Had a wonderful experience today.
Went out onto the porch to repot a peace lily for P, and on the steps saw a tiny hummingbird that had apparently hit the window and been stunned. It was breathing, but just lying there, even when I crouched over it. Since we have two cats, both of which do catch birds, and it was lying in the strong sunshine getting very hot, I didn't think it was ultra safe there, so I gently picked it up. It opened and closed its long beak, I assume in distress, but didn't do anything else. I was able to examine it close up. It was marvelous, jewel-like green and yellow and purple feathers positively glittering in the sun. I stroked it, and it opened its beak again, but that was all. So I walked it over to the edge of the woods (all of about 10 feet in our case) and was about to put it down on a patch of grass clippings when it flew off my hand, flew about 6 feet, hovered for a bit, and then lighted on a fern. Shows how light they really are -- the fern frond barely bent. It still didn't look ultra recovered, but it was definitely able to fly, so it didn't have a broken back or wing, and its beak did work, so I figured it didn't need the ministrations of our local wild bird and animal recovery center (one of the few in the country is only five miles from here); they bring wild animals to it from all over Western Washington). I went back an hour later and it was gone, I hope flown off to delight us in the future.
These little moments, unexpected and unscripted, with nature are one of the real delights of living in the woods. Along with the fact that this summer we have three -- count 'em, three -- sets of baby deer twins coming by almost daily. Lots of fun to watch them growing up -- better in some ways than your own because you can enjoy their beauty and maturation with none of the hassles of actual children! |
