[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Woohoo! RUHU at Pawleys Island, SC



Hello y'all,
    After consulting with Susan C. last nite, this morning I ventured out
for my first solo hummer banding effort, which was also an attempt to band
my first hummer in SC. The target was a reported ad. male Rufous in a gated
community at Pawleys Island, SC. To say I was excited would be a gross
understatement. Could I be so lucky as to band a Rufous for my first hummer
bird in my own home state? On my first try? Or was fickle Fate about to
tease a bit and "put me in my place?" Those questions would be answered soon
enough.
    Birding partner Jack Peachey accompanied me to photo-document my first
flight. While setting up the trap I heard a Rufous Hummingbird fussing from
the shrubs behind me, then the little demon buzzed my head and uttered
unprintable RUHU obscenities in my very ear. Oh boy. At 07:30, after approx.
20 mins. of cussin' and fussin' and wing-trilling about, he dropped his
guard and entered the trap. I pressed the button on the tripper remote, and
the rest "as they say" is history. Soon I held that most amazing creature in
my hand. The handsome little devil now sports band R35601, a (temporarily)
beaten but unbowed AHY male RUHU. Full gorget, a few green feathers
scattered about his upper back, molting only a very few feathers, 3.37gm of
pure anti-social personality disorder. If looks could kill, I wouldn't be
typing this now. He scorned three offers to sip from a feeder, opting
instead to glare at me with what was surely murder in his heart. If he were
human, he'd probably be incarcerated or forced to ingest medications to
alter his neuro-chemistry...or both.
    I'm happy to report that both the bird and I survived our encounter.
Approx. 15 mins after taking flight from the homeowner's palm, he was back
at "his" feeders. Shortly thereafter, I was birding at Huntington Beach
State Park (I think.)
    A Peregrine perched on a log across the inlet was somewhat
anti-climactic.
    This has been one...uhhhhh...heck of a good day. Perhaps it was even an
auspicious event that augurs well for my hummer-banding future?
    OK, I'll stop now.  ;-)

Woohoo!
gary



Gary Phillips
Conway, SC
 Zone 8
walela@sccoast.net
"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing's going to get
better. It's not." (Dr. Seuss, "The Lorax")