MOU,
For those of you following my Hummingbird Story, there is more to
add. After what appeared to be a successful release of the female
Hummer on Tuesday the 23rd, the following morning looked grim. As I
stated, she kept near to the feeder on a close by shrub. After a cold
and wet late afternoon and night, I found her the next morning hanging
up-side down on a branch in that shrub. I rushed out and saw no sign of
life. Her grip on that branch was lock tight. I broke the branch off
on either side of her feet so I could carry her back. Being really
dejected, I couldn't get myself to the burial just yet. I placed her on
a paper towel in the garage on top of a cabinet.
One hour later my wife and I were going to run an errand. Going by
that cabinet, I looked at the Hummer, and OMG!! - MOVEMENT!! Yes,
movement!! She IS alive, so I put her back in the box. One hour later,
she was upright and took nourishment! Another hour or so later she took
lots of nourishment. Good advice - always warm up a cold critter that
appears to be dead, just to be sure!
OK, time for another plan. I called the Wildlife Rehab. Center in
Roseville. They said that with a probable window strike, being in an
egg laying cycle created additional stress. So, they said it would need
more care beyond what I had been doing over the last 2 days. So, off I
took her to the WRC in Roseville. By the time I got there early
afternoon on Wed. the 24th, the Hummer was moving around in the box!
Good sign!
So, we'll see how it goes. They have had good results with
Hummingbirds in the past. If all goes well, I will be able to release
her back here at my home.
More later,
Gary Johnson
Owatonna
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