Good morning Tweeters,

Here at Herring Cove, a few miles south of Ketchikan on the road system,
the RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD population appears normal -- maybe even more than
usual. Probably 30-40 little guys buzzing around the neighborhood feeders
-- there is currently a real feeding frenzy. I had to move my feeder away
from the house -- too many were banging into the window. Only one casualty
that I know of, but that was too many.

Ketchikan's own local t.v. news program yesterday featured a local feeder
with its attendant hummers, showing them at their aggressive best. Slow
news day, I guess.

I do remember seeing a reference somewhere to the "declining numbers" of
RUFOUS, but I can't remember where I saw it. According to the migration
article in the June Birder's World, the RUBY-THROATED population has
increased -- do RUFOUS and RUBY-THROATED share the same winter habitat?

Sharron Huffman "We are confronted with
Ketchikan, Alaska insurmountable opportunities."
-Pogo