It started the day before Halloween, 1999. I hadn't gotten around to taking in my feeders after all the rubythroats left. I was sitting near one of them, when I heard that familiar "buzzing" sound. Could it be? Two days later, I finally saw her. But she was different - not such an emerald green color. I got on the phone and on the internet, told every wildlife agency I could think of, but really didn't get a response. Sometime later, maybe a month or two, I got a call from Susan Campbell, who turned out to be an expert on winter hummingbirds in North Carolina. One of the places I called, had contacted her with the information. On January 4th, 2000, she came out to my house to capture and band her. It was quite amazing how she caught her, however I won't go into detail here because I wouldn't want anyone to "try this at home". Susan weighed her and measured her and checked her over to determine her health, and placed the TINY band on her leg. She explained to me the research she has been doing, and these birds are apparently not nearly as uncommon in winter in the southeast as one might think. Also, Rufous hummingbirds spend their summers as far north as Canada, and are quite tough little things, quite able to tolerate the relatively mild southeastern winters. Each time it snowed or we had ice that winter, I worried about "my" little bird, but each time, she'd show up at the feeders (which I kept defrosted in the microwave). When it got really cold, she wouldn't show up for a day or so; they apparently go into a state of torpor, something like hibernation. But, then she'd be back as usual! She left around the end of March. She has now returned 3 more times, around Halloween the 2nd and 3rd times, this year she arrived on October 6th, just a day after the rubys left.

Then on November 24th, I could hardly believe my eyes, when I saw not one but TWO hummers out by one of the feeders, fighting noisily over it. I called Susan and she came out on the 27th, and was able to catch both birds. She banded the new bird, a first year female Rufus, and of course checked over the first one, and before letting the new bird go, she put a white dot of paint on her head for identification. So, of course we've named her "Dot"! Susan had asked me if I had named the other bird, and I hadn't. I wondered why myself, since I watch for her every day and worry about her like she is a member of the family. After the ice storm this year, on December 4th - 5th, I didn't see Dot for almost a week and presumed her dead or gone. I was very upset, and that's when it dawned on me why I never did name the first one - because that would make it that much harder for me, when the day comes that she does not return. For now, though, I consider myself to be one LUCKY person. There is nothing like being graced with these beautiful creatures all year long, and I hope I will have several more years to enjoy them. If you would like to learn more about winter hummingbirds and read a little about Susan Campbell, have a look at this wonderful and informative web-site. Go to http://www.naturalsciences.org/nchummers/ Thank you for visiting. I hope you enjoy the pictures!