Stewart and Tweeters,

It is interesting to note that migratory hummingbirds rely a great
deal upon the sap wells from sapsuckers when they first arrive on
breeding grounds. Rufous Hummingbirds benefit from the wells of
Red-breasted sapsuckers and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds of the East are
tied tightly to the availability of the sapwells of Yellow-bellied
Sapsuckers.

There is evidence to suggest that these wells are the primary source
of early spring food in many cases, which often results in nests being
created quite close to active wells.

Paul

On Tue, Feb 24, 2009 at 1:15 PM, Stewart Wechsler
<ecostewart at quidnunc.net> wrote:
> I've long told everyone that the Rufous Hummingbirds arrive with the first
> open Salmonberry - Rubus spectabilis blossoms:
> http://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection.php?Genus=Rubus&Species=spectabilis
> As you may remember one Tweeter insisted that the Rufous Hummer came out of
> the first Salmonberry blossoms. While I saw my first Red-flowering Currant
> - Ribes sanguineum blossoms open yesterday, I haven't noted any Salmonberry
> blossoms open yet. Has anyone else seen the blossoms that herald or produce
> the first Rufous Hummers?
>
> Stewart
>
> ----- Original Message -From: "Carolyn Eagan" eaganc at seanet.com
> Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 9:49 AM
> Subject: [Tweeters] 1st Rufous
>
>
>> Hi Tweets,
>> We had our first Rufous Hummingbird at our feeder this morning. Last year
>> one did not show up here until March 6th. "Here" is on Squamish Harbor, the
>> very north part of Hood Canal. It is our 56th yard bird of the year.
>>
>> Carolyn E
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> Tweeters at u.washington.edu
> http://mailman2.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
>



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Paul L. Bannick
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