Wintering hummingbird update

[bobky]

She is still here. This may be the sharpest photo of her yet. Cheers,bob

http://home.insightbb.com/~bstaib1/wsb/html/view.cgi-photo.html--SiteID-637002.html

[pduxon]

That is stunning. I am sssoooo jealous

[bobky]

Thank you Pete. Sometimes I get lucky and get a good picture.Cheers,bob
That is stunning. I am sssoooo jealous

[Beverlybaynes]

What a TERRIFIC picture, Bob! And I'm so glad to see the little girl is still around. Thanks so much for keeping us posted on her!

[bobky]

What a TERRIFIC picture, Bob! And I'm so glad to see the little girl is still around. Thanks so much for keeping us posted on her!


Thanks Beverly. It has been fun;and, I hope it has been fun for you too.
Cheers,bob

http://home.insightbb.com/~bstaib1/wsb/html/view.cgi-photo.html--SiteID-633334.html

[bobky]

Good morning...cheers,bob

http://home.insightbb.com/~bstaib1/wsb/html/view.cgi-photo.html--SiteID-641400.html

[Beverlybaynes]

What a wonderful picture, Bob! She looks positively delighted to be posing for her breakfast!

I can't wait to see if she sticks around and picks up a mate!

[amasara]

I posted on another tread re: a book called A Hummingbird In My HOuse - by Arnette Heidcamp. She over-wintered a rufous in her greenhouse. Then I found a compliation of all her books called Hummingbirds - My Tiny Treasures on Amazon.com
My own experience with one that accidentally got inside my screened porch - I'd left the door open blocking its path to the h.feeder. It was frantically trying to fly out the screen. I went up to it and caught it in my hand (such a special feeling!) and took it outside to the feeder. It sat on my finger and drank and drank and then like a helicopter lifted off and flew away- fueled up!

[peligirl]

Two years ago I lived in East Tx, where in August thru- Oct that yr I had 100's of rub-throats and put out gallons of sugar water. All the neighbors would hang over their fence to watch and all their feeders were vacant.....I think I mixed extra zap in the mixture. Any way it was great and they just buzzed around me like bee's while refilled the feeders!

[peligirl]

Sorry, I meant ruby throated hummies!!!

[bobky]

Thanks Beverly, amasara and peligirl,

I wish we had a greenhouse :-)
We have been using a 3 to 1 sugar water mix, plus another feeder with a mix of a commercial product used by zoos:Nektar Plus.
Having her winter over sure has been fun. I suggest everybody keep those feeders out late into fall. Cheers.bob

[LzyPhotographer]

I find that when I use bottled spring water, instead of tap water... my feeders become quite popular with the hummingbirds. ;-)

[bobky]

Hi,

We do the same with the bottled spring water :)

Cheers,bob

I find that when I use bottled spring water, instead of tap water... my feeders become quite popular with the hummingbirds. ;-)

[bobky]

Our Rufous winter guest is still here on 1 March 2004. Cheers,bob

http://home.insightbb.com/~bstaib1/wsb/html/view.cgi-photo.html--SiteID-661300.html

[Forcreeks]

Nice slideshow on your wintering Rufous f. Bobky. Thanks... hummingbirds remain my favorites after all the other birds I've digiscoped... I think they're the most amazing and endearing too.

[bobky]

Hello Forcreeks,

Thank you. I'll bet you get many varieties of hummingbirds in Oregon. As you know, they are so tiny it is difficult to get a good picture without a big zoom or digiscope. Post some pictures here when you get some visitors. Cheers,bob

Nice slideshow on your wintering Rufous f. Bobky. Thanks... hummingbirds remain my favorites after all the other birds I've digiscoped... I think they're the most amazing and endearing too.

[Beverlybaynes]

Bob, looking again at this splendid picture, I hope you'll enter it in March's photo comp! It seems like a winner to me! And with her posed so prettily on the MAN-MADE feeder, it surely fits the rules for this month!

Gee . . . I use 'way too many exclamation points, don't I?

[gthang]

Here's some of my dad's

Images were scaled down.

[bobky]

Hi gthang and Beverly,

Super pictures of those hummers;I really like the one on the right.

