Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!jarthur!nntp-server.caltech.edu!kelly
From: kelly@nntp-server.caltech.edu (Fishhead)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: starving hummingbirds
Message-ID: <1991Jan12.034830.15381@nntp-server.caltech.edu>
Date: 12 Jan 91 03:48:30 GMT
References: <1991Jan8.192604.7338@morrow.stanford.edu> <799@nih-csl.nih.gov> <50132@olivea.atc.olivetti.com>
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
Lines: 31


Here is some more input from WoodsWorld Hummingbirding Society letter written
by Fred Sparling that appeared in their newsletter, Fall/Winter 1988-89:

Marty Stouffer's excellent film about hummingbirds rasied the question of
taking down feeders to forcefully remind migrant hummers it's time to go
south. Taking down feeders that are being used is  arbitrary and unfair 
particularly with hummingbirds because their energy-storing capacity is very
limited and it takes planning and preparation for migration; for instance, it's
estimated that about two grams of fat is required to fuel the flight across
the gulf from Central America to the U.S., so, if we cut off an important
food source before they're ready to go we are just not being friendly, we're
being bossy. Such a train of thought can very well 'over-expert' to
extinction. The answer is really regional. There are lake regions of the U.S.
where no hummer in his right mind would want to spend a winter and the 
migration time clock inherent in migrant hummingbirds takes command. 'In his
right mind' is the operative idea which means if you have 'hooked' your 
friend with 'over sweet' [in this case meaning a solution over 20-25% sugar,]
nectar and the sweet life of debauchery stops his migration clock, then you
may have an indigent, and you are responsible for feeding until he's unhooked.
It wouldn't be fair to take your feeder down under such circumstances. All-year
residents are common along the Pacific coast, Southwest, and Gulf Coasts;
migrants in those areas, such as Allen's, Rufous, Calliope, Costa, Black-Chin,
Broad-Tailed, go South leaving the feeders to the Anna's who peregrinate about
extending their territory to include the Western States and Southwestern
Canada.
	A respectful thing to keep in mind with hummingbird migrants is that
it has been their idea practiced over eons of time as a _round trip_ and if