Always enjoy reading your hummingbird observations, Bill. Today, have had visits to the feeder by adult male & female Rufous, a female Calliope & the resident Black-chinneds. Again, for my specific location, the Rufous & Calliope are early, but pleasant surprises! Have noted the same in our Lazuli Buntings, too. A bit less flashy.
Interesting about your moose & deer. As we’re seeing exact same along the Snake. Other day, we watched a cow moose & calf spend from 11AM until 5PM, feeding amongst willows by backyard stream & bedding down in sight of back deck for most of the afternoon. We get both muledeer & whitetail deer & numbers of both have been quite scarce on the place since last Fall. We did have a mtn lion take advantage of last year’s deep snows & was taking about one muledeer a week for 6-8 wks. Found 3 carcasses on our place alone & neighbor found a few on his, too. Have yet to see a single fawn this summer. Usually, have seen 4-5 by now. Hoping for a bit less “harsh” winter this year & see if deer numbers rebound.
Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot
Interesting. I don’t know how many of the bazillions of hummers I get are migrants besides Rufous, still no confirmed sights. I’ve thought, with a twenty year history of abundant feeders available thru Summer and productive favorable habitat, that a majority of what I see are local breeders and their young. I think I’m on second broods now. Lots of juvies and a some bright males. Half gallon of sugar water refilled over last two days.
Lazuli are still around, but appear to be molting out to less flashy plumage.
Loads of moose but no deer.
Bill Moore
Hoot Owl Rd
Inkom
As I’ve researched hummingbird migration, wondering, if perhaps, I’m “training” some birds to come through the yard. Maybe the Rufous & Calliope have been migrating this time of year, within a few miles of my area…always. And, the primarily juveniles of those species, which do arrive Aug/Sept, are now, of course, adults this season. Perhaps, as adults, they’ve “adjusted” their usual migration flight route to include my feeder.
“Remembering” that when they came through last Aug as juveniles, there’s a chance that nectar in a feeder would be available for them, as adults, on their way back south during July. Research has shown that hummingbirds have a good memory for nectar sources, including feeders. Plus, it doesn’t appear that nectar feeders “harm” hummingbirds by keeping them in a location too long to disturb their overall migration. Difficult to make conclusions from a single season. But, succeeding seasons will be interesting to observe.
Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot
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