Hummingbirds in Winter

When I first heard the expression, “When you save someone's life, they own you forever,” I thought the saying had been garbled and meant the opposite. Now I understand it means just what it says.
Last year I discovered that Rufus hummingbirds wintered over in Whatcom County regardless of the weather. The first time I saw one last December, I hurried to get a feeder out in hopes of saving its tiny life. Turns out the critter would have found something to eat anyway, although I don't know what, because they don't all migrate.
But it is fun watching hummingbirds in winter so this year I kept the feeders filled and clean. Then last week a cold front moved in and froze the sugar water. The first thing I did was make plans on how to keep a feeder thawed. For the last few days I have been melting, rotating, going out in my bath robe before dawn and after dark, determined that the hummingbird that has been flitting around here for the last month doesn't go without a meal.
I don't know if I saved its life, but it owns me.
Nancy Sherer