anyone with insight into hummingbird medicine?

So I was cleaning stalls this morning, enjoying an absolutely glorious morning rinsed through with the relief of knowing that I have just 1 chemistry question left and my finals are done. And I heard a fairly loud buzzy hum from above. It was a hummingbird, trapped in my barn and trying to exit via the skylights. :(

I've had generations of dragonflies trapped in my barn each summer, making a decent living off the mosquitos and never able to find their way to the 12' doors cause they're so entranced by the overhead sun.

Last year, I found an exhausted hummingbird trapped in my garage, trying desperately to exit through a window. I was able to catch and release it, hopefully with enough daylight hours to replenish its system. This morning's hummer was 14 feet up though.

So I continued mucking out and it dawned on me that I might be able to lure it to an exit by hanging a feeder in the doorway. So I figured I'd make a run to the store to see if I could find a feeder. Then it dawned on me that I could possibly lure it over just by hanging a red flower, and I happened to have red tulips that just bloomed. In the meantime, the hummer had moved to an end skylight right by the back door --its best potential escape route given the prevailing wind.

So I ran up to the house, apologized to the tulips and politely asked to take one. I knew which one to take, and apologized again, and thank it, while breaking it off the stem. And I ran back down and hung the tulip in the door. The hummer had worked it's way down the skylight to the edge closest to the door, but I guess my presence scared it. When I turned around from hanging the flower, it was missing. And then I spotted it resting in the overhead beam in the middle of the barn. I headed back to finish the stall, pausing to watch the hummer and sending it a message to please, please, please go to the flower.

I don't know if it was the message I was sending. Or if the hummer watched the dogs racing in and out of the barn and figured out the door (birds are very smart). But while I stood watching it, it suddenly swept off the beam, swooped into the back aisle and zoomed right out the doorway. :D

just wanted to say that you're such a sweetheart for doing that. (I say this in reference to your actions in reference to both the bird and the flower.)

:) :thumbsup:

says this about hummingbird medicine:

"Hummingbird's message is adaptability in life's many situations and being able to "roll with the punches". If you have hummingbird medicine, you adapt easily to whatever situation you may find yourself in, and make the most of your new circumstances. You don't waste time looking back and wishing for 'what was' for you are concerned with making the most of 'what is.'"

http://www.birdclan.org/hummingbird.html

Seems applicable.

What wonderful medicine hummingbird is! I remembered another magical hummer experience I had last summer when I was sitting in bed early one morning with my coffee looking out the window. And my hummer (the one that visits my property) flew up to the window and hovered outside staring inside -- I think right at me! :hi: It hovered there for some time before whizzing off to my garden. :D

I've never had a hummingbird get inside my house before. I left the front door open to go out to the car and when I came back inside a hummingbird was caught in the skylight over the foyer. It was very upset and fearful and I thought it was going to injure itself. It became especially agitated when I tried to shoo it with a pole. The ceiling there is about 12 feet up. No chance of catching it.

I knew immediately what had lured the bird inside. Last year we painted the coat closet door a bright red ("Bolero" by Sherwin Wms). Then, being a red lover, to make matters worse I put a large square (mostly red) painting OVER the red doors--the painting is abstract but has a central focus with radiating stripes, a red orb. I thought it was a very dynamic attractive entrance. Obviously the hummingbird thought so too.

I was on my way to an important appointment but this bird was in great distress. Didn't want to just leave it, fearing it would die beating itself against the glass. Quandary. I went away for a few minutes, trying to think what to do (google hummingbird removal?) and when I came back OMG--the little bird was lying flat on its back with its feet in the air on the floor.

Well, it's had a heart attack I thought. I got closer and tried to give it some life force energy, but it didn't move. I went to get an old wash cloth to put it outside. When I reached down, the bird flew up as if to say, whaddya doin, humanoid! Somehow it looked indignant, the way hummingbirds fly up vertically. But then it flew back up into the skylight. The front door was open but it never seemed to notice that. This foyer is not big in floor area, just height.

At this point I was desperate to be on my way and was about to just leave hummer inside. Suddenly it flew down (more like dropped, it was so tired) and clung to a large (old & stiff) patchwork quilt that was slung over a bench in the foyer. Then a light bulb went on. Very gently I took one corner of the quilt and flopped it over the bird, more or less folding the quilt over itself. Then I took the end and dragged it outside onto the pavement. When I unfolded the quilt, there was the hummingbird sitting upright clinging to a fold. I left the house and when I returned, there was no bird in sight. So the hummingbird inadvertently helped itself escape.

Yes I would like to know about hummingbird symbology too. I've never had such a personal experience with one. Thanks for telling your story--also with a happy ending!

I took it to be a message of resurrection of something, because I sure did think that bird was dead.

A hummingbird is very brave (also the chickadee) and for this they are also much admired. A humminbird will lay its life on the line to protect its nest and is very fierce about it too :)
Walela is the Cherokee name of the hummingbird...here is a link of the Native America ladies that use this name for their music...;)

http://www.rhapsody.com/walela

May I suggest the one called "Wash your spirit clean" ? :) enjoy....

Keynote: Tireless Joy and the Nectar of Life
Cycle of Power: Daytime

"...We have all heard how good it is to whistle while we work, but humming is much more effective. It creates an internal massage, restoring health and balance. This the hummingbird reminds us to do. It reminds us to find joy in what we do and to sing it out.

"There are over 300 species of hummingbirds. This is very significant. In the Hebrew alphabet, the letter 'shin' is given the numerical value of 300. This has associations with fire and relationships, the past and the future....It has the ability to move its wings in a figure 8 pattern--a symbol for infinity and links to the past and future and the laws of cause and effect."

Also: not afraid of any predator=bravery; can fly backwards (only bird that can)=explore the past; to Pueblo Indians=symbol of endurance and used as totem to bring rain; big eaters, lots of activity=pay attention to your sugar levels (too low? too high?); fiercely independent; mating--female chooses male; master architects when building nest=you may want to redecorate or do something similar to create joy in home; appear to hibernate in order to preserve energy=get regular and deep sleep so you don't burn yourself out

"The ruby-throated hummingbird is a wonder of migration....Some have been known to make a journey of 2,500 miles or more, from Alaska to Central America. Scientists still are unsure how it is able to store up enough energy to accomplish such a journey.

"But it does, and because of it the hummingbird is a symbol for accomplishing that which seems impossible. It will teach you how to find the miracle of joyful living from your own life circumstances."

Mr. MG and I LOOOOVE hummingbirds. When we lived on a lake we had several hummingbird feeders attached to the corner of our house on the lake side, and we always greeted the same returning birds each spring and summer. We had two windows on the lower level that faced the lake, and our computer tables were up against one of them. When the hummingbird feeders were empty (or invaded by ants), damned if those little boogers didn't rap on the glass and hover there, staring at us. Their message was very clear: "AHEM. Please to fix the food situation." They wouldn't leave us alone till we put in fresh sugar water.
:rofl:

:hi: