In the eastern and central U.S. and Canada, numbers of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Archilochus colubris, in spring are always less than in summer and fall after young of the year have left the nest. Thus, in spring observers commonly ask "Where are the hummingbirds?" We typically respond that the population will increase as the breeding season unfolds. Even so, in 2005 we have heard unusually frequent concerns that numbers of spring RTHUs seem to be fewer than in previous years. Please participate in our (unscientific) poll on whether RTHUs are appearing at your observation site in similar, greater, or fewer numbers than in previous springs. The poll is at http://www.rubythroat.org/Poll2005Abundance.html Happy Hummingbird Watching, BILL -- RESEARCH PROGRAM c/o BILL HILTON JR. Executive Director Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History 1432 DeVinney Road, York, South Carolina 29745 USA research@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx, (803) 684-5852, eFax: (503) 218-0845 Please visit our web sites (courtesy of Comporium.net): Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History at http://www.hiltonpond.org "Operation RubyThroat: The Hummingbird Project" at http://www.rubythroat.org ********** ================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBERS============== The BIRDKY Mailing List requires you to sign your messages with first & last name, city, & state abbreviation. -------------------------------------------------- To post to this mailing list, send e-mail to: birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx -------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send e-mail to: birdky-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject line. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit the Kentucky Ornithological Society web site at http://www.biology.eku.edu/kos.htm * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * BIRDKY List Manager: Gary Ritchison, Richmond, KY E-mail: gary.ritchison@xxxxxxx