There's a shortage?? ...interesting way of putting it; ...like when there's a
shortage of strawberries or something :-)). Well, not over here (Eastgate).
Since I've returned from coastal SLO Co., California, I immediately put up my
feeders here, the same three which attracted them (Rufous Hummingbirds -- 80%
adult males) by the scores (literally!) down there from late March into mid-
April migration. Within 10 minutes of getting the feeders in place here, the
first female RUFOUS arrived. By the end of the day, there were no less than 4
to 5, all females, and the most I've *ever* seen around here at one time in
all 4 years that I've called this Eastgate site home (sort of). Additionally
came a female ANNA'S which (finally!) was my first for the yard here. It was
cold and rainy rainy rainy for those two days of busy feeder activity, but now
that the sun is shining again they're all off doing flower stuff most of the
time but they're still in the neighborhood and all still visit the feeders
regularly. This morning, add another 'newbie' to the entourage, a female
CALLIOPE and another yard first. ...actually King County too (for me) come to
think of it :-)) If there's a shortage of Rufous Hummingbirds, it's the males
as I haven't seen one yet in this neighborhood.

Central and Southern coastal California birders echoed my observations noting
that the coastal spring Rufous Hummingbird migration was one of the strongest
in recent memory. There, the birds move right along the coast line and
through the Piedras Blancas research site. There is no way to gauge the real
magnitude of something as tiny and insectlike like hummingbird numbers as they
seemed to be buzzing through all day every day for about a three week period.
Minimally, a hundred on some days wouldn't likely be an exaggeration, and that
figure could easily be substantially more.

Richard Rowlett (Pagodroma at aol.com)
47.56N, 122.13W
(Seattle/Bellevue, WA USA)