Wednesday, May 9, 2012

To Catch a Hummingbird

If you don't have a toddler in your house, you might not realize how much they dawdle.  Put two toddlers in your house and you will have double dawdling.  And so it was the other morning when the twins and I were walking up the driveway after getting Pierce onto the bus.  Cort came right inside, but Reid persisted in trying to amass a large rock collection out of the oh-so-interesting gravel that makes up our driveway.  I was standing, front door open, calling him inside, when I heard a buzz that went straight by my head.  I assumed I had let in a bumblebee, and knew I'd have to take care of it in a minute.  But as I continued to call for the epic-slow Reid, the buzzing persisted - loudly.  That is one HUGE bee I thought.  Finally, I stopped in my calling and turned to the side to look, and there I saw a little hummingbird frantically trying to get out through the windows and sliding glass doors.  I knew this little guy would be a challenge to catch.

Once I got Reid in the house (finally, and sans massive gravel rock collection), I got the boys' butterfly net.  The hummingbird was busy flying over and over again into our sliding glass doors.  It turned out he wasn't hard to net at all.  I guess I got lucky.

The twins were thrilled there was a bird in the house.  I promptly took him out of the net and carried him outside, his little chirps resonating in my ears.  Poor little thing was so scared.  I quickly snapped a couple of pictures before setting him free.

Holding such a tiny being in my hands - even just for a few seconds - was not something I ever expected to happen in my lifetime, but it is something I will always remember.  Such a fragile creature, with the needle thin beak and his beautiful green shimmery feathers.  Someone on Twitter said that holding a hummingbird is almost like petting the mythical unicorn.  And indeed, it was a magical moment of wonder.
I'm going to keep my eye out for unicorns from now on, just in case.

34 comments:

Eat To Live said...

How cool! I think you are going to have good luck from now on out.

Jill said...

WOW! This is just amazing. Your heart must have been in your throat...at least mine would have been. I'm so glad you were able to snap some pictures.

Anonymous said...

I'm so jealous! Love hummingbirds and it would be wonderful to hold one and see it that close up. They are such fast little boogers, aren't they? How fun for you.

Gone Country said...

I'm still amazed that you were able to catch him. They're so fast.

I'm jealous too! It would be totally awesome to be able to hold one of those tiny, beautiful birds!

Buttons Thoughts said...

Oh what a sweet moment that little Hummingbird would have been so tiny n your hand. Awesome
I would love to see the massive rock collection:) B

Sonya @ Under the Desert Sky said...

Wow! Amazing! I can only imagine what that felt like!

Tina Fariss Barbour said...

Beautiful! I'm so glad you had that experience. I did about a year ago. I was walking up the front steps of the building where I work, and I saw a hummingbird lying on the steps. I thought it was dead. I couldn't stand to think of it there, where it might be stepped on, so I decided to move it off the steps and place it in the flower bed beside them. As I picked it up, it came to life! Apparently it was stunned (that's what someone told me). Briefly feeling that hum of life was amazing.

Out on the prairie said...

Wow what a catch, I hope you have feeders for them so the boys can watch more.When I have banded birds the fun part is the release.

TexWisGirl said...

so glad you were able to return him safely to the outdoors. beautiful, tiny thing.

Debbie said...

ooohhhh i just love these little guys. i have heard they will drink sweet water right from your hand with just a little time and patience.

the boys would enjoy it!!

Anonymous said...

How awesome, Lisa!!

Amy Burzese said...

So neat! They are so tiny. You are honored.

Anonymous said...

That IS incredible! We saw a dead one once and marveled at it's tiny size--imagine holding a live one! What a miracle!
"Double dawdler"--that cracked me up.

Valerie Boersma said...

So cool! I love hummingbirds! Glad you were able to catch him, and get to hold him for a few seconds too. I'd never forget that either!

Nancy said...

Not in a million years would I have guessed to read this today... and how cool for the boys to see one so close!

Brian King said...

Wow, how cool is that! Nice save! I've certainly never held one before.

Sandy said...

Lisa! I am just in awe of this. What an amazing experience. Glad you thought to get a couple of pictures before setting him free.

Anonymous said...

That's so cool...:)

Charade said...

Glad you got him outside to safety before his heartbeat reached the speed of his wings.

Anonymous said...

Wow, so very cool! I love hummingbirds.

I Am Woody said...

My Dad has to rescue hummingbirds on a regular basis from his garage. He lets them fly until they are pooped. He carries them outside and puts an eyedropper filled with nectar to the beak. Their tongue wil dart out to get the drink. Soon enough, they have refueled and zip on their merry way!

Angela said...

That is so cool Lisa! My husband has held one in his hands that was in our garage that he captured and let free. I will spare you the details of the one that I held because it was sad.

Ellie said...

Wow, that sounds amazing. Glad to hear he was ok.

jp@A Green Ridge said...

The poor thing's heart had to be beating a mile a minute! Glad you returned it safely!...:)JP

Jen said...

Oh wow!! I can't believe you actually held it! That's awesome! I have never seen one that wasn't flying before. SO cool :)

Michelle said...

It looks so precious! Glad he made it back outside.

Michaele said...

This has got to be a sign. How precious, but I am surprised it didn't have a heart attack. You know how they are : )

Tweedles -- that's me said...

Ilove this hummingbird story.
I caught one in the barn rafters once. It was trying to get out a window, and couldn't. I just grabbed for it, and it was in my hand. I felt its little heart beat. Yes magical just like for you.
love
tweedles

Andrea said...

Soooo cool.:) I love that you were able to take pictures, too!

Michelle said...

Wow...what a treat. Once in a lifetime, I'm sure!

Debby@Just Breathe said...

That is amazing and what a thrill!
Glad you were lucky in getting him so quickly.

Myya said...

Oh my gosh that is amazing! Look at you, you hummingbird wrangler :)

LB @ Bullets And Biscuits said...

WHAT!! What an AWESOME experience!! I'd keep my eye open for the unicorn too!! I'm so thrilled for you

Lexie Loo, Lily, Liam & Dylan Too said...

That's amazing! I can't believe you actually caught one!