Saving the Stunned

An Off-Topic Story of a Non-Aquatic Creature in Need

Yesterday was like any other summer day in New Hampshire – steamy & hot. A good day to stay out of the sun – which I pretty much did. I concentrated on water changes at my nano fish farm during the heat of the day. Then I planted some vegetables in my micro garden, on my balcony. By evening, it was still rather intense outside but, it was time to walk my-dog-by-proxy Maxx (an American Eskimo), and take some empty flower pots to the dumpster. I came downstairs, and approached the glass-doored exit to the back of the apartment building, I noticed something on the concrete outside. It looked like a big moth. That’s weird, I thought. The last time I found something in the same location, I’d found a little dead brown bat. It had been early spring, and the day before had been unseasonably warm. The night however, had gone down below freezing. I’m not sure how, but the poor little guy looked like he hadn’t taken shelter in time. I got closer to the door, and looked down. Was this another bat? Maybe it was a lunar moth? The color was wrong on both counts. No, this creature was white, with its wings spread out. Maybe it was just a big plain moth after all. I pulled out a flower pot to recycle it - as a specimen container. I would put whatever it was into the pot, until I was done walking my dog and taking out the trash. Then I could tote the whatever it was upstairs for further study. Opening the door slightly, I saw the unfortunate creature was a small bird. It must have slammed into the glass door, I thought. It’s probably dead - how sad. I opened the door enough to inspect the bird further, while keeping my dog behind me. That’s when I noticed the bird was on its back, with its neck bent oddly. An unfortunate sparrow? No, worse – a hummingbird. It was still breathing, barely. Well, I reasoned, you can’t get rabies from a hummingbird. I gently pushed him into my flower pot, flipping him over in the process. My handling of him was preferable to the cruel death he faced on the hot concrete, where animals could find him or someone might step on him. With the bird in the pot, I hurried over to the dumpster, got rid of the trash and while my dog unburdened himself, I kept peeking at the unconscious bird. The hummingbird was now on its abdomen on the bottom of the flower pot. His back was a stunning emerald green. Somehow, in its unconscious state, it had reflexively folded its wings tight against its body. Was it his final act? No, he was still breathing. I dragged my distracted dog back inside and upstairs, and then focused on the flower pot. The bird was still, except for light breathing. I tried to gently lift him out of the flower pot. That’s when I noticed the tiny bird was stuck. I tried shifting the flower pot slightly, but the hummingbird wouldn’t budge. Then I remembered that hummingbirds can go into torpor – a weird, coma-like state - when stressed. They could grip onto branches with their feet during this state, and not let go. I felt gently with one hand on the outer bottom of the flower pot. I found the hummingbird's little clinging claw holding onto a drainage hole. I gently slid the claw free, and back through the drainage hole. That released the hummingbird. The hummingbird tumbled prone into the palm of my hand, a metallically green feathered wonder, no bigger than my thumb. Still out cold but still breathing. Hummingbirds need nectar to drink to give them energy to function. The closest substitute I could make quickly was a few drops of sugar water. Settling onto the couch under the cool of the air conditioner, I waited for the hummingbird to revive. After a few minutes, the hummingbird blinked his eyes a couple of times. I waited. He opened his long beak a tiny amount, and I gently brought a drop of the sugar solution to the end of his open beak. I waited. A few more eye blinks, and his little tongue shot out into the tiny puddle of sugar solution. Progress, but he was still a lump in my hand. I turned my hand to get a better look at him. That’s when I saw an amazing flash of ruby red against black, just like a shining jewel. I had in my hand, barely weighing anything, a male ruby-throated hummingbird! I’d seen hummingbirds flit at a distance once or twice, but now I was so close, I could count the tiny feathers on this little guy. It was a thrill - but would he be ok? I prayed he wasn’t paralyzed. All of a sudden, he was holding his head up on his own. His neck wasn’t broken! I offered him more sugar solution, and he opened his beak once or twice. And I waited. The hummingbird’s eyes opened. When he started to turn his head to look around, I knew it was best to get him back outside. I opened my slider and stepped onto my balcony, and rested my hand on top of a dirted balcony planter. And I waited. Meanwhile my husband, who had gone out to pick up some dinner for us, came home. Trying not to startle the hummingbird, I turned my head and called to my husband to come quick. The hummingbird was growing more alert by the moment, eyes open and looking around, still lying calmly in the palm of my hand. Luckily for my husband, he made it to the balcony just in time. Upon seeing the hummingbird, he silently extended a finger, to gently pat it. In that moment, the hummingbird burst into flight. He made a graceful descending - then ascending – arc into the trees, 40 feet away. It was a beautiful moment, and I was glad I could help. Note: Most wildlife specialists say to just walk away when you find a wild animal in crisis and most of the time, it is good advice. If you are not trained in wildlife rescue, you put yourself and the animal in jeopardy in attempting to save them. Please call your local authorities for assistance.

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