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September 16th '05 - This morning a Ruby-throated Hummingbird flew into our house! - It flew into our living room and directly into the sky light on the ceiling. The first thing I could think off was "Turn off the ceiling fans"! Luckily she made it to the sky light without hitting the spinning fan! Next I closed all the blinds on all the windows and left the front and back doors open. However, after several minutes this bird was not going to move and kept trying to get out of the skylight. So we ended up moving the table, brought in our big step ladders and the only thing that could reach into the sky light - my pond fish net. (it was clean and dry). Up I went, with hubby and brother-in-law holding the ladder and I carefully put the net over her. She was very co operative and flew into the net where she sat calmly. I placed a magazine over the net as I bought it out and came back down the ladders. I then went outside and in the meantime the camera had been prepared for a quick photo. I carefully took the hummer out of the net and held it briefly in my cupped hands. I couldn't feel a thing! This is the first time I've ever held a hummer and the last thing I wanted to do was hurt it. I couldn't even feel her on my hand! She sat there calmly and the photo we took was just of her face peaking out of my hands because the only thing at the time I could think of was to release her as quickly as possible to avoid any more stress to her. I stood next to our large Mexican bush sage and opened my hands, where she sat for a couple of seconds then flew off! Then it hit me.... WOW! I took a breath and looked at my sister and brother-in-law and just said "My God, I just held a hummer"! Of course afterwards I'm thinking "Why didn't I take photos of her back, her tail, her wing tips...." (could've, should've, would've came to mind!), I didn't even THINK in the heat of the moment to look and make a positive ID, instinct just telling me to set her free as quickly as possible! She (imm male?) did return to the feeder briefly a minute after I let the bird go and then I didn't see it again. That was an experience I shall never forget!
  First hummingbird caught on September 16th '05. Female/imm male Ruby throat. October 2nd '05 - This is just too weird! For the second time in 2 weeks I've just had another Ruby throated hummingbird fly into our living room. After the last episode (September 16th account below), I made a point of keeping the front door shut. Just now I opened the door for our dog and it wasn't a minute later when I heard a buzzing in our living room. Not even thinking it was a hummer but instead some oversized Texas bug, I couldn't believe it when I looked into the skylight and once again saw a little hummer trying to get out.   Second hummingbird caught on October 2nd '05. Immature male Ruby throat. Gardening For Hummingbirds Home Copyright © 2023, All rights reserved. |
