Hello VAbirders,
I thought some of you might be interested in the note I just posted to the
Humnet listserv, especially some of you WV VAbirders. Just so you know,
Gerry said folks are welcome to visit her hums. If you are interested,
contact me offlist for details. Also, please pass this note to any
humbanders you might know. Thanks.
Lori Markoff
Vienna
Fairfax County
canyon.eagle@xxxxxxxxxxx
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Hello Humnet!
Some of you know that each humseason Gerry Tuning hosts thousands of
Ruby-throated hummingbirds at the feeders at her home north of Elkins,
WV. For quite a few years she has been attempting to find a humbander who
is legally able, as well as willing, to band her hums, but no one has been
available in that area. Are any of you new or soon-to-be humbanders
interested?
The first time I visited Gerry was in August, '97. I was at her place
again yesterday and both Gerry and her hummers looked great! Humactivity
was HOT! She was running 22 feeders yesterday (Monday), down from her
usual 25, because she ran out of sugar and couldn't fill the other 3. And
she had just bought 30 lbs more sugar last Monday! I don't know the feeder
type, but most are one of the larger PP sizes that hold perhaps a
quart? (I use the PP Four fountains, and they are much larger than mine.)
She has the humfeeders grouped on her porch so they are sheltered from the
elements, but also so she can enjoy the hums. I stood in the middle of the
feeders and got very still. Within a few moments the hums came back to the
feeders. It was a "humsurround" experience. Hummers were all around me,
next to my ears, in front of my face, fanning my shoulders and arms with
their wings, whizzing past me on all sides. With so many birds I heard
many more variations of vocalization, and also some sounds from (I assume)
their wings, then I hear at home with my handful of hums.
I attempted to count how many were in view at one time. It was VERY
difficult because they kept zipping in and out, birds replacing other birds
at the feeder ports. But I estimated there were 60-70 birds in view at all
times at the feeders, with many many more birds in the trees and zipping
around the yard chasing. If a noise or movement disturbed them they would
split momentarily, but start returning a few moments after the disturbance
stopped. Keep in mind that this was between 1:30-2:30pm, the hottest and
least "birdie" time of the day. She gets larger numbers in the morning and
evening.
Activity has been very high lately, although most adult males have already
left. I saw only a few at a time as I watched the horde. So far this
season Gerry has fed 88 gallons of nectar. On Sunday she put out 6
gallons. By the time I got there at 1:30 pm on Monday, 1/3-1/2 was already
gone. I saw very few wasps, so I think there was minimal waste.
With the numbers of hums that Gerry gets, I have always guessed that she
must surely get western hums. Gerry works long hours and so can't watch
her feeders a large part of the time, so she could easily have missed any
that came through. My husband and I hiked the Seneca Rocks trail on
Sunday, so I stopped at the visitor's center and picked up a birdlist for
the Monongahela National Forest, which lies just east and south of Gerry's
place. Under "Hummingbirds" it lists Ruby-throated AND ALSO Rufous. The
listing for Rufous hum has a "V" which means, "accidental or casual
visitor, occasionally visits the area." That little tidbit intrigues the
heck out of me!
So are there any humbanders interested in banding Gerry's hums? If so,
please let me know and I'll direct you towards Gerry. She'd be pleased to
welcome you and share her hums with you. The bonus is, she's a really nice
lady too!
Lori Markoff
Vienna, VA
usda zone 7/6, Sunset 32
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