Thank you Beverly for your suggestion. To be honest I haven't looked at or even thought about March's contest. I will check into it.

Here is a picture from today that I think turned out nicely. Cheers,bob

http://home.insightbb.com/~bstaib1/wsb/html/view.cgi-photo.html--SiteID-663842.html

[gthang]

you talking about my dad's pics?

If so, he thanks you from the bottom of his heart...

[bobky]

you talking about my dad's pics?

If so, he thanks you from the bottom of his heart...

Hi gthang,

Yes,your dad's pictures are super!! Cheers,bob

[Michael Frankis]

Must be getting time for her to head off back out west fairly soon . . . don't be surprised when one day she's gone!

Anyone know when Rufous Hummers usually migrate north from Mexico?

Michael

[bobky]

Must be getting time for her to head off back out west fairly soon . . . don't be surprised when one day she's gone!

Anyone know when Rufous Hummers usually migrate north from Mexico?

Michael

Hi Michael,

Yes, I expect that will happen soon. It is difficult to image that small a bird travelling over 3000 kilometers to get to the west coast.

The Rufous migration has begun:

http://www.hummingbirds.net/map.html

Cheers,bob

[amasara]

what's up in Lexington - is she still there?

[bobky]

what's up in Lexington - is she still there?

Hi,

Yes, she is still here!! Thanks,bob

http://home.insightbb.com/~bstaib1/wsb/html/view.cgi-photo.html--SiteID-673200.html

[Beverlybaynes]

Bob, this latest pic is delightful! I know how much pleasure I've gotten from seeing your reports and photos of her -- you must be thrilled!

She's just full of personality, isn't she?

I'm starting to dread the day when you'll find a little note hanging from the perch:

"Thanks, Bob, for a great winter. Heading west. Little Girl"

But what wonderful memories you'll have!

[HelenB]

Hi Bob,
I'm located near Houston, Texas and I've had several Rufouses overwinter in my yard in the last 4 years. 2 years ago a humbander came in March (02) to band a female Rufous. He told me she was still in molt, but would probably leave in about 2 weeks. He was right. She returned the following Oct., was caught and checked for her band # and she stayed all winter, leaving the first week of April (03). At the end of July a banded female Rufous turned up, but unfortunately the bander could never trap her to confirm she was the same one. I think she was, as she had the same shaped gorget.

A couple of weeks later another female Rufous appeared - I nicknamed her Guardian Angel as she would sit on the top of a feeder to guard it. Her photo is my avatar! Anyway she was caught and banded in January, about 7 weeks ago but the original one had disappeared. I haven't seen Angel for a few days, so she may have left, but there are a couple of male Rufouses around now. They are probably passing through on their way west. We've had a very mild winter and most of my hummingbird plants are blooming well, so my yard is a good R & R stop for them.

If you go to my webpage - URL below my signature, you can go to the hummingbird pages and see some banding sessions and photos of my wintering Rufouses.

[bobky]

Hi Beverly and HelenB,

I am going to miss her for sure!! She has taught me a great deal about photography. 90% of the credit goes to my wife Jo;she;s up before sunrise to make the new batch of Nektar Plus, and the sugar water solution for the day.She is a very curious bird:

http://home.insightbb.com/~bstaib1/wsb/html/view.cgi-photo.html--SiteID-668109.html

Helen,what a great site you have!!! Very interesting seeing those birds being banded. Maybe if our Rufous comes back I can convince my SO to let our guest be banded. Is it always female Rufouses who stay out over winter? Cheers,bob

[HelenB]

Helen,what a great site you have!!! Very interesting seeing those birds being banded. Maybe if our Rufous comes back I can convince my SO to let our guest be banded. Is it always female Rufouses who stay out over winter? Cheers,bob

Bob - the first wintering Rufous I ever had 4 years ago, was an immature male, and he had molted into his adult plumage by the time he left me. Since then it's been the females which have stayed for the whole winter. The males seem to only stay for a few days. Perhaps the females tell them to go & find their own bit of real estate!!

[bobky]

Update:

http://home.insightbb.com/~bstaib1/wsb/html/view.cgi-photo.html--SiteID-681511.html

Cheers,bob

[Beverlybaynes]

Bob, I"d never gone all the way through your slide show before -- what a wonderful treasury of photos!

