Fleursdefouquet had an awesome hummingbird rescue story a while back. Remember? The little hummer was tangled up in spiderwebs and she thought all of his insides were hanging out because she didn't have her glasses on? Anyway, I thought it was the coolest thing that she was able to rescue that hummer -- after she put her glasses on.
Ok. I am afraid of birds. I like them, I have bird feeders up (had to rescue a sparrow that was trapped inside a feeder earlier this year), but I prefer admiring them from a distance. I'm also scared of bees -- please note that the Shrimp Plant I have is nothing but a bumblebee magnet, not to mention my butterfly nectaring garden. Sometimes, when I go outside, I'm simply too skittish to be out there and have to go in. Even butterflies can startle me if I'm not aware of what's flying around me. This fear of flying things, and the plants I have, and the enjoyment I have when I'm outside, does not go hand in hand.
Well, this morning, I go out into the back yard to take my daughter's dog out. I'm feeling overly skittish (usually happens in the morning, before I'm completely awake). And I heard a hummer chirping a lot, but I couldn't see it. I knew it was awfully close, though. Well, I look down for some odd reason, and to my horror, there's the hummer stuck in a spiderweb right next to the bench leg (of a bench, of course) on my patio. What do I do??? I was going to gently pick up the hummer, but just could not do that. So, I grabbed a stick to separate the hummer from the spiderweb, and go from there. Just as I do this, the hummer is startled and freed itself from the web, and kinda flew under the bench, where he perched sideways on a stem.
I went inside to get some nectar (I'd just made some), and put it in a red milk lid. I go out and see this poor little thing motionless and I'm saying "please don't die!" Anyway, I start to reach towards the hummer with nectar in hand, and I guess I scared it, because it flew off the stem, and of course I was startled when he did this and spilled the nectar. Whew, at least he could fly. So, I went back inside to put more nectar in the lid, and when I got back, he was gone.
Ok, not quite the rescue story of Fleursdefouquet, but at least I scared the hummer enough so that he could free himself from the web. Next time, I'll get Cori to help me out, as she's "Little Miss Nature Girl" who wants to work in wildlife rescue when she grows up.
attempted hummingbird rescue
Oh Felicia!
I feel your pain! I get skittish sometimes as well....but it all ended up ok!
Adrienne
Great rescue....and you were very brave!!!
Thanks. I just felt very helpless when all of that was going on.
I have gotten better -- if you can imagine that. Instead of jumping every time a hummer buzzes me, thinking it's a bumblebee, I now know the sounds between the two are quite different, so I always look up to see the hummer instead of walking away. And I do sit outside to watch the mamma and pappa birds teach their young to fly -- which can be quite dangerous because of their crazy flying and playing. :)
The wasps and HUGE bumblebees (not carpenter bees, not sure what these are) still get to me. Need to work on that!!
Felicia - Cute story! Sorry you have a bird phobia. I don't have hummers of course, but I do have plenty of those big, fat old bumble bees in my yard. I have been bumped in the head by the bees numerous times. I think Paige is another person here who has had the same experience. It freaks me out when they do that, but I've "almost" gotten used to it. I have yet (knock on wood) to be stung by a bumble bee. They are usually trying to scare me away from whatever they are nectaring on. I just ignore them now. The only three bugs that have gotten me are: Fire ants (nasty stings), Horse fly (do they ever hurt!!!), and mesquitos (they get me ALL the time! Hate those buggers!). Kind of hard to avoid all these critters when you garden every day! LOL!
Thanks, Becky.
You'd think with all the gardening I do, and with everything that flies around out there, I wouldn't be so bad. And, I've only been stung once, and that's when I stepped on a wasp as a kid.
As far as bees bumping me in the head, OMG, I'd never be able to handle that!!! Now, I've had blue jays and squirrels drop peanut shells on my head -- I can handle that. LOL!!
Maybe next year, I'll be better!
My mom is amazed that I am now a gardener. As a child, and waaaayyyy into my adult years, I was terrified to be in the garden because of bees, etc. Wasps still make me jittery, but I've grown used to bees and other flying critters. I find deep slow breaths make a difference and also keeping in mind that I'm not going to stay out of my garden!! I just use my head and if they start getting excited, I go do something else for a while. We have those big shiny black bumble bees - I call them flying olives! - but they rarely come near me. Those wasps still creep me out, though.
BTW, I'm going to put up nests for orchard bees - they are non-aggressive and only the female has a stinger, which she only uses if threatened. They will be good for our apple trees.
Every little step counts, so I bet next year will be a good one for you, indiana_lily.
Thank you so much, Kaperc. That really means a lot!
I'm getting used to the cute little furry bumblebees that pay me no mind, no matter how close I accidently get to them. It's those "flying olives" (LOL!!), not to be confused with carpenter bees, that get me. Because occasionally I'll sit on my patio step and they'll fly right by me. Wasps, I'm with you. Still very creeped out. And, like you, I'm not going to stay out of my gardens because of these things.
OMG, you know what really used to freak me out, until I found out what they were? Clearwing Snowberry Hummingbird moths!!! I thought they were just huge bumblebees and was petrified of them!! Now that I know what they are, I do try to get them to crawl on my hand. I love those guys now.
You've come a very long way, then -- putting up nests for orchard bees. You should be quite proud of your accomplishments. :)
Aren't we a pair? lol Pats on the back all 'round.
Happy Birthday Felicia!!!
Thanks much!! It's been a great one so far. :)
Have you done any rescues lately?
That was a good laugh. :) Ahem, no. No more attempted rescues, thank goodness!!