We have nesting ruby-throat too
Susan Schaezler
WarblerWoods.org, http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspot/L213585?yr=cur
501(c)(3) Cibolo/Schertz/Guadalupe County
Lone Star Land Steward Winner 2011. GCBO Site Partner
Life member TOS, SAAS, TAS
On Jul 14, 2017, at 9:27 AM, mitch@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
Hi Doc,
I don't think this alleged "line of demarcation" is such a
clearcut thing. :) I believe Ruby-throats nest here in
Utopia in April and May and then depart to nest in peak spring
somewhere likely far northward. Like Costa's nest in the low
deserts in Feb.-Apr. and then move to foothills to nest again,
in that peak spring.
Ruby-throats are present here from early April to late May.
Males on territory guarding the same feeder, same bird.
With females present. They are not sight-seeing. Recall the
female with egg banded in Real Co. not too long ago. They
nest here, blow and go, like Costa's in the southwest. I have
a small number of June sightings, of females and juveniles.
Only rarely have I had a male stay to latest May, I'd have to
check for June, maybe one or two. But they are present nearly
60 days (not a tourist or passage bird). Most pass through
quickly in a few weeks, but some arrive early and stay long, I
believe breeding, and then they continue on.
I also think that once you get west of San Antonio and Austin
the data is so spotty as to be insufficient for much more than
hypothesizing about if something is here or not. You may be
able to get some sort of line for "primary" distribution, in that
area, but methinks absolute is not in the cards.
Note that in 2003 a 12" long black and yellow bird, Audubon's
Oriole, was resident in the south central Edwards Plateau,
unknown to the birding community. Where hundreds to thousands
of birding tourists annually. The ranch wives knew, but birders
didn't. They were all told they were seeing Scott's Oriole,
by passing birders! :)
Have a look at the SW corner of winter ranges mapped in the
standard field guides the last 5 decades for Pine Warbler and
Rusty Blackbird. None show them to be expected in Utopia in winter.
Both are regular. Once you get west of the major population
centers in central Texas, the maps get mighty weak mighty fast,
and might not be giving a very accurate idea all the time.
Even for common North American species. Coverage is closer to
spotty than thorough for about 98% of the Edwards Plateau. :)
regards,
Mitch
Mitch Heindel
Utopia
www.utopianature.com
On 2017-07-13 12:26, dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at
Hi Texbirders,
I volunteered to teach a class on hummingbirds for Travis Audubon
Society this summer, and as a result of preparing for that class I
have become interested in discerning the current line of demarcation
between regular breeding of our two Archilochus hummingbirds -
Black-chinned and Ruby-throated. I had a hard time finding Rubythroats
in Travis County in June, and I wondered what the situation is like
nearby. I did find RTHU in eastern Bastrop County in June, but it
appears that the western half or two-thirds of Bastrop County is
Black-chinned territory.
So, if you live in Hays, Travis, Williamson, Bell, Gonzales, Milam,
Brazos, Ellis or Dallas Counties, or any counties adjacent to those
counties, and you are pretty sure that you had Ruby-throated Hummers
breeding at your place (or you have photographs of RTHU's in June), I
would be interested in hearing from you.
Regardless of where you live, if you are pretty sure that you had both
RTHU's and BCHU's at your place in the month of June, I would be
interested in hearing from you, especially if you have photographs of
both species in the month of June.
You can reply privately to me or post to the list-serve, as others may
be interested.
Thanks in advance and good birding ya'll,
Byron "Doc" Stone, Austin, Texas
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