Thanks, Larry, I think there is a phenomenon afoot, and I’m afraid in my
neighborhood it is the growing number of Ada County refugees buying 5 acre
lots and setting hens. In other words, redtails are a threat to their egg
industry. No one would ever admit to this – but why are all the nesting
pairs gone?

I still see plenty on HWY 16 – away from the town. But in the meantime,
our gopher population is exploding.

In other news, a night hawk landed on our road and I was able to film him
for a while. We used to have hundreds living on the abundant insect life in
our organic vineyard. They used to land in a row and sleep during the day
– we thought they were sick, but no, just napping.

And I’ve got Yellow Warbler juvies bathing in the sprinklers. Never thought
I’d see that.

Soldiering on,
Liz

I once posited that we might as well put red food color in hummingbird
nectar because they don’t live long enough for a cancer threat. Chuck Trost
countered that some hummers live over 10 years. That’s a long time for
that high speed metabolism. Not surprising that they are greying just like
I am!
Great observation. I’m dealing with a bunch of youngsters at the feeders
now.
Didn’t truly appreciate how great SE idaho birding is until I had to leave.
Enjoy it!

Joel Tinsley
Powell Butte, Oregon
formerly a 25 year resident of Blackfoot, ID.
Still birding and still missing SE Idaho

Tom, I had same impression why all the Pine Siskin’s. I thought the fires brought then down. I have a whole family at my feeder eating like crazy. Hugh

While getting ready for my bike ride, I was watching my feeders to get my
daily count started. I suddenly realized that what had appeared to be a
rather small immature House Finch was in reality a Pine Siskin. While we’ve
often hosted large numbers in the winter, I cannot recall ever seeing one in
my yard in the summer, especially given the heat. Hopefully he’ll stick
around.

Tom McCabe, Boise

IBLE — Here’s a fun note from one of my long-time “humbuds” 😉

(read from bottom up)

Larry

—–Original Message—–
From: aznmbirds-request@list.arizona.edu [mailto:aznmbirds-request@list.arizona.edu] On Behalf Of Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory
Sent: Wednesday, July 10, 2019 1:29 PM
To: Stanley Hart; AZ-NM Bird List
Subject: Re: [AZNMbirds] se AZ: Odd Hummer near Madera Canyon

Hi, Stan,

This is a sufficiently common and distinctive pattern of pigment loss in hummingbirds that I’ve given it the name “junco tail.” Though often confused with partial leucism, a congenital condition caused by a genetic mutation, absence of pigment from just a few feathers is more often an acquired condition with similarities to graying hair and vitiligo. Ornithologist Hein van Grouw has dubbed it “progressive greying,” though not all affected birds gain more white feathers over time.

For more on this and other common pigment abnormalities in birds, see this PDF:

[ https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Hein_Grouw/publication/273348895_What_Colour_is_that_bird_The_causes_and_recognition_of_common_colour_aberrations_in_birds/links/54ff070b0cf2eaf210b49016/What-Colour-is-that-bird-The-causes-and-recognition-of-common-colour-aberrations-in-birds.pdf | https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Hein_Grouw/publication/273348895_What_Colour_is_that_bird_The_causes_and_recognition_of_common_colour_aberrations_in_birds/links/54ff070b0cf2eaf210b49016/What-Colour-is-that-bird-The-causes-and-recognition-of-common-colour-aberrations-in-birds.pdf ]

Hope this helps.

Sheri L. Williamson, Director

Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory

Bisbee, Arizona

sabo@sabo.org

Welcome to SABO!

On 7/9/2019 4:22 PM, Stanley Hart wrote:

> For the past three days, we have been seeing a hummingbird that has

> the size, shape and coloration of a female Black-chinned. The

> difference is this bird has two totally white outer tail feathers.

> These are mostly hidden by the wings when bird is perched, but vividly visible by naked eye while hovering and in flight.

> My wife spent several years banding hummers, and we are both stumped.

>

> Any clues anyone?

>

> Stan Hart

> shart@whoi.edu

>

>

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