OBOLinks and Tweeters,

Jim Pojar, in the 1975 article that I quoted earlier, makes
reference to Calliope Hummingbirds obtaining nectar from willow
catkins, so it appears that some willow species do produce enough
nectar to attract hummers.

One thing which is becoming apparent from our discussions is that
there is considerable regional variation in the use of different plant
species by hummers for nectar (as would be expected). Tim and others
have referred to the importance of manzanita (Arctostaphylos
columbiana and other species) in southwestern Oregon. Manzanita is
found north to southwestern B.C. and is used here at least
occasionally by Rufous Hummers, but it is so scarce and localized that
it cannot be an important food source for the species as a whole in
B.C.

Another useful reference (which I have not seen) is the following:

Grant, K.A. and V. Grant. 1968. Hummingbirds and their flowers.
Columbia University Press, New York, 115 pages.

Some of you may be able to find this book in a library. According
to Pojar, 8 of the 9 plant species he identified as "hummingbird
flowers" in B.C. had already been so identified by Grant & Grant in
other areas.

Wayne Weber
Kamloops, B.C.
wayne_weber at bc.sympatico.ca



-----Original Message-----
From: Bruce Newhouse <newhouse at EFN.ORG>
To: Multiple recipients of list OBOL <OBOL at BOBO.NWS.ORST.EDU>
Date: Wednesday, February 23, 2000 7:05 PM
Subject: Catkin preference by hummers?


>Hi, Tim et al.!
>
>See if you can notice if the hummers prefer male versus female
willows. The catkins on male
>trees (all male catkins) have lots of yellow, pollen-laden anthers,
as opposed to the
>female plants and catkins, which lack them. If there were nectar
(and there probably isn't
>because willows don't need to attract birds or insects for
pollination -- they are wind
>pollinated), it would be in the female catkins on the female plants.
>
>If they favor male catkins, perhaps they are after pollen (just a
wild guess, I have no idea
>if they would), or insects attracted to pollen (which also is just a
wild guess). Perhaps
>there will be no preference, and they are just generally gleaning.
>
>Bruce Newhouse in Eugene
>
>Tim Rodenkirk wrote:
>
>> The Rufous Hummers have arrived in number at Millicoma Marsh in
Coos Bay and
>> were seen frequenting the catkins on the Salix hookeriana yesterday
(2/22/2000)-
>> that's the common native coastal willow. Whether or not they're
gleaning
>> insects or actually extracting a bit of nectar, I'm not sure?? The
willows
>> catkins began appearing the beginning of Feb. and are certainly an
important
>> food source along the coast early on. I think I already mentioned
that the
>> Arctostaphylos columbiana (manzanita) is also a key coastal source
of nectar as
>> they are always flowering by early to mid-February in Southern Coos
County when
>> the Selasphorus hummers arrive. The Ribes sanguineum
(red-flowering currant) is
>> just starting to flower, so the first wave of hummers in early
February can't be
>> relying on this that first few weeks they are here. There are many
exotics now
>> flowering (the list is long), including the cherry trees which are
in full bloom
>> in my neighborhood (they do smell wonderful).
>>
>> On 3/5/1999, hummer numbers peaked at New River (southern Coos
County- along the
>> coast) when hundreds (perhaps thousands?) of hummers could be found
buzzing
>> around like mosquitoes in the Cascades in the summer (sure, maybe
I'm
>> exaggerating, but it truly is a spectacle!)---> that equates to
the first
>> weekend in March this year. If your interested in checking out
lots of
>> Selasphorus hummers, here's the directions:
>>
>> Take Hwy 101 south of Bandon until you come to the entrance to West
Coast Game
>> Park Safari (lots of signs). Check your odometer here and continue
on Hwy 101
>> south 1.4 miles and turn right (west) onto the signed Croft Road
(there is also
>> a sign for a blueberry picking place here). Follow this road 1.5
miles and turn
>> right into the signed New River ACEC (area of critical
environmental concern).
>> Follow this road to the first parking area (there is a sign with
trail info here
>> and a trailer for the visitor greeting person who isn't around
much). There is
>> information here on the short hiking trail system and an
interpretive building
>> used for special meetings but not open to the general public ( you
can't camp
>> here either - it's day use only). A good place to look for hummers
is the open
>> field area when you first drive in before the parking area, just
key in an the
>> flowering manzanita and you're bound to find lots of hummers. The
trails can be
>> good also, particularly away from the ocean where the Shore Pine
isn't real
>> thick and there are openings and manzanita patches in flower. From
the parking
>> area you can drive down to the river, but in general the birding
isn't so great
>> this time of year. There are plenty of fishermen (and women) who
use the river
>> and scare of the wintering waterfowl, but if your lucky (and early
in the day),
>> you may spot some waterfowl up or down river. This area is about
15-20 minutes
>> south of Bandon (a great birding spot). One can do a loop from
Bandon up to
>> Coquille and Myrtle Point via Hwy 42N & 42S in March and see tons
of waterfowl
>> and stuff like Black Phoebes, Red-shouldered Hawk, Raptors (Turkey
Vultures
>> should be more regular by then), swallows, and plenty of sparrow
flocks to sift
>> through.
>>
>> Enjoying Spring,
>> tim
>> Coos Bay
>