Update: She didn't make it.
This England: Rick Takes a Hike -- A Guest Post
6 hours ago
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Did I save her?
Or just prolong her eventual death? I found her on the basement stairs with the cats hovering over her. I don't know if her feathers were wet from the rain or a cat's mouth. Damn cats. They were put inside on house arrest and will remain there. I held the hummingbird in my hand for a long time to warm her. Her heart is beating strongly and I'm hoping that she is waiting for her feathers to dry enough to be able to fly. It's been about ninety minutes since I found her. She opens her eyes and flutters her wings as if to fly away when I touch her, but stays where I put her. Time will tell, I suppose. Damn cats.
Update: She didn't make it.
Update: She didn't make it.
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15 comments:
They are so fragile. It would have been a big surprise if she had made it. You tried. Cats just do what they do. My cat, Maggie, is fierce. My husband bemoans her serial killer instincts but...she's a cat! I am sorry about the little hummingbird.
I'd rather find a dead animal than a barely alive one. Sorry about the hummingbird. ...but that cat is a good hunter!
That is a fast cat, if that's what happened!
I'm sorry. Death of any creature is hard to take.
Awww, so sad! You tried. Bad kitty! ... just doing what comes naturally though. My dog would love to do that to a squirrel, but just hasn't been able to pull it off yet.
Our Bishop is a Diana, and I'm proud of her. But there's something about a hummingbird that seems sacred, isn't there. Otherworldly.
I was went through this with a hummingbird a few years ago that flew into a window. My cat immediately found it but I grabbed the bird before he had a chance to bite. I held the bird for a long time watching it breath, eyes closed. Then it seemed to stop breathing so I placed it in the sun on a table while I went to dig a hole to bury it. When I came back and picked it up it awakened, stared at me, then set flight and buzzed away. WE also have a group called Bird Rescue near by so I have called them many times over the years. Once they came to retrieve two baby hawks that had fallen from their nest and were precariously hanging onto the side of a tall pine. They did survive to start life elsewhere.
Thanks, everyone. I think she was a young one and when she got wet from the rain, landed on the steps momentarily at the wrong time and Tobey must have batted her around a little. Anyway, it was too much for her delicate system. I've tried many times to save hummers for various reasons, and have only had success once, when it was just cold and I warmed it in my hands and it actually flew off. Probably to be eaten later by one of my cats. :(
I'm so sorry - cats have a nature too so I understand.
Oh, Susan, I know, it's heartbreaking. Pity it had to happen right on your step; another life experience we get from time to time that grabs the heart.
We have little bird graves scattered around the house - rosellas, cockatoos, magpies, crested pigeons...
We don't have Hummingbirds here. DMJ said that they're so little, you can't see their wings when they're flying and they go to sleep about 4pm because they get up so early!
The dear little thing.
Thank you, Char. Yes, cats are hunters by nature and a chance we take in letting them outside. They've been on house arrest, but I'll probably let them back out soon. It's really hard to keep them in, especially when the grandkids are here running in and out.
Alaine, it is heartbreaking. Unfortunately, we celebrate when Tobey rids us of voles and mice and other animals that destroy our plants or get in the house. How is he to know the difference? He just thinks he is doing his job.
That is interesting that you don't have hummers in Australia. We have only one variety in Ohio--the ruby-throated hummingbird. Once in a while another kind will venture in when they are migrating, but I've never seen one here.
Oh, hope she makes it; keep us posted. Our cats are now house cats only as I got tired of the prey left at our doorstep, and in a few cases live mice brought inside and a live bird too :)
Last summer I found hummingbird feathers at my backdoor...so I'm guessing my Sally has done the same as Toby...I love the mouse hunting aspect of their nature, too bad about the bird hunting too...
Diane, the hummer didn't make it and Tobey stayed indoors for a few days, but eventually the restless crying did me in and I let him go out.
Oliag, I know. I guess you have to accept their nature and either keep them indoors or learn to live with the results. :(
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