Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Hummingbird in Hand

This is my daughter holding a black-chinned hummingbird. It was a cold morning, thus, the gloves. Those who attend the banding get to hold the birds after they are weighed, measured and banded. The birds at first don't realize they are free to go, but they quickly figure it out and zip away. Rufous hummingbirds were also banded that morning. It's so special to get to see them up close and still. When we spy them in the backyard, they're moving so fast! Fred Hound, the licensed bander at the event, had this tip to share for those who put up hummingbird feeders: don't use the red-colored stuff sold in stores. Just use regular table sugar. One part sugar, 4 parts warm water from the tap. And change the feeders every couple of days. More pictures from the banding here, for those who are interested.

10 comments:

  1. It looks so small. I think everyone I know in Missouri uses the red stuff. We dont get many hummingbirds down here.

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  2. What a tiny little miracle! Your daughter must have loved the chance to hold one. It must have had no weight at all, perhaps just the slightest sensation of pressure through those gloves, perhaps no sense of a hummingbird at rest in her hand at all.

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  3. How incredible! I don't see many hummingbirds here either. It's a treat to see one so close.

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  4. Amazing shot.

    Why do they band them? I assume so they can track them, but why?

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  5. So very cute!!!
    I've seen many hummingbirds in my travels but never had the chance to look at one so still! Lovely!

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  6. Hi Mojo - they band and weigh the birds to add to bird databases that track the health and populations of hummingbirds. Last week, at another banding event in Idaho, they caught one that had been banded in New Orleans three years before.

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  7. I had a batch of the red stuff mixed up and in my spare fridge, my neighbor came over and was going to fix a drink for her husband. I told her to help herself, I was not paying attention when she was pouring it but thankful I stopped him in time from drinking a vodka and hummingbird juice!

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  8. I have never seen a real one: they're so tiny and lovely!

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Thanks for stopping by!