[birdky] RPT: Louisville RUHU departed and more

Don Parker reports to me that the southern Jefferson County Rufous
Hummingbird was last seen on January 22nd.  This is a  date PRIOR to the
worst weather and may indicate a departure for points south, although I
think Bob Sargent would also say this is about the time an immature male
might depart for a return west, anyway.  I am copying below an interesting
post he made to the Carolinas listserve this week about winter hummers.

bpb, Louisville KY
brainard.palmer-ball@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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Fellow Carolina Birders:

I would like to echo the excellent advice given to winter hummer-host by my
friend Susan Campbell.  There is no doubt that immediate weather conditions
will be a test for not only hummingbirds, but for all wildlife as well.  The
aged, weak or sick among birds and other creatures are often victims of such
brutal weather.  That is a common scenario, perfected through uncountable
generations of testing by Mother Nature.  She will do what is best for all
the species, without emotion.  Mother Nature has no emotion and no feelings
of the heart, only the desire to constantly strengthen each species.  This
is the way of nature, it has always worked and it always will if we can
resist the urge to interfere.

Before you respond, the "genie is out of the bottle" regarding the 
feeding of birds, including hummers.  That intervention in nature is 
unlikely to change. 

The last comparable weather in my area to what is now approaching produced
the following results.  Last time, of the 12 Rufous that I had on site in
the Birmingham, Alabama area when the cold weather arrived, 11 of them were
still on site several days later after the arctic blast had run its course.
The one missing bird was at the home of a host who was away and did not keep
a feeder thawed.  I assumed that this seemingly unlucky hummer had died.
Wrong!   This year that same banded Rufous is back at the same feeder in
south Birmingham, along with THREE others in the area that have returned
from last years batch of 12.  These are very tough little birds.

It is currently 11 degrees F at my home and will likely be around zero
tomorrow and possibly the next day.  Our local banders now have 14 western
birds on site in metro Birmingham.  I banded number 15 yesterday morning and
will attempt to band another this morning.  What we don't know about
hummingbirds would fill a very large book.

Bless All
Bob Sargent
Trussville, Alabama

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