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Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Heading Home
Tampa and St Pete Audubon Societies ended a field trip to the Golden Aster Scrub Preserve on Sunday
by visiting my yard. Unfortunately, the hummers were not very active with the Rufous only seen by me but all did get to
see an adult and a second year male Ruby-throated in the front yard.
After all had left, I sat in my chair facing the key lime watching for the Rufous. She eventually
sat low in the bottlebrush where I could see her. She sat there for a few minutes until a squirrel bounded by just above her,
spooking her into the bush. A short time later, she darted out just over my head to chase a Ruby-throated away that was feeding
on salvia just behind me. She then retreated deep into the key lime but where I could see her. She sat almost motionless for
10 to 15 minutes before a flock of cardinals spooked her. She finally sat on her feeder for a long drink and then flew up
to an exposed perch near me in the black cherry/sour orange clump. She seemed to watch me in the same way I was watching her.
Then she disappeared into that clump briefly before being chased away by a few chippies and a titmouse.
As I watched her drink at the feeder, I realized that she's looking real good, very rich color and all
feathers in perfect place and condition. The rufous flanks stretched almost all of the way across her breast and belly.
I also noticed that she looked like she could use a trip to the gym. Then I realized, she's completed her molt and has already
put on considerable weight in preparation for her migration back to the west. I assume that she's not necessarily been away
during the recent periods of temporary absence but rather she's been doing her best to eliminate all activity while she waits
for the sugar to turn to fat.
I heard her yesterday morning but all was quiet this morning and then again later this afternoon. Much
has been made of the rarity of a hummingbird returning to a yard this many times (she'll be at least six years old this summer). After
five seasons of this bird spending her winter in my yard, I've become quite attached to her. She seems to look for me when
she arrives here in August flying up to me and then perching nearby so I can observe her well enough to see her band before
hiding out for a few days while recuperating from her trip. During her stay here, she starts chipping as soon as I walk
into the backyard and will often move to the part of the yard where I'm sitting and then perch in the open where we can see
each other.
I look at the mileage that she's covered over the past five years and I'm amazed that she can find my
yard each year. She waited out two hurricanes in my yard in 2004 (Francis - strong tropical storm winds and Jeanne -
minimal hurricane force winds) and survived a few freezes here but it still concerns me that she may have left just before
freezing temperatures are predicted just to the north of here. I'm already looking forward to August.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Late Post - Banding Results 1-15-08
I thought I had posted this information on the day that we banded but apparently I only posted it to the various Listservs
I'm subascribed to. I will need to update the tally on the right of this page soon.
*******
1/15/08
Doreen Cubie arrived at my yard this morning around 7:15 AM in hopes of trapping a banded female Rufous who was assumed
to be the same one banded by
Fred Bassett in November of 2003. That Rufous was then trapped again in January of 2005 but
avoided the trap in 2006 and 2007. I was able to photograph 4 digits of her band in August of 2007.
We set up a borrowed
cage that Doreen had recently picked up from Bob Sargent in one of the Rufous' preferred spots, which is also where I'd hung
a trainer cage the past couple of days, and she almost immediately entered the cage. Unfortunately, I'd left the feeder port
facing the door and she was nervous, refusing to sit on the perch, and she kept rapidly dipping in for a sip and then pulling
out of the door to look around. Having a slightly itchy trigger finger, I allowed the trap door to close about an inch, scaring
her away. Doreen's earlier warning of 'you may only get one chance, make sure she's in the cage, then close quickly' was weighing
heavily on my mind at that point.
An adult male Ruby-throat quickly entered the cage after the departure of the Rufous
and was trapped. Doreen had trapped one in the front yard as well. As she was processing them, the Rufous returned and quickly
entered the cage and was easily caught. At the same time, Doreen was removing a second bird from the front yard trap as well.
We quickly processed the Rufous confirming the number, N62404. It is She!!!
Thanks to Bob for the cage, Doreen for
her time today, and to Fred for all he's done here in the past as well as his part in arranging today's session.
In
the end, in about an hour, we banded 4 adult male, one second year male, and one female Ruby-throateds in addition to confirming
the identity of the female Rufous. Seven birds in about an hour. And, I've been hesitant to say much about the birds in my
yard because I'm not seeing the usual activity that I've seen in the past few years.
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Click on dates above to view archived entries.
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Questions or comments?
Invitation to Visit
My yard is open to anyone who would like the chance to see the birds and other wildlife it offers. I only ask that
you call at
Maps to my yard can be found at:
Summary of Hummingbirds Banded in My Yard:
January 2002
Rufous -
After Second Year Female
Black-chinned -
Second Year Male
Ruby-throated -
After Hatching Year Female
Ruby-throated -
Second Year Male
January 2003
Rufous -
Second Year Female
November 2003
Rufous -
After Hatching Year Female
Rufous -
After Hatching Year Male
January 2004
Ruby-throated -
Second Year Male
January 2005
Rufous -
After Second Year Female
(Originally banded 11/2003)
Black-chinned -
After Hatching year Female (1)
Black-chinned -
After Hatching year Female (2)
Black-chinned -
Second Year Male
Ruby-throated -
Second Year Male
Ruby-throated -
Second Year Male
Ruby-throated -
After Second Year Male
August 2005
Rufous -
After Second Year Female
(Believed to be the bird originally banded 11/2003 - Not confirmed)
November 2005
Ruby-throated -
Second Year Male
January 2006
Ruby-throated -
After Hatching Year Female
Ruby-throated -
Second Year Male (1)
Ruby-throated -
Second Year Male (2)
Ruby-throated -
Second Year Male (3)
Ruby-throated -
Second Year Male (4)
Ruby-throated -
After Second Year Male (5)
August 2006
Rufous -
After Second Year Female
(Originally banded 11/2003 - Confirmed by photo of 3 numbers on band)
January 2007
Rufous -
Second Year Male
Ruby-throated -
Second Year Male
Ruby-throated -
After Second Year Male
January 2008
Ruby-throated -
After Second Year Male
Ruby-throated -
After Second Year Male
Rufous -
After Second Year Female
(Originally banded 11/2003)
Ruby-throated -
Second Year Male
Ruby-throated -
After Second Year Male
Ruby-throated -
After Second Year Female
Ruby-throated -
After Second Year Male
Totals:
Rufous - 5
Black-chinned - 4
Ruby-throated - 21
Return Birds - 4 (Same individual 4 years)
A Few Photos of Hummers That Have Passed Through My Yard
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