Local Bird News
|  | A Broad-tailed Hummingbird (above)
is visiting the feeder of a customer in Douglasville. In fact, it is this bird that inspired the current newsletter! We found out about him in response to our last newsletter, and so we decided to dedicate an entire issue to wintering hummingbirds!
| Another rare bird, an
Allen's Hummingbird,
was banded last week near Buford. This is the first Allen's in Georgia since 2005!
Yesterday Karen and Julia recaptured this adult female Rufous Hummingbird in Eatonton that they originally banded in January of 2008! This is the third 4th year return they have documented this season!
Want to know more about bird banding and why we do it? Visit the Bird Banding Laboratory at
www.pwrc.usgs.gov
Did You Know?
There are only four people in the state of Georgia that hold the federal permits required to band hummingbirds. And half of them work for Bird Watcher! Julia Elliott is the Retail Operations Manager and floats around the various stores, so you could run in to her anywhere. Karen Theodorou is the manager of our Buford location and has been with Bird Watcher for 18 years! Both are skilled banders and birders, and have spent years training to be able to safely handle such tiny birds.
A Fun Winter Hummingbird Fact
Many people who host winter hummingbirds become very attached to them and the birds are often given names. For instance, the Broad-tailed in Douglasville has been dubbed "Brad". We have also had a "Rosie", a "Lola" and our favorite -
"Princess Betty Jo Jean"!
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Hi Birdwatchers!
Although most of you are familiar with the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, did you know that eleven other species have been documented in our state? These other hummingbird species include Rufous, Allen's, Broad-tailed, Broad-billed, Anna's, Calliope, Black-chinned, Magnificent, Green-violet Ear, Buff-bellied and Green-breasted Mango. These birds breed in the western United States and often will winter in the southeast. Some years there are more than 100 wintering hummingbirds reported statewide!
 | | Rufous Hummingbird being released by the homeowner |
As part of our ongoing research of these special little birds, we encourage everyone to leave at least one hummingbird feeder out all winter. You will NOT prevent any Ruby-throats from migrating and you may possibly attract and help out a wintering western species. If you see ANY hummingbird between November 1st and March 1st, please report it as soon as possible to one of our stores. Two Bird Watcher employees, Karen Theodorou and Julia Elliott, hold federal permits to band hummingbirds. They place a tiny, numbered band on the hummingbird's leg and collect important data such as species, sex, age, weight and physical condition. An added bonus, homeowners are photographed releasing the hummingbird after the banding process. Wouldn't it be cool to hold a hummingbird? Wintering hummingbirds often return to the same yards each year; one female Rufous returned to the same Roswell yard for six years in a row!
If you've left a few feeders out and still have not seen a hummingbird - don't give up! Most of our reports come in during January so it's not too late to attract your winter hummer!
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Is Your Bird Bath Frozen???
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Birds need fresh water available to them at all times for drinking and proper feather maintenance! Don't let your bird bath freeze over...use a Nelson Bird Bath de-icer (shown above), an Erva Heated Bath insert, or the Solar Sipper by Duncraft! Due to the recent extreme weather, we may be low on certain heaters. Please contact the nearest Bird Watcher location to check stock before coming in. More are on the way!!!
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Kennesaw * Roswell * Buford * Marietta
Canton * Hiram
www.BirdWatcherSupply.com
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