New CH.com Forum
http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl
Daily Chat >> General Posts >> Saw the first...
http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1241667509

Message started by George on May 6th, 2009 at 11:38pm

Title: Saw the first...
Post by George on May 6th, 2009 at 11:38pm
...hummingbird of the season today.  A female black-chinned hummingbird--the western equivalent of the ruby-throated hummingbird.  Very closely related.  

:)

Good to see them again.

Best,

George

Title: Re: Saw the first...
Post by Guiseppi on May 7th, 2009 at 1:56am
Spring is definitely in the air, they're draining the feeder faster and faster!! ;)

Joe

Title: Re: Saw the first...
Post by midwestbeth on May 7th, 2009 at 11:28am
I'm going out west to visit my son over labor day.  I hope the black chinned hummers are still around then.  I've only seen the ruby throat.  I love this time of year.

Beth

Title: Re: Saw the first...
Post by Bob P on May 7th, 2009 at 1:12pm

Quote:
Spring is definitely in the air


Yep, I can smell the brush fire smoke from here!

Title: Re: Saw the first...
Post by Mosaicwench on May 7th, 2009 at 1:15pm
I saw my first Oriole today.  They seem very late for my neck of the woods.  

I probably won't see the hummers for another month.

Title: Re: Saw the first...
Post by aubmari on May 7th, 2009 at 6:26pm
I have a question......

I received a feeder from my grandmother and not sure if they will come if I put it up. I live in town. We get them at our cabin all the time but is it area specific?

The kids love filling the feeders at the cabin each spring!! Kind of a start of spring and nice weather tradition.

Any ways just curious. . . . .

Gina

Title: Re: Saw the first...
Post by George on May 7th, 2009 at 7:02pm

aubmari wrote on May 7th, 2009 at 6:26pm:
I have a question......

I received a feeder from my grandmother and not sure if they will come if I put it up. I live in town. We get them at our cabin all the time but is it area specific?

The kids love filling the feeders at the cabin each spring!! Kind of a start of spring and nice weather tradition.

Any ways just curious. . . . .

Gina


Hi Gina,

Yep, you'll certainly get them in town.  You may not see the same species...

I'm guessing (given that you live in MT) that you're probably getting Calliope hummers at the cabin.  In town, you're more likely to see black-chins and rufous hummingbirds.  I've not often seen Calliopes in the valleys--they're usually up in the mountains.  

Could see some Broad-Tailed hummers as well.

Best,

George

Title: Re: Saw the first...
Post by George on May 7th, 2009 at 7:10pm

midwestbeth wrote on May 7th, 2009 at 11:28am:
I'm going out west to visit my son over labor day.  I hope the black chinned hummers are still around then.  I've only seen the ruby throat.  I love this time of year.

Beth


They'll still be around.  They'll probably be nesting by then.  

With luck, you may see some of their mating displays.  Usually, the female sits on a branch, watching, while the male repeatedly dives and chitters.  The flight is "J" shaped.  At the bottom of the dive, the male's wings make a distinctive hum, in a descending minor key.  

They're not the least bit put off by the presence of people--I've watched them display repeatedly while I stood not ten feet away.

Best,

George

New CH.com Forum » Powered by YaBB 2.4!
YaBB © 2000-2009. All Rights Reserved.