Subject: Hummingbird memory (fwd)
Date: May 22 07:36:42 1996
From: Phil Hotlen - n8540420 at henson.cc.wwu.edu



I thought I'd forward my own message to the general subscribership.
The original was written in haste, just before my class.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 20 May 1996 07:53:41 -0700 (PDT)
From: Phil Hotlen <n8540420 at henson.cc.wwu.edu>
To: cfryer at pacificcoast.net
Subject: Hummingbird memory

Hi Catherine

I had a similar experience while I was stationed in the Army at Fort
Huachuca, Arizona. I was married at the time and was lucky to get
housing (=a duplex) on post, the old housing area with lots of shade trees
and shrubs around . (From several miles away it looked like an green oasis
in a dried out landscape.) We wasted no time in placing 2 hummingbird
feeders up under the eaves,
where they were shaded as much as possible from the scorching sun. It
was a major chore (but pleasant!) to keep it filled, with two species of
orioles (Hooded and Bulock's), plus house finches taking a big share.
Anyway, we decided not
to put up feeders in the Spring of 1971, since I was expecting orders any
time (to the land of Hoopoes). To make a long story short, a female
Black-chinned Hummingbird
(the usual kind in the housing area) returned and kept hovering in the
spot where we always used to place it. This kept up for several days,
until I finally relented and put the feeder up again. (I'll have to check
my old notes for the details). Anyway I didn't get those orders until
July, so in no time other hummers joined in. We had females with young
all three years we were there. (Ft. Huachuca lies at 5,000 feet - at the
flag pole).

p.s. as you can tell, I still have alot to learn about edting = gaps, etc.

Phil Hotlen <n8540420 at henson.cc.wwu.edu>
Bellingham, WA