Well, I just got a gift.
I went out to check on where I had the cage. I left her sock nest there just in case she came back. Then I saw her in the crook of a tree cheeping. I thought, oh, no. Now what? So I went in to get a dropperfull of food.
When I got close, she went to another branch. And then a black-chinned hummer started beating on her head to drive her away from the feeder area! Argh!
She flew up in another branch, but not close enough for me to get her or protect her if the black-chinned came back . . . which, in fact, he did. But…………..so did mama!
She came swooping in and chased off the other hummer and was eyeing me, too. I wanted to see if she really was protecting Bano and would feed her, but she did not come close to her–just chattered in the tree close by. So I went inside and peeked through the window.
I saw her fend off the black-chinned again; and then, she went to the feeder, loaded up apparently, and went up and fed Bano. Yeah! Hallelujah! Then she took off and she followed in her direction.
Sigh.
Hurrah! Mama to the rescue. What a happy ending…..
Happy for him and me too. I was so glad to see that!
Have faith dear Lilly 🙂 HUGS
It is a good ending, but emotionally draining! The cage idea was agood one, though it did not happen as I expected. 🙂 But it did bring mama. Yay!
A finch cage may have been better but his drive to get back to Mom was amazing I am sorry you miss him but she was frantic all those hours as well 🙂 Glad cage worked I know every time we had a fledgling it worked perfectly with cage door open for Mom to go in 🙂
I never would have thought it. I don’t think he would have squeezed out without the mom being close, so it all worked out.
🙂 Not sure you could have feed him enough to keep him alive I used to raise parakeets they were chow hounds 🙂
Even though the mixture was better than just sugar water, I am sure he will thrive better with mama’s regurgitated stuff!
🙂 Yes the real deal from her is always better but we must do all we can when their is no Mom in site 🙂
Absolutely.
Perfect, Lilly.
🙂 sigh
now you can rest. . . 🙂
Yes!
Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful story and your amazing photos. I hope you can get one more photo of Bano outside.
Unless his mom grooms him I will recognize him because of the matted front feathers. My dropper did not always hit the target! 🙂
A love story for all time.
It was an unexpected blessing!
Oh my!!! A huge sigh indeed! Nature sure has a rough time.
And foster mamas, too.
I am going to link your story about the hummer into mine with the moth because yours has such a happy ending!
I’ve two questions:
We just got a hummingbird feeder and I was wondering how much sugar to use in how much water if I want to make my own nectar.
Do hummers eat seeds? The ruby-throat we see zipping around my flowers was sitting at my bird feeder yesterday and it looked like he picked up a bit of food. Then he went to the other side and it looked like he picked up a bit more. I never though hummers would eat at a feeder.
Red dye is horrible for them, so make your own with 1 c. sugar to 4 c. water. Boil for 2 min. to kill any bacteria. They don’t eat seeds that I know of, but they do eat bugs! 🙂 Yum, protein!
Maybe it was picking up some bugs that were scrounging among the seeds.
Who knows. Or maybe it just like an eclectic diet!
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🙂