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Subject:

Hummingbird Rescue & other sightings (long)

From:

Dan haas

Reply-To:

Dan haas

Date:

Sun, 12 Aug 2007 20:26:59 -0400

My good friend Jen, who lives in New Jersey, called me today in a
panic about what she thought was an injured Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
in her garage.  She thought the bird had a shredded wing. Luckily, as
it turned out, the situation was much different.  She sent me this
email:
---------------------------
Dan,

So I was ironically in the process of working on both your new website
& my website when Kevin said, come out into the garage but come slow.
Check out the following pics:

http://www.jenbell.com/hummer_web/

I had tried calling those numbers for rehabbers that you sent me
(thanks by the way; I'm going to keep them on file) and of course no
one answered because it's Salem & Cumberland Counties and NO ONE works
on the weekends in these parts (and cell phones don't work so no one
has them, lol).

Anyhoo, right after I hung up with them, she (the hummingbird) flew
into the wall and fell down by the recycling bin.  (that's the one pic
I took with my iPhone).  Well, she let me pick her up and I noticed
that the "shredded" wing wasn't shredded after all. (look closely at
the pics) Her one wing and both of her feet were covered in cob/spider
web.  (Yet ANOTHER reason why I really don't like spiders!) So I was
able to pull the webs off of her (her little feet were SOOOOO cute, so
little) and she hung out with me for a while in my hands.  (As I'm
writing this, there's another beautiful red throated hummer eatting
out of the feeder on my sunroom window, lol)  So then we went into the
back yard and I was showing her around and she sat perched on my
fingers for a bit and I encouraged her to fly and she took off upright
and kept going.  Didn't see anything fall, so I think she may just be
okay.  What an amazing experience.  The only birds I've had the
misfortune to help so far out here have died:( I never thought they
would be so docile in my hands!

-Jen
-------------------------------

Ironically enough, I just got done painting a Ruby Throated
Hummingbird on my bathroom wall ( http://www.danhaas.com/ ).  Bill &
Gail from the West Annapolis "Wild Bird Center" not only lent me the
photo, they've dubbed my mural project the 'Bird Bath'.

Oh, and while I was checking the bluebird boxes this afternoon (5-7pm)
on Greenbury Point here in Annapolis (*yes, there are still a few
chicks yet-to-fledge and one box with 5 Bluebird eggs), I changed my
route and took the path behind the golf course. It was there I saw
4 Wood Thrush
1 Chickadee
2 Barn Swallow
1 Purple Martin
7 Bluebirds
1 Chimney Swift
2 Northern Cardinals
1 Tufted Titmouse
1 Blue Jay
1 Eastern Kingbird
2 Carolina Wren
1 Osprey
(many) Robins, Crows, Mourning Doves, Chipping Sparrows w/ fledglings
& Goldfinches
and...
1 Red-Shouldered Hawk.  The raptor flew over my head, down the wooded
path and up into the trees.  A few moments later, it flew back up
under the tree canopy and above the path towards me with something in
it's talons.  It was being chased by two smaller birds that I couldn't
make out (mockingbirds would be my guess) in all the commotion.  I
wonder if it raided a nest, or was being mobbed?  All the same, it was
quite an adventureous hike.

I didn't hear the Northern Bobwhites out on the point. Finally, while
I was back in the woods, I heard the strangest call.  It was a scream,
no... more like a wailing scream.  I thought it was a raptor of some
kind... but, I'm still learning.  I carry around my Stokes guide and
my BirdJam on my iPhone for reference.  No luck.

Good birding,

Dan Haas
West Annapolis, MD

ps.  Last night, I saw a Black-Crowned NIght Heron on Weems Creek and
this morning I heard a Red-Eyed Vireo and saw a Green Heron at Quiet
Waters Park while walking the dogs.  Ok, seriously, now I am done.
Good night.