MoSup
was at the bird store and the owner told her about a hummingbird
feeding in the Annapolis area. Like now. "We didn't believe
the stories, so we went there, and sure enough there is a (Rufous)
hummingbird feeding in Edgewater" Still, I had to look into this
myself. Truthfully, I was somewhat— alarmed is not the right
word, but learning that western hummers are migrating east had me
wondering, what do they know?"
Here's
one explanation.
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Borchelt
suspects his rufous may stick around longer. “What I think is
happening,” he says, “is that birds from the Canadian Rockies go east
across the Plains on fall migration (instead of down the eastern side
of the Sierra) and find patches of resources where they hang out for
the season. For rufous, winter here isn’t that much different from
early spring in the Rockies—they’re really hardy little birds.”
“There’s an emerging consensus that ‘vagrant’ hummingbirds [those that
winter outside traditional ranges] are some kind of genetic ‘scouts’
programmed to prospect for likely winter habitat,” adds Borchelt. “Mine
seems to have hit pay dirt. She may have moved in for the season . . .
as long as I keep the feeder unfrozen!”
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If for some reason (ahem) the internets and electronic broadcasting
should be interrupted, I know that I will find ample entertainment
watching our grandchildren (before they get too old) and our birds, of
which we have hundreds (birds, not chillens) that make our yard
"home." Winter hummers would be a real treat. Now, if we
can somehow get bluebirds and orioles ... .
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We've had a couple of hummers living here in Boerne Texas all winter. The wife changes the food every three days and they're happy as can be. In the summer we have three feeders out and 20-30 hummers hanging out with us. Just love 'em.
ReplyDeleteDon't know about Orioles but I had a family of Bluebirds the year I spent in deep East Texas. All they do is play all day long. Attracting the little buggers and getting them to stay is an art form or so I'm told.
ReplyDeleteSalutations, Anon, I also live in Boerne Texas.
ReplyDeleteWe usually get some down here in SE Florida in January as they migrate south. The wife put out feeders, but none this year. Figured they were enjoying the smoother weather...
ReplyDeleteWe had a couple of Rubies stay here this Winter, even through our week of snow. I have two feeders I put out alternating every three or four hours during freezing temps. They're still here today.
ReplyDeleteGerry N. In far off, exotick Western WA.
For Bluebirds an' Orioles, you're gonna need season tickets.
ReplyDeleteCheep if you just watch 'em in the Spring, though.
(sorry)