There is another Rufous hummingbird being seen in Wisconsin that has been there for a few weeks. Interestingly, the location of this new Rufous is only about 20 south of the Rufous in Whitewater, Wisconsin (that is still there as far as we know.) As soon as we have a photo link, we will post it.

We really need a hummingbird bander in southern Wisconsin!




Kathi and Michael Rock
Madison, Wisconsin
Zone 4/5

Kathi and Michael,

I hope you don't think I'm being impertinent, but why don't you all become licensed banders? You love hummers, you already devote a tremendous amount of time and energy to them, and you believe in the scientific benefits of banding....seems like a match made in heaven.

I have wondered that myself. We sure do need more banders especially in the northern states. I know I have tried two different years to get a bander in western NY. I finally located one close enough and then never heard from her again.

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

It seems like the vagrant rofous HBs are showing up all over the place this year.

I wonder if anyone has a map of these sightings or some central place where people make these reports? Might be interesting to see if there are any patterns to this phenomenon.

(I think the 3 that were sighted in Ohio this year were found within two contiguous counties, too.)

I still have my feeders up, hoping for one of these visitors. (-:

Judy in Zone 6a
Cincinnati (Anderson Twp.)
Southwest Ohio

Here is a link to some poor quality photos of this second Rufous:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32706210@N05/4060419041/in/pool-wisconsinebird

The other Rufous Hummingbird in Whitewater, Wisconsin departed last week. We were happy to see him leave when the weather was warm and food was still plentiful. He was in Wisconsin for 44 days.

The late Ruby-throat near Milwaukee has also departed.

It seems that we are now "hummerless" in Wisconsin until probably next spring (although we still keep some feeders up and filled for a while.)

The hummingbird bander who used to map Rufous and other vagrant hummingbirds is no longer doing this to my knowledge and no one else is doing it. Too bad.



Kathi and Michael Rock
Madison, Wisconsin
Zone 4/5