Subject: [Tweeters] Female Rufous Sammamish
Date: Mar 20 17:32:36 2009
From: pflores - floresnw at hotmail.com


Hi Tweets,

Had our first female rufous hummer at our feeders today. Our first male
was back on March 8th.



Things have really changed in our yard here in Sammamish over the last 25
years. When we first moved here, we had native currants and could count on
the male rufous showing up almost to the day the currants bloomed. We lost
the currants in one of those hard winters in the mid nineties and for a long
time the rufous hummers didn't come around to our feeders and much preferred
the fuchsias. After a few years it seemed like they were just starting to
get used to feeders, and then we had our first Anna's about three years ago.
And now, this winter we have had enough Anna's to go through about 16 ounces
of nectar a week.



I was excited the first time we had an Anna's. Now, I'm not sure. They are
beautiful to watch..but I miss my currants and native fiery orange rufous
and hope they don't go away. Although, I don't blame them. I liked our
area better 25 years ago also. Wow, I am starting to sound like a cranky
old birder!



Keep on birdin' anyway,

Paula Flores

Sammamish, WA

Floresnw AT hotmail