The first Saturday of September is also a day to celebrate Hummingbirds! For us, this is the month we say “good-bye ’til next year!” We usually see our last ones (Ruby-throated) in early to mid-September.
Because of climate changes and the impact on their habitat, many species of hummingbirds are currently on the list of vulnerable or endangered species through the IUCN Red List. National Hummingbird Day is here to remind us to appreciate and honor these tiny little creatures.
More, maybe:
#NationalHummingbirdDay
Photo by Caleb Kenna of a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird, carved in wood by Bob Spear.
Nice weather this month. Our list is a bit longer and more amazing ’cause we had some dedicated sitting observers. Admittedly, they were actually on the other side of the window from our usual watching spot. Should we count that as “through the window”? Hmmm. Anyway, if you don’t know about the Big Sit!, go check it out, then come back (We’ll wait).
OK, here’s the combined list: Continue reading “Through the Window: October 2013 with Big Sitters Helping”
The gulch widened this month, and one of our logger neighbors helped remove fallen trees. This does allow us to observe the birds flying across it more easily… although we’re not fond of the erosion, particularly (you probably already know about our flood and have already donated to help us bridge this gap…). Continue reading “Through the Window: September 2013 settles down”
Some nice birds this month! You probably already know about our flood; the birds don’t seem to much care. Good for them! Continue reading “Through the Window: August 2013”
Some nice birds this month! You probably already know about our flood; the birds don’t seem to much care. Good for them! Continue reading “Through the Window: July 2013 (In Which Birds Ignore Floods)”
We list them on our white board in the order we see them (more or less, since the usually the first several are from the first day of the month). We put the ones not seen last month in bold.
- Common Grackle
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Mourning Dove
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak
- Blue Jay
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Brown-headed Cowbird
- American Crow
- Baltimore Oriole
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Downy Woodpecker
- American Goldfinch
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Tufted Titmouse
- Northern Goshawk (and on 7/23, observed it taking a Mourning Dove!)
- Black-billed Cuckoo (by the pond)
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (nest and fledglings in the tree beyond the picnic table, later filmed by Linda Hurd for us)
- House Finch
- Eastern Phoebe
- Indigo Bunting
- Purple Finch
Some other intriguing and special notes:
- Red squirrel
- Gray Squirrel
- Chipmunks
- Sphinx Moth (at first mistaken for a Hummingbird!)
- and a baby Skunk
The “Through the Window” series is an informal record of observations made by staff, volunteers, and visitors. Anyone at the Museum may add to this list. Observations are usually through our viewing window: a large window with a film to make it more difficult for birds to see the watchers. We have chairs and binoculars to try there, a white board and many identification guides, and several feeders outside on a single, bear-resistant pole, as well as a small pond, flowers and water plants, shrubs and trees. You can sometimes see what we see via our webcam.
