Thread: OT Ping: Jill
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jmcquown[_2_] jmcquown[_2_] is offline
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Default OT Ping: Jill

On 2/18/2021 4:00 PM, US Janet wrote:
>
> Maybe this is the hummer that you have that visits you in the winter.
> Sorry that I can't put photo on this newsgroup. I am sure you own
> bird books. Quite a lovely bird.
>
> LOCAL NEWS
> Intermountain Bird Observatory seeing growth in Annas Hummingbird
> population in Idaho
> In 2015, there were only about 20 reported sightings of the bird. This
> winter there have been about 150 sightings.
>
> Author: Chase Biefeldt (KTVB)
> Published: 6:34 AM MST February 18, 2021
> Updated: 6:34 AM MST February 18, 2021
>
> BOISE, Idaho €” There are just over a handful of species of
> hummingbirds in Idaho, but one of those species are relatively new to
> the Gem State.
>
> They are called Annas Hummingbirds, and they are quite special.
>
> Most hummingbirds fly to Idaho in April and leave by September, but
> Annas Hummingbirds arrive in October and leave in March, staying here
> during the coldest months of the year.
>
> The Intermountain Bird Observatory (IBO) is trying to figure out why
> they can survive these cold months, and why they choose Idaho as their
> home.
>
> IBOs work began in 2015, when there were only about 20 reported
> sightings of Annas Hummingbirds in the winter, but this winter they
> have had more than 150 reports.
>
> Heidi Ware Carlisle at IBO is one of the lead researchers on the
> Wintering Annas Hummingbird Project.
>
> She said that many of the Annas Hummingbirds she tagged have come
> back multiple winters in a row, but just recently, they found one that
> stayed for the summer too.
>
> Her team published a paper about it, since it was the first one to
> ever stay for the warmer months.
>
> €œThats never happened before, and were really curious to learn if
> thats going to continue to happen in other places,€ Carlisle said.
> €œIf people see - especially a female Annas Hummingbird in the
> summertime - wed really like to know about it, because were hoping
> to document some nesting.€
>
> If you would like a chance to see one of these beautiful birds in your
> backyard, Carlisle said you will need a heated bird feeder, and some
> nectar.
>
> She said a good sugar solution is one cup of water to one quarter cup
> of sugar.
> :
> (I didn't know there were such things as heated bird feeders.)
>
> Janet US
>

Interesting! The bird that stuck around my house in the winter was a
female Ruby-throated hummingbird. That was a number of years ago.

She was the plucky little bird I spotted outside the window during
Hurricane Irma in 2017. I had taken the feeder down because of expected
high winds - it hangs from a chain outside a picture window. I saw her
hovering at the window during the storm, looking for food. So yes, I
went outside and hung it back up. She stuck around, hanging onto a
branch on that wind-tossed Camelia bush during a raging storm. Ventured
out to feed then went back to the branch. What a brave little bird!
That was on September 1st. When migration time came around, she didn't
leave.

I didn't know there were heated hummingbird feeders, either. No
hummingbirds have stayed around in the last couple of winters. I
leave the feeder up as late in the year as possible on the off chance...

I've had a suet cage hanging out the last month or so. It's only
"chilly" weather down here but the birds are flocking. Northern
Bluebirds are coming around like crazy. This is a male; that brilliant
blue on the wings gets me every time:

https://i.postimg.cc/gkr02Z3b/bluebird-suet.jpg

I'm also seeing a lot of Chickadees, Carolina Wrens, Flickers, Downy
Woodpeckers, Red Bellied Woodpeckers, cute little Pine Warblers and
Tufted Titmice. Ground feeders eating scattered seed include Cardinals
and all sorts of finches. Also Yellow-Rumped Warblers.

There are a plethora of birds here in the Winter. Alas, no hummingbirds
at the moment.

Jill