Today during my lunch break, I was walking to the bank to take care of some business there. As I walked down the sidewalk, I noticed something laying there, and as I got closer, I quickly realized it was a hummingbird!

Seeing that it wasn't moving well, I decided to pick it up and relocate it somewhere more appropriate. I was hoping that it was just cold and once I moved it into the sun, it could warm up and fly again.

So it very cooperatively let me scoop it up and sat quietly while I walked it to a better location (I was going to see if it would sit in a tree in the sunshine). As I held it in the sunlight, I could visibly see it start to perk up - it became more alert and was watching me intently, it start holding its wings in a normal position, and most amazingly... I could feel its heartbeat getting faster!

After a few minutes, it was sufficiently warmed up that it tried a test flight, but needed some more rest, so returned to my hand. It sat there a few more minutes and then took off and flew away - hopefully it makes it to a warmer location and doesn't get itself into any more trouble...

Unfortunately the photos could only be taken with my cell phone, so the quality sucks... but the experience is one I won't soon forget.

Pretty cool, huh?

- Bill