day. I make my own nectar too.

Becky, no, I didn't mean to imply walking sticks are predators to butterflies. They are not as far as I know. I just meant they creep me out. Seems they are always dropping out of nowhere onto my shoulder in the late summer/early fall - their peak season here. You should see me do the 'walking stick dance'! That's a pretty bf house.

pdoyle, I bet you have more, too! They are so hard to count. We keep a mix of 1 part sugar to 3 parts water in the refrigerator at all times and refill every feeder at least every other day and sometimes more often. The feeders get washed with soap and a little chlorine bleach about every third refill. I bought larger feeders because I couldn't keep the smaller ones filled. Mornings around here consist of feeding the hummers, feeding the fish in the fish pond, feeding the dogs and feeding our roosters. We get fed last! LOL!

I just realized that I don't have good photos of our hummers. Maybe there will be a chance to do that today and post them. Does anyone else have photos of yours?

Oh good, Debra! Glad to hear the walking sticks are okay to have. Yeah ... they are kinda creepy looking, but I don't bother them if they don't bother me or the butterflies. I don't yet have hummers, so that's still on my wish list of critters. The butterfly house was bought, not hand made. Someday I'd love to do some woodworking stuff for my yard. :-) I enjoy the hummers through all of you! :-) :-) :-)

Wonderful story and photo, Debra. No doubt your steady hand and nursing skills played a big part in the rescue. Well done!

Bonnie

Well done Debra!! Love the photo.

Thanks, Elsie and Bonnie. Steady hand and nursing skills......that's good for a giggle. More like frantic and half-blind trying to perform a delicate procedure!

Great photo...and great story!

Praying mantis will catch and eat butterflies...I've got pictorial evidence to prove it, that I personally shot. Up close and personal...he was chowing down on a skipper. And he was a small mantis too!

I won't post it here, it will make too many butterfly lovin' hearts go weak....but if anyone would like to see it...just d-mail me.

I shot the picture, and didn't realize what it was till I opened it up on the computer.... and about fainted...

UGH!!! I have several photos of butterflies within the grasp of praying mantis too. Can't help but photograph them when I come across 'em.

~ Cat

Ok now you've done it.....I'll be having nightmares tonight!

Debra you are the Hummer Hero!! Yeah you!!!

What a wonderful rescue story!! Thank God for caring people!!!

Oh I forgot to report......I found this teeeeeny tiny envelope in the mail. It was a thank you note from the hummer! LOL!

: ) Such a touchign story and such a cute note. Surprised it didn't come by way of dmail LOL.

Your so lucky to have actually hed a hummer . What an experience to savor. : )

Congrats on your rescue!!!!

Yes, it was a special experience. To be honest, I was constatly concerned about hurting it. They are so tiny that I could have easily broken it's leg or something without trying. Especially before I got my glasses on!

I had to share this.....a couple of days ago a hummer got in the garage again. He was at the window trying to get out and about to get into spider webs. I got the long handled fish net thinking I would need to net him to catch him and carry him outdoors. Well, believe it or not, when I tried to net him he just landed on the window sill and sat there like he was waiting to be picked up. (he was not playing dead like one did before) So - I just scooped him up and carried him outside where he flew off. Twice in one summer! So cool!

Fleurs - what great hummer rescues you are having! Thanks for sharing them with us. Wow - two in one summer... I'm watching my garage, for sure.

Amazing!!! You are the Hummer Whisperer

LOL! No Chantell, I'm just the lady with a lot of spider webs in her garage window!