My sensei the hummingbird

Published January 11, 2023

By Carmen Rioja

How could I know that before the end of the year, a little messenger would be my great teacher. It was afternoon and it was still hot outside, when suddenly a hummingbird crashed into the window pane and fell groggy on the ground. My dog—who is a quick hunter by instinct—ran to the bird and caught it between the fangs of its muzzle in a second. I rushed towards them with almost the same speed and shouted in a firm, assertive voice that I didn’t know I had: Stop, let go!

—Apparently it was useful to watch so many episodes of the television program of César Millán, the dog trainer. To my surprise, the dog immediately obeyed and I was able to pull the still-alive hummingbird out of the fangs. The mini bird had the wing completely broken and bent back. And he was screaming in his tiny but clear voice.

I had never held a delicate hummingbird in my hands, let alone a wounded one. His whole body was the size of a third of my hand and look I have small hands.

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