The Suicidal Hummingbird

I was sitting in my living room and sipping my first cup of the day, when something slammed into my living room window. I ran outside to see what it was and found a tiny, barely-two-inches-long, dazed hummingbird lying on the ground. I noticed it was still breathing but it didn’t struggle when I picked it up. I didn’t know what to do with it, so I called the local veterinarian. He gave me some useful information regarding the care of a hummingbird, most importantly, that their hearts beat so fast that staying hydrated is critical to their survival. He suggested apple juice, which I had, so I found a bottle cap and poured some in it. I got an “up close and personal” look at a hummingbird’s life as he slurped it up with his tiny tongue, which for his size, is not so tiny. I fed that little guy for almost an hour, refilling the bottle cap with apple juice until his little wings began to flutter again. A side note here, they urinate as often as they drink – guess how I know that?

I took him outside and did the whole Mufasa thing where Rafiki holds Simba up for the world to see. I opened my hands, palms upward to let this little thing continue on his journey. He fluttered faster and faster and then up he rose.

He hovered for a minute then took off, and then BAM, flew right into the oak tree in my back yard and killed himself. I just mutely stood there, shocked.