Did a hummingbird perform CPR on a fellow bird?

DEAR JOAN >> I have a busy hummingbird feeder by my deck in a spot I can view easily. Something happened a few days ago that I’ve never seen before.

A hummingbird landed on the deck, a rarity in itself, and started to poke at a small dark form that looked like a clump of dead leaves. On closer inspection it looked more like a dead hummer lying on the deck. I thought the first bird might be trying to revive it by poking it.

Then it actually picked up the bird and flew with it for a few feet. After the apparently dead hummer was poked and prodded, it suddenly woke up and they both flew off together.

Have you seen or heard of anything like this? What was going on here? — Bob Nozik, Lafayette

DEAR BOB >> What an amazing story. I’ve never heard of that happening.

Hummingbirds are not social birds, and don’t appear to have family ties. Even though a pair might mate, the female heads off afterward to pick the nesting spot, build the nest, lay the eggs and raise the young.

Males are territorial, but not because they want to protect their mates and young. They chase away other males because they want all the females for themselves. This suits the females just fine because they don’t want the males near their nests. The bright plumage of the male hummer could draw attention to the nest and attract predators. They would much rather warn off one male hummingbird than a host of them.

The young stay in the nests until they learn to fly, and then they’re off on their own.

So it’s unlikely one hummingbird was feeling affection for a fallen comrade, child or mate. I’m not sure why it would pick up the fallen bird, but I’m going to presume that the “dead” hummer had been stunned, perhaps by flying into a window or being hit by another bird, and came to at some point.

Any avid birdwatchers out there who have seen anything like this and can provide a better explanation? Please let me know what you think.

DEAR JOAN >> I live about a mile from Lake Merritt, atop the highest hill in the area. In early September, I began hearing owl calls late at night and in the wee hours of the morning.

I can’t say whether the owl is present every night — occasionally, I do sleep through the entire night — but I have continued to hear it many nights. Occasionally the calls seem to come from a slightly different location. I believe there is a single owl. The call is a consistent “hoo-hoo, hooo, hooo.”

I would like to identify the owl but haven’t been able to see it. Can you help? Do you have any thoughts on why this owl might suddenly be visiting — relocating to? — my neighborhood? — Kim, Oakland

DEAR KIM >> Birdwatchers will tell you that sounds can be more useful in identifying a bird than sight. It can be difficult to get a good look at a bird, but their calls will always reveal their identity.

Based on your description, I’d say you have a great horned owl in the area. It might actually live some distance away, but it is finding good hunting in your neighborhood.

You’ve probably heard that the rat population has been robust this year, which means birds that prey upon rats have been more prevalent, too.