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From: weintrau@mpx2.lampf.lanl.gov (Weintraub, B.L.)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: rufous hummer died
Message-ID: <60087@lanl.gov>
Date: 14 Aug 90 21:31:49 GMT
Sender: news@lanl.gov
Reply-To: weintrau@mpx2.lampf.lanl.gov
Distribution: usa
Organization: Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility, Los Alamos, New Mexico
Lines: 13

About a week ago, I posted an account of friends of mine trying to nurse
an injured Rufous Hummingbird back to health.  A local veterinarian and
wild bird expert supplied them with an amino acid mixture, and the bird 
seemed to gain strength for awhile.  Although they were able to keep the 
him alive for 22 days, the hummer finally died yesterday.  Those involved
in the project believe that there was _something_ missing from his diet.
My friend says that they weren't able to get "bug powder" (powdered insects?)
in time. 

Has anyone successfully rescued a hummingbird that could not feed itself?

(No flames, please.  The intent was to nurse him so that he could migrate
next month, not to keep him as a "pet".)