"Neon"
       Neon came into my life on January 6th 2005.

I was on my way to retrieve my mail at 5:15pm.  When I looked down and saw a flash of color at my feet. To my surprise, it was a hummingbird with a broken wing. This was not his day to die.
  With my purse, coffee thermos and keys in one hand and a wounded hummingbird in the other.  I opened the door to my apartment and thought, what was I going to do with him?  I have been feeding the hummingbirds here for over two years now.  I had a feeder ready to put out, for when I returned from work.  I put it quickly on my kitchen table. And set him on it.  He drank like it was his last feed. This gave me time to find a box.  But I needed something large enough for the feeder to sit in.  But something he could not crawl out of.  I found my laundry basket was just the right size.  I noticed right away that the feeder was not high enough.  His tail feathers were bending backwards. Knowing that hummingbirds are not ground birds.  I knew he could not jump very high.  A standard CD case came in quite handy.  I found a black T-shirt and covered the cage at 6:15 pm.  I knew this would calm him down.  I checked him about 3 times before I went to bed.  Would he be alive in the morning? 
How many people do you know that found a wounded bird, and it lived more than a few days?  The next few days, before I went to work.  I would put him by the patio window, so he could see the other birds coming to feed.  I named him "Neon" on the 4th day.  He had lost 6 of his tail feathers, but he looked healthy.  And by now I was getting more comfortable handling something more fragile than eggs.  Neon is the size of my thumb, and his feet as thin as two hairs. 
I knew that hummingbirds needed more than just sugar & nectar in their diet.  They also need protein, very small bugs.  I went to the fish store the next day.  And found food for newborn fish.  I mixed up a sample and put it outside with the other hummingbird feeders.  Just to see if the other birds would like it or not.  They seemed to like it, again and again.  I then made a smaller batch for Neon.  He now had protein in his diet. 
Today is January 30th and Neon's tail feathers are growing back.  I doubt that he will ever fly again.  I thank God for every day that he was in my life.  Neon is truly, "My Little Angel". With all the troubles in the world.  I hope that Neon brings as much joy to you, as Neon has given to me.

         Sandy Lizotte,  Ventura, CA  USA      HBLadyVTA@aol.com 

From my, "Loving Hands to Yours".
"Neon" passed away 02/06/05.
  It was his day to die.