Synopses & Reviews
A heartwarming account of the trials and triumphs a hummingbird rehabber encounters while caring for her tiny, fragile patients
Before he collided with a limousine, Gabriel, an Anna's hummingbird with a head and throat cloaked in iridescent magenta feathers, could spiral 130 feet in the air, dive 60 miles per hour in a courtship display, hover, and fly backward. When he arrived in rehab caked in road grime, he was so badly injured that he could barely perch. But Terry Masear, one of the busiest hummingbird rehabbers in the country, was determined to save this damaged bird, who seemed oddly familiar. During the four months that Terry worked with Gabriel, she took in 160 hummingbirds, from a miniature nestling rescued by a bulldog and a fledgling trapped inside a skydiving wind tunnel at Universal CityWalk, to Pepper, a female Anna's injured on a film set. In their time together, Pepper and Gabriel form a special bond and, together, with Terry's help, learn to fly again. Woven around Gabriel's and Pepper's stories are those of other colorful birds in this personal narrative filled with the science and magic surrounding these fascinating creatures.
Review
"[a] bright, engrossing debut.…Not just for birders, this captivating book brims with warmth, humor, and drama that will have wide appeal." Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Review
"Encounters with hummingbirds with a variety of personalities have given [Masear] many insightful stories to tell. She has also learned much about the sometimes strange and other times wonderful people of her community, who call her night and day to report orphaned or distressed hummingbirds. Masear is bound to win fans with this passionate memoir." Booklist
Review
"Masear shares an abundance of knowledge about hummingbirds' mating and feeding habits, their incredible flying abilities and migratory journeys, and what they need to heal and thrive. But her observations about the rescuers are just as interesting. 'You can learn a lot about someone by his reaction to a helpless hummingbird in need of rescue,' she writes. 'In fact, you can find out just about everything you need to know about a person.'" BirdWatching Magazine
Review
"Fastest Thing on Wings is an exaltation of hummingbirds, but it's also the story of Terry Masear's exceptional heart and heroism in saving these fragile and remarkable creatures. In her beautiful account, every rescue is a revelation. Hollywood is full of stars, but few shine as brightly as hers." Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO, The Humane Society of the United States
Synopsis
A Hollywood hummingbird rehabber will do nearly anything to save these tiny, fragile creatures, and readers following her adventures will learn just how astonishing and heartwarming these birds can be.
About the Author
TERRY MASEAR has taken time off from teaching English as a Second Language at UCLA Extension to devote time to researching and writing about hummingbirds. Terry and her network in Southern California rescue and rehabilitate over five hundred orphaned and injured hummingbirds each year.