This morning Hilary and I noticed the first Rufous Hummingbird at our feeder
(Winslow, Bainbridge Island). March 29 seems a bit early for this robust
little migrator.

We loved it when Rufous hummers showed up at our feeders in Alaska during
all the years we lived there; we once calculated that this bird, which
weighs about as much as a penny, may fly as much as 12,000 miles each year
just in migration to and from Mexico-Alaska!

Two more avian tidpits: After having been gone for a month of travel, I
returned in mid-March and put out some sunflower seeds. Within one hour I
saw the White-throated Sparrow that winters in our yard feeding. Guess it
did just fine without the black oil sunflower seeds while we were absent!

Lastly: a week ago there was a Peregrine Falcon on the power pole on the
Casino side of the Agate Pass Bridge.

Neil Johannsen
Kitsap Audubon