April 1, 2021
The author of The Soul of the Octopus returns with the story of the miraculous recovery of two abandoned baby hummingbirds. When Brenda Sherburn, a volunteer hummingbird rehabilitator in California, received two orphaned birds, they were not much larger than bumblebees. Uncertain about how to proceed with their recovery, she contacted naturalist Montgomery to help. As the author explains, rehabilitating hummingbirds is difficult work. In addition to maintaining the temperature of their habitat and examining their bodies for injury and invasive insects, baby hummingbirds must be fed every 20 minutes using a tiny syringe. Furthermore, "because the food spoils easily, a fresh batch must be concocted several times a day." The conditions under which the young are released into the wild are also fraught. Hummingbirds typically lay two eggs, which hatch two days apart. The timing difference can lead to a developmental lag in the youngest hatchling and offer additional challenges, which was the case in the recovery of this pair. With her characteristic compassion, Montgomery shows the patience and skill with which Sherburn nursed her charges back to health. She also discusses the extreme measures other rehabbers have taken to ensure the recovery of injured and orphaned hummingbirds. Montgomery packs a wealth of general information regarding hummingbirds into this slim volume, examining species differences, body mechanics, habitat range, food sources, migration patterns, and relevant mythology. As their attachment to the birds grew, Sherburn and Montgomery chose to break the unwritten rule of naming birds in the process of rehabilitation. Drawing on Aztec and Mayan mythology, they chose Maya and Zuni. Regarding the reason for writing this book, Montgomery explains that witnessing the recovery of these tiny creatures was a cherished gift. If humans, she notes, "could help transform these pathetically vulnerable infants to rulers of the sky, then perhaps our kind can heal our sweet, green, broken world." A small gem full of hope, determination, and wonder.
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April 15, 2021
Hummingbird rehabilitator Brenda Sherburn Labelle and two tiny orphans, Maya and Zuni, first appeared in passionate, prolific, and beloved naturalist Montgomery's world-circling avian chronicle, Birdology (2010). Here she tells the entire tale of the hummers' rescue and thriving, thanks to rigorous human attention involving feedings with a syringe every 20 minutes, nerve-wracking treatments for a mite infestation, and clever ways to help them learn to fly. Montgomery shares an array of astounding facts about hummingbirds, from their proportionately enormous heart to how each day these little beings sup from 1,500 flowers and eat approximately 700 insects; how their wings beat 60 times per second; how they can hover, a unique ability; and how very combative and strong these little feathered marvels are, enduring long migrations year after year. Montgomery describes Maya and Zuni's "remarkably expressive" little faces and different rates of development, and describes the fear and joy attendant upon their release into a world in which pollinators are severely imperiled. Montgomery's bright, richly illustrated chronicle stirs renewed appreciation for human empathy, skill, and wonder and for a miraculous winged species.
COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
May 1, 2021
Author and naturalist Montgomery (The Soul of an Octopus) visited the Marin County, CA, sculptor and bird rehabilitator Brenda Sherburn to observe and tell the fascinating and fraught story of Sherburn's rehabilitation of two orphaned newborn Allen's hummingbirds. She traces Sherburn's weeks-long laborious process of nursing the bumblebee-sized hatchlings, until they can fly free; meanwhile, she gives readers an eloquent primer on hummingbirds in myth and natural science, and the history of people learning about birds. Though the book is slim, Montgomery's thoughtful narrative successfully presents, in detail, the heartwarming story of reviving two fragile hummingbirds. The book includes a list of resources for readers who want more information about hummingbirds and the efforts to preserve and protect them. Montgomery also explains how to maintain a yard or garden that will attract and protect hummingbirds. The book is illustrated with drawings and photographs of hummingbirds that are an added bonus. VERDICT Montgomery has written another engaging work of popular science, similar to her previous books. This latest volume will draw in readers who are new to birding, as well as experienced birders looking to supplement their knowledge.--Joel Neuberg, Santa Rosa Junior Coll. Lib., CA
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