I decided to brave the cold this midday to see how the Ripley Garden Rufous
hummingbird is faring. At a little after noon, I located her in the top of
the Silver Bell tree. While the feeder has two small icicles hanging from
the base, the heat lamp is on, and the solution itself is fine. To prove
this point, the Rufous shortly flew down and took a series of long drinks
from the feeder. She then perched in the nearby deciduous Viburnum, where
she stayed for the next 15 or 20 minutes. She alertly moved her head from
right to left, probably on the lookout for bugs or rival hums. While her
feathers are fluffed, it's obvious she is healthy and in no distress. In
fact, she probably fared better in the snow than commuters did this
morning; after all, there's no traffic jam getting to her feeder! Before I
left, I watched the Rufous visit the feeder again and then return to her
perch in the Viburnum. I also briefly saw a Mockingbird (not the one with
the leg band) and found a gray squirrel sneaking up behind me, hoping for a
handout.
Laura Farron
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