A male Ruby-throated Hummingbird showed up in our back yard (Underwood,
Lauderdale Co., AL) today, March 25. The previous early arrival for our
location in the past 36 years was March 28, so three days early at our house.
My records indicate that Jud Johnston had one in Winfield on March 26, 2007,
and Damien Simbeck had one in Center Star on March 27, 2018. I don't have any
earlier records.
This bird came to the exact location where we always hang our single feeder
(which we had not yet put out). The circumstantial evidence indicates that
this is one of the birds that has visited our feeder in previous years. I know
that others have observed this phenomenon, but it still amazes me. How can a
bird fly to Mexico (or further south) and then return to the same back yard in
Alabama?? Kind of puts our GPS systems to shame. The same thing is true for
White-throated Sparrows that might nest in Michigan and return to one's
backyard here in Alabama.
