Friday, October 25, 2013
kitsapweek
page 9
Hummingbirds gone for the winter? Maybe not By Gene Bullock Kitsap Audubon
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ufous Hummingbirds are a familiar sight at Washington nectar feeders. But don’t they leave for the winter in early August? Why are some people still seeing hummingbirds at their feeders? Many bird fans have caught on to the fact that if they leave their feeders up all winter, they will be rewarded with visits by Anna’s Hummingbirds. Anna’s like to nest at higher altitudes, so they are not seen as frequently in summer as our more common Rufous variety. But once the feisty Rufuous leaves, the Anna’s migrate to lower elevations for the winter, and especially to feeders close to the water. Anna’s populations are thriving as more and more people feed them. Kerry Hall reports seeing a dozen at a time at his Bainbridge Island feeders during the winter. According to noted nature writer Connie Sidles, if people knew how bold and aggressive hummingbirds are, football teams would adopt them as mascots. Because of their agility in the air, they’ve been known to drive away and intimidate birds 10 times their size.
friends affect us in manithe importance of prelates the economy fold ways that we don’t serving and protecting and provides countwildlife and habitat. These always recognize. less jobs. It also So go ahead, enjoy pursuits help create a provides enjoyment feeding birds in your caring constituency for for millions of famibackyard. They appreciate wildlife that will speak lies with feeders it. It can be a wonderful out when it is threatened. in their backyards. window to wildlife and the Environmentally, we’re Wildlife viewing boundless beauty of the all in this together, and links people more natural world. threats to our feathered closely with nature. Those too elderly or disabled to tromp around in each illion eadeRs * the forest can still enjoy wildlife from Includes Just By Placing One WNPA home — even in the 102 Statewide 2x2 Impact Ad. city. Some feeders newspapers go sTaTewIde or TargeT a regIon. can be attached to & 33 TMc coastal: 295,000 circ. 678,000 readers A Rufous Hummingbird visits a summer garden. Rufous’ leave in a window sill and publIcaTIons. easteRn: 272,000 circ. 625,000 readers winter, and Anna’s Hummingbirds take their place. Janine Schutt refilled from inside. MetRo: 680,000 circ. 1.5 mil. readers averagIng less Than Leading wildlife *b 2.3 per $ ing nights. I’m also preMaking nectar is easy. advocates also paper! . pared to swap feeders and Just combine clean water recognize that bird watchcontact YouR Bainbridge 206.842.6613 bring the frozen feeder in and ordinary sugar in ing and wildlife viewing local WnPa Poulsbo 360.779.4464 MeMbeR neWsPaPeR to thaw. Port Orchard 360.876.4414 volumes of one part sugar heighten awareness of to leaRn MoRe. Central Kitsap 360.308.9161 Bremerton 360.782.1581 Hummingbirds are to four parts water. Make amazingly hardy, but are sure containers are absovulnerable to extreme lutely clean. cold. They’ve even been If you decide to put out observed sitting on a hummingbird feeders, be perch almost comatose, sure to keep them filled because they have the all winter long. Once they ability to shut down become regular visitors, to conserve energy. don’t leave them in the However, they recover as lurch during cold winter soon as temperatures rise. months when they have There is a long-standing few options and need to argument about whether conserve their energy. If we should feed birds at all. you travel during the winLet’s face it: We feed birds ter, have someone keep because we enjoy watchyour feeders filled when ing them, not because you’re away — or refrain they need to be fed. They from feeding them. are fully capable of survivDuring winter months, ing on their own. But bird you’ll also need to keep watching is a multi-billionyour feeders thawed. I 10048 High School Road NE, Bainbridge Island bring mine in on subfreez- dollar industry that stimu-
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