weintrau@mpx0.lampf.lanl.gov (Weintraub, B. L.) (08/02/90)
It's been almost two weeks now since friends of mine found an injured male Rufous Hummingbird on their patio. Although there was no obvious injury such as a broken wing, the bird has been unable to fly. He can move his wings, but not generate enough lift for flight. They have been keeping him in a shoe box, feeding him sugar water supplemented by an amino acid mix from the local wild bird specialist who is also a veterinarian. They've also supplied the hummer with flowers. They say that the hummer actually sticks his bill into the flowers and comes out covered with pollen. They're trying _not_ to tame the bird, but it seems almost inevitable: he's beginning to recognize them, and respond to their presence. He seems to be getting stronger, and hopefully will be well enough to migrate by fall. In the meantime, they'll be building him a cage, so that he will be able to fly when he's ready. Comments or suggestions? - Barbara Los Alamos National Lab - all disclaimers apply -
sandra@pyrtech (Sandra Macika) (08/03/90)
In article <58946@lanl.gov> weintrau@mpx0.lampf.lanl.gov writes: >They're trying >_not_ to tame the bird, but it seems almost inevitable: he's beginning to >recognize them, and respond to their presence. He seems to be getting >stronger, and hopefully will be well enough to migrate by fall. In the >meantime, they'll be building him a cage, so that he will be able to fly >when he's ready. > >Comments or suggestions? > >- Barbara >Los Alamos National Lab >- all disclaimers apply - At the San Diego Wild Animal Park, they raise California Condors in captivity. It is very important that the birds do not "bond" to the humans because they are hoping to someday return the species to the wild. I spoke with Don Sterner, Lead Bird Keeper at San Diego Wild Animal Park, on 7/23/90 about the Condors. (I wrote a speech) The condors are fed with hand puppets, that look like a condor head. The birds never see the humans. Don told me that the bird know exactly which puppet is their "mother". If another puppet is used, even though it looks exactly the same to the human eye, the bird will hiss and get very upset. I don't know if anything could be done with hummingbirds because of the size difference. (Sounds like it is too late anyway) I know they have a hummingbird house at the San Diego Zoo. Maybe someone there could help you. I thought the people were VERY helpful. My call was returned the same day, and two different people spent a couple of hours with me, giving me information. Good luck!! Sandra
sbishop@desire.wright.edu (08/03/90)
In article <58946@lanl.gov>, weintrau@mpx0.lampf.lanl.gov (Weintraub, B. L.) writes: > It's been almost two weeks now since friends of mine found an injured male > Rufous Hummingbird on their patio. Although there was no obvious injury > such as a broken wing, the bird has been unable to fly. He can move his > wings, but not generate enough lift for flight. They have been keeping him > in a shoe box, feeding him sugar water supplemented by an amino acid mix > from the local wild bird specialist who is also a veterinarian. They've also > supplied the hummer with flowers. They say that the hummer actually sticks > his bill into the flowers and comes out covered with pollen. They're trying > _not_ to tame the bird, but it seems almost inevitable: he's beginning to > recognize them, and respond to their presence. He seems to be getting > stronger, and hopefully will be well enough to migrate by fall. In the > meantime, they'll be building him a cage, so that he will be able to fly > when he's ready. > > Comments or suggestions? > congradulations to your friends. They surely must be doing something right for the hummer to have done so well. I really don't have any suggestions. It sounds like they are doing much better than anyone would expect. They will need to realize that the bird may never get well enough to fly and they may have a permanent boarder. The best of luck to them.
sandra@pyrtech (Sandra Macika) (08/04/90)
>In article <58946@lanl.gov>, weintrau@mpx0.lampf.lanl.gov (Weintraub, B. L.) writes: >> It's been almost two weeks now since friends of mine found an injured male >> Rufous Hummingbird on their patio. Although there was no obvious injury >> such as a broken wing, the bird has been unable to fly. He can move his >> wings, but not generate enough lift for flight. They have been keeping him >> in a shoe box, feeding him sugar water supplemented by an amino acid mix >> from the local wild bird specialist who is also a veterinarian. They've also >> supplied the hummer with flowers. They say that the hummer actually sticks >> his bill into the flowers and comes out covered with pollen. They're trying >> _not_ to tame the bird, but it seems almost inevitable: he's beginning to >> recognize them, and respond to their presence. He seems to be getting >> stronger, and hopefully will be well enough to migrate by fall. In the >> meantime, they'll be building him a cage, so that he will be able to fly >> when he's ready. >> >> Comments or suggestions? >> Please let us know how the bird does! Sandra