What a beautiful story. I can only imagine the patience it took to gently remove the spider threads. I was thrilled to read that the bird was able to fly away. Thank you for sharing this. I will now go look up this variety of spider.

Great save Gardenbees!!

my exact words. Although, I'm a fraidy cat (city girl), , I think I would have gained the courage needed and do the same thing had I seen it. Thanks for sharing your experience and alerting us of the possible dangers of these spiders to hummers.

I am so happy you were able to save the little hummer. How frightened it must have been.

well, I'll be!! I had no idea those spiders could do that!
I had one in my garden this year that was next to a large plant the hummers visit often. This was the largest garden spider I ever did see. I was working near it and got right up close before I realized it was even there. Spiders give me the CREEPS! !! I hate them! So, I thought, well it is just a garden spider and it is outside and so I moved it to another location w a long stick. I do have lots of hummers here, although I don't put out feeders.

I am so thankful you saved the hummer

Yay for hummer saving!

Gardenbees, thank you for sharing your story. Now I know this is a possibility. I firmly believe that I should protect the hummingbirds that I have lured to my garden by way of feeders.

And I'm also thankful that you saved that hummer!!

What a touching story!

Oh, I am glad you were able to help the little hummie. I feel so fat fingered, that I do not know I could have done as good of a job as you did.

One thing I read others do when freeing hummingbirds from webbing is they get the nectar feeder. Then, during the process of web removal, while still holding the hummingbird, gently try to get it to drink every few minutes so it can build up its strength from the ordeal. We have an ever growing prairie patch out back and saw both Arigopes and Hummingbirds back there. I did free a large dragonfly from a web and it proceeded to bite me!

Were you able to find the hummingbird after this? I hope it was willing to come back to your feeders.

Argiope Spiders build webs to catch insects, which they eat. I guess the hummingbird was an unintended catch. So glad you found it and were able to rescue it! I love my hummers!

Gardenbees, for your lifesaving efforts. This little hummer will have quite a story to share!

That was a good save indeed But on the flipside of things, hummers do use spider webs to glue stuff when they build their nest. So I would not remove any spider webs arbitrarily, but will definitely rescue a trapped hummer if it comes to that. Must be like a moth to a flame for the poor hummie..needed the web..but got too close and tangled.

A true labor of love bless you for rescuing the hummer Never had to save one from a web, but have had to rescue several that got their little beaks caught in the screen of the screen room. Totally awsome to hold a tiny hummer in your hand

Good advise, Chillybean.

Bravo! I have read that hummers can get caught in spider webs, but this is the first time I've read of a rescue or of them being wrapped up. Good job!

Wonderful story so glad the Hummer survived!

This was an amazing story, and you told very well. I could envision the whole thing and was so happy for that little hummer. You just might have made a lifelong friend.

Good show.

Could/would the spider have actually ate the hummer?

I don't know about the spider actually consuming the hummer, but the poor little thing would have fatally exhausted himself
trying to get out. Same outcome either way.