It has been really special seeing the pictures of this little charmer. Thank you so much for sharing her with the rest of us!

[amasara]

Ditto - won't you be sorry to see her leave? Which photo is your favorite Bob - I think I like the full front one - even though it doesn't show her long beak and sometimes tongue - it's more of an attitude shot!! Thanks again for brightening up a gloomy winter!

[bobky]

Thanks Beverly and amasara,

Glad you liked the slide show. I agree that the best may be that head- on shot,but I like a couple of the others too.

I'm gonna miss her for sure. Cheers,bob

[bobky]

It is now Spring, so she should be heading out soon. Here is a picture from today. Regards,bob

[bobky]

Sorry, here it is:

[Beverlybaynes]

And she looks like she's dressed up in all her springtime finery!

She's such a beautiful little girl! I wish her well!

[bobky]

And she looks like she's dressed up in all her springtime finery!

She's such a beautiful little girl! I wish her well!


Thanks Beverly,

I wish her well too;Gonna miss her. Regards,bob

[Michael Frankis]

Still there?!?

Better tell her to hurry up and get a move on!

Will she bring the kidz back next winter, I wonder . . .

Michael

[bobky]

Still there?!?

Better tell her to hurry up and get a move on!

Will she bring the kidz back next winter, I wonder . . .

Michael

Yes, still here;can you believe it? Hopefully she will move on soon and find another Rufous mate, or there won't be any kidz to bring back next winter....

Cheers,bob

[HelenB]

Today I've had several hummers at my feeders.
1. Female Black-chinned that has been around for about 3 weeks.
2. Male Rufous looking very dapper in his bright plumage.
3. Male Ruby-throat battling with #2 for the feeders. He's been here about 2 weeks.
4. Female Rufous, but don't think it's one of mine. Guess they're on the move now.

[bobky]

Today I've had several hummers at my feeders.
1. Female Black-chinned that has been around for about 3 weeks.
2. Male Rufous looking very dapper in his bright plumage.
3. Male Ruby-throat battling with #2 for the feeders. He's been here about 2 weeks.
4. Female Rufous, but don't think it's one of mine. Guess they're on the move now.

Hi Helen,

It sounds as if you are having fun with all those Hummers.

Our wintering Rufous was last seen on the morning of the 24th;so, we wish her a safe journey. Keep an eye out for her Helen. Regards,bob

[GR Triever]

We wish her a safe journey, and we thank you, Bob, for making this winter a bit brighter with your reports on this little bird.


GR

[amasara]

GR - is that a Great Pyrenees ? I had several as a child and then we found one on trip to MD and had Casey for 8+years. LOVE the breed - there are several in this area now actually being used to guard sheep! Such gentle giants! Bet they like birds too - to keep this in the "theme"....
Bob - feel really sad that she's gone - hope she returns next winter - I haven't seen my yellow throat for a month - they were both "bright spots in my winter" too!

[GR Triever]

GR - is that a Great Pyrenees ? I had several as a child and then we found one on trip to MD and had Casey for 8+years. LOVE the breed - there are several in this area now actually being used to guard sheep! Such gentle giants! Bet they like birds too - to keep this in the "theme"....
Bob - feel really sad that she's gone - hope she returns next winter - I haven't seen my yellow throat for a month - they were both "bright spots in my winter" too!
If you're asking about my avatar pic, that's my Golden Retriever "Trouble". I've had the pleasure of his company for 10 1/2 years now. Doesn't chase the squirrels, doesn't chase the birds, keeps the cats (and the neighbors) away from the fence lines... what more can I ask for? <g>

GR

[amasara]

I could see he looked "golden" but what a massive head - so much like a pyrenees - he's quite the handsome fellow!

[Beverlybaynes]

Bob, hadn't realized the little girl had left. :( Sorry to see her go, but what a wonderful winter you and she had!

Thanks so much for sharing her with us. Maybe she'll come back next winter.

[bobky]

Bob, hadn't realized the little girl had left. :( Sorry to see her go, but what a wonderful winter you and she had!

Thanks so much for sharing her with us. Maybe she'll come back next winter.

Thanks Beverly, I hope so too. Cheers,bob