Rick & Wendy Rogers
20241 Brockman Mill Road
Fiddletown, CA  95629
209-296-2345
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FiddleSong Farm

Madison gently scooped up the little hummer and carried him out to the
front porch.

"Now we need a stick about this long," Grandma held up her thumb and
fore finger and said  "there's one."  She pointed to a twig on the
ground.  Grandma worked the stick in between the wires of the basket
until it was caught between the sides and didn't move too much.  

"Grandma, what is that stick for?" asked Madi.

"That is his little perch.  Hummingbirds have tiny feet that aren't very
comfortable walking around on the ground with,  so he needs a stick to
hold onto.  Will he hold onto the perch?"  Grandma asked.  Madi held
the bird up and his little feet grasped the perch.  He swayed weakly,
but held on.  "Birds can sleep while their feet are locked around a twig,"
Grandma explained.  "That is a good sign!  Next we will try to feed him
some nectar," she said,"but we have to be careful not to drip any on his
pretty green feathers."  Grandma put one end of the straw into the
nectar, and then placed her thumb over the other end.  "Can you see
the nectar in the straw?"

"How does it stay in there?" asked Madi.

"That is a good question for Grandpa!"  Grandma laughed.  She
carefully guided the nectar end of the straw over the long beak of the
hummingbird.  Nothing happened.  She tried again and again, dipping
the straw so that the little beak was poking into the nectar.

After several tries, Madi said  "Look!  I see his little tongue!  He's
drinking!" The hummingbird's throat moved up and down while he drank.  
She was so excited!

"That is a VERY good thing!" said Grandma, with a wide smile.  
"Hummingbirds need to drink lots of nectar to keep their active little
bodies alive, and this one almost ran out of juice!  He is very lucky that
you found him, Madi~you saved the little guy."

Madi skipped around in happiness.  "Wow!  I SAVED him, so I am
going to keep him forever!  Grandma do you have a birdcage?"

"Oh, um, no, I've never used one.  Hummingbirds need to fly free.  I
don't think he would survive very long living in a cage."  Grandma  saw
Madi's face fall.  "But you know what we can do, Madi?  We can take a
picture of you holding the hummingbird, and we will have that forever."

Madi thought that idea over and decided that it would work.  "OK
Grandma,  should I get your camera?  I know where it is because it is
always in your purse!"

"Go get it!" said Grandma, and waited while Madi ran to get the
camera.  When Madi returned,  Grandma gently lifted the hummingbird
and placed it on Madi's finger.  "Now watch out, he's really heavy!" said
silly Grandma.  Madi just grinned.  The hummingbird was much more
alert now, and even fluttered his little wings.  

"Hurry, Grandma before he flies!"  Grandma quickly snapped a picture
of Madi and her little friend.  Just as she finished, the hummer's wings
buzzed into high gear.  "SQUEAK, squeak!!!" he chirped.  The
hummingbird lifted off Madi's finger and hovered for a few seconds as
if trying to get his bearings.  "Squeak!"

"You are welcome, little friend, " said Grandma.  Grandma and Madi
watched as the little hummer flew up and up, until he was far away and
out of sight.