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Wintering hummingbird update (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter bobky
- Start date
Michael Frankis
conehead
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
Anyone know when Rufous Hummers usually migrate north from Mexico?
Michael
bobky
Well-known member
Michael Frankis said:
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
Attachments
bobky
Well-known member
amasara said:
Hi,
Yes, she is still here!! Thanks,bob
http://home.insightbb.com/~bstaib1/wsb/html/view.cgi-photo.html--SiteID-673200.html
Beverlybaynes
Mod Squad
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!
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!
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.
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.
Last edited:
bobky
Well-known member
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
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
bobky said:
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
Well-known member
Beverlybaynes
Mod Squad
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!
It has been really special seeing the pictures of this little charmer. Thank you so much for sharing her with the rest of us!
Beverlybaynes
Mod Squad
And she looks like she's dressed up in all her springtime finery!
She's such a beautiful little girl! I wish her well!
She's such a beautiful little girl! I wish her well!
Michael Frankis
conehead
Still there?!?
Better tell her to hurry up and get a move on!
Will she bring the kidz back next winter, I wonder . . .
Michael
Better tell her to hurry up and get a move on!
Will she bring the kidz back next winter, I wonder . . .
Michael
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.
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.
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