As many of you know, down here in southern Louisiana, we are blessed with two separate and very different hummingbird seasons. The spring/summer/fall Ruby-throated season is near closing with a bang as hundreds of southbound birds fill our gardens daily. Soon a cool front will pass and push the laggards out as they try to catch up with their brethren.

Meanwhile, the 'winter' season is slowly gathering steam. Some lucky humfolks got a jump start with an early August Rufous or Calliope. A couple of Buff-bellieds promise to make the season lively. Others of us are still waiting for a westerners - or maybe a southerner! I watch and hope every day.

Last week, a short expedition after a returnee Buff-bellied and a returnee Rufous left me very unsatisfied because neither bird was ready to let me read its band. The winter season would have to wait.

Yesterday morning, Ron Stein called. I knew he had a male Rufous that was wearing a band, but had decided to wait a while before venturing over to his place. My friend of 35 years said he had a female Rufous and a young male Broad-tailed. I got excited because Broad-taileds are relatively rare for us. Last season, I got just one.

Usually, I like to start banding just after dawn when the birds are hungriest. However, in the spirit of the moment and knowing that a lot of early arrivals move on, I decided that I would change my plans for the day and go for it. Since Ron had not seen the Broad-tailed use a feeder, I packed a jar with red Firespike and hit the road in the new Colibrimobile.

Ron was waiting outside when I drove up. I wanted to get started as soon as possible and he helped me put out the traps. Ron knows the ropes. He commented that the Broad-tailed was very tame and was using a feeder.

I caught the female Rufous, a returnee from last season, before Ron got the second trap rigged. The Broad-tailed was not far behind. It was easier than I thought it would be. The male Rufous was angry and suspicious, but after an hour or so, he decided that the Firespike flowers looked delicious and he entered the trap as well. He turned out to be a returnee from 2 years ago.

So for me, the fun is just beginning as the winter season finally kicks off to a great start.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nancy L Newfield
Casa Colibrí
Metairie, Louisiana USA
USDA Zone 9

Looking forward to your having a great winter season Nancy and reading the reports of the work you are doing.

Dianne
Southeast Alabama
Heat Zone 8
Sunset Zone 31

Nancy-- Hope you will have a great winter season, which can be proven by your reports back to us.

Steve
Martinsville, In
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 35

I hated to miss the last visit to Ron's, but so glad y'all succeeded. I've never seen a Broadtailed and hope to get another chance. Let the winter games begin!

Joan Garvey - Metairie, LA Zone 9

Hope you have a great winter season there and thanks for keeping us updated!

Susan Louise
from Branford CT/ live in Lincoln NE
Zone 5