weintrau@mpx2.lampf.lanl.gov (Weintraub, B.L.) (08/15/90)
About a week ago, I posted an account of friends of mine trying to nurse an injured Rufous Hummingbird back to health. A local veterinarian and wild bird expert supplied them with an amino acid mixture, and the bird seemed to gain strength for awhile. Although they were able to keep the him alive for 22 days, the hummer finally died yesterday. Those involved in the project believe that there was _something_ missing from his diet. My friend says that they weren't able to get "bug powder" (powdered insects?) in time. Has anyone successfully rescued a hummingbird that could not feed itself? (No flames, please. The intent was to nurse him so that he could migrate next month, not to keep him as a "pet".)