Independence

Hummingbirds: We often see them and they all look pretty much the same. They dart in and out from the feeders we put out and we marvel at the iridescence and agility but we can't tell one from the other. We were able to distinguish one broad tail hummingbird from the rest because she had tremors resulting from an accident many years ago.

We believe she may have flown into a window as we found her laying on a snow bank. We kept her warm to keep from going into shock and tended her until she could fly on her own again. We noticed when we let her go she was shaking and had tremors that she had her entire life. We could distinguish her from the other hummingbirds due to this behavior plus she would also go the one port on the feeder. 

We called her Henrietta and she was always the first to arrive in the spring and the last to leave in autumn. Because we could clearly identify Henrietta we were able to observe her over the many years she came to our home. Our feeder was kept near an access door and the other hummingbirds would fly off when we came and went out that door Henrietta would remain and trusted us. Henrietta taught us much about her breed and herself.

Hummingbirds come to the same feeder each year and on their migration route they know each feeding station along the way. Henrietta was very happy to summer at our home and was very comfortable being in close proximity to us. We had kept her warm when she was injured and from going into shock and cared for her until she recovered. We talked to her and we told her what I tell all the birds we comfort when they have had an accident: "God has a special purpose for you so you need to recover and fulfill that purpose". 

Henrietta had a long life and in late August, just prior to migration Henrietta appeared to be sick and she went to perch on the feeder and locked her feet and sat there. We suspected she may be dying so I stayed with her for about 30 minutes while she passed. We then took her off the perch and placed her in a cherry heart box and buried her at one of her favorite spots. Henrietta showed tremendous determination and grit to die where she had been most happy for so many years. We believe that she also knew that we would take care of her after her death which is what we did. This tiny hummingbird that weighed less than one ounce demonstrated her independence, grit, and determination to die in her most comfortable place. I wish I knew more people that had her qualities.