Fall is such an exciting time for bird watching... migrants heading south... northern visitors stopping to spend the winter with us... It makes me never want to work! But let me explain my job. I have been a mammal rehabber (mostly) since '92, and a lover of wildlife all my life. I work part time at the Wild Bird Center in Prairie Village, and am hoping to be as good a birder as my morn. I have a long way to go!

Last November, I received a call from George Taylor in Overland Park who had a ruby-throated hummingbird still coming to his feeder. He was wondering if he should take the feeder down, so the bird would migrate. I knew ruby-throats migrate by mid October, so there was a strong possibility that this was something else. He described it as small, and green!! I asked him if he would mind if I found someone to identify this hummer, then I called Joann Garrett who said she'd come over to help. We went to George Taylor's house, and watched for it by the feeder he had sitting out on deck.

We couldn't locate the hummer at first, but George knew it liked the Bradford Pear in his backyard. He was able to locate it immediately, and we spent 45 minutes observing and trying to identify it. We could see a prominent throat patch - orangish-red in the center and outlined with green flecks blending into a dull white area. We also observed a small patch of rufous color near it's eyes.

It preened and caught insects leisurely, as the current warm spell had produced insects in abundance. When it stretched a leg, we could see a band of rufous throughout it's tail, and this led us to believe this was a female rufous/Allen's hummingbird.

Distinctions between rufous and Allen females cannot be made unless the bird is in hand. They are in the same genus (Selasphorus, along with the broad- tailed hummingbird), and separating rufous/Allen's is extremely tricky. Differences are very small with females, and almost impossible to tell unless someone takes measurements. The tip of 5th retrice of tail feathers will tell which species it is.

That day she was healthy, alert, and not even interested in the feeder. There were a lot of bugs to catch! All she had to do was stick out her tongue and catch one! But at the time, I had a sinking feeling that if she needed help, I would be called again.

Two weeks earlier an Anna's Hummingbird had showed up in Lee's Summit. This species is found only in California and into Arizona. My friend Joann Garrett and I were both concerned about her welfare, due to the impending cold weather. I alerted the proper authorities on the Missouri side, to see if we could catch her. but she left in the meantime. I hope she got her bearings and headed south.

I talked to George again on December 2nd during a warm spell, and he told me his hummingbird was still showing up. He called on Friday December 5th, frantic because he was having a hard time keeping the nectar thawed. and he thought it was time to try to collect her. Even though I'm a rehabilitator, I did not take this decision lightly. There will always be a debate with some that say 'let nature takes its course'. In some cases I agree, but not this one! Poor thing was buzzing George's head as soon as he'd thaw out his feeder. She was in trouble and definitely in need of help.

I called Diane, who said it would be lucky if the hummer made it through the night. I also contacted Jan Hall who has been rehabbing hummers for over 10 years. She was also very concerned. I got in touch with Teri Clucas (another OWL volunteer) who has experience catching hummingbirds, and asked her to help. (She caught a black-chinned hummingbird in distress once that was coming to her window feeder. She lured it in, turned off the lights, and just picked it up. What luck!!!)

Teri and I formed a game plan. Meet at 7:30 and try to lure it in the window with a feeder. I knew it would be a problem if she got loose in house. According to Jan. we should use a wire trap. They are so dependent on feeders this late in the season that it's a "piece of cake". I remembered I had an old cage I used to raise 13-lined Ground Squirrels in. All I had to do was clip 3 sides, and get a piece of string, and I was set.

hummingbird I barely stepped onto George's patio when she buzzed my head inches away. We knew she was in trouble. I set the trap and barely had time to put in the fake impatiens and the feeder, before she tried to get to the feeder through the side of the cage. Teri moved towards her, and she moved around the front, and into trap. It took less than a minute to set up, trap, and collect her!

To those who say "don't fool with mother nature", I say I would do all I could to help them if they were in need. (I don't discriminate against humans!)

"Popsicles" entourage, including my mom, a couple of friends, and myself, headed down to Pittsburgh, KS to deliver her to Jan Hall. It was a long way, but Teri encouraged me to go just to watch Jan work. Am I ever glad I went!! Seeing Jan take measurements, get a body weight, and do a physical exam reminded me of a hand surgeon delicately performing microsurgery. It was fascinating and an experience I'll never forget.

All the measurements, the throat pattern, and lack of striations on the bill indicated this was indeed a female rufous Hummingbird. Although it would have been a great find if it had been an Allen's, a rufous is still pretty rare in these parts. At one point, Jan was leaning towards immature male, but I knew she had to be a female. Females ask for help when they are lost!!!

Jan also checked the bird's body fat, and found very little. She wouldn't have made it much longer, and wouldn't have gotten very far if she had tried to migrate. Jan overwintered, banded, and released her this last spring. It will be interesting to see if she goes back north. I pray she does. I know I have not made a difference on a large scale, but I am able to sleep better knowing I've helped one individual who needed a second chance.