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hummer rescued from spider web



This morning I rescued a hummingbird from a spider web in my yard.

As I was walking to the car I found a hummer in front of my face doing
what appeared to be those territorial loop-de-loops. Only these were
really little loops. When I focused I saw that the bird was actually
entangled in spider silk somewhere aft of its wings and was whirring its
wings and bouncing like a bungee jumper. It took me a minute or two to
persuade my dog to stay on the deck away from the bird. When I got back
back to the hummer, its wings had become entangled, and it hung head
down, wings outspread, and not moving. Helpless and pitiful. The little
creature was making a small-sounding continuous cry instead of the usual
feisty chatter.

I took a stick and waved it above the bird to part the spider silk. Then
I reached out my hand and gently wrapped it around the bird. I pulled
the silk off the hummer and was surprised by its strength. My guess is
that several strands of silk stuck together to act like a cable. Then I
opened my hand, there was a pause, and the bird zoomed away.  

Since my house and the woods are absolutely webbed at this time of year,
I wonder how many of the late-lingering hummers get trapped and eaten by
big spiders. Yes, it's nature, but my heart is with the birds.
Ginger Travis
Orange Co., NC