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Hummer banding on the Outer Banks



Happy New Year All!

On my recent trip to the Outer Banks, I banded a number of hummingbirds
which were all Ruby-throateds.  Of these, 12 were newly banded ( 8
juveniles and 4 adults, 7 females and 5 males) and 2 were recaptures that
had been banded by the Sargents previously.  One of the recaptures was a
male that has been at the Bacik's since at least the first week of October
and originally banded last January (1999).  The other was a female caught
along Flower's Ridge Road (about a half mile away from the Bacik's) that
had been first banded in January of 1998.  These hummers were the first
recaptures of winter Ruby-throateds on the Outer Banks.  It is evidence
that there is at least some winter site fidelity in the species outside of
their normal wintering range.

Despite 4 days of banding activity, I am certain that I did not catch or
even see all of the hummers out that way.  I know of 4 different birds that
evaded me and then I did not even get to two other locations that had been
hosting hummers this winter.  I hope to make it back out that way in
February, if time permits. An article that will be appearing shortly in the
Coastland Times will no doubt bring reports of more hosts/birds in the
area.  Also it appears there are a number of hummers in yards Wanchese,
unbeknownced to anyone until very recently.

Thanks to all that have provided me with winter hummer reports thus far
this year.  However, the season is not over so keep 'em coming!

Susan M. Campbell
Whispering Pines, NC

ncaves@utinet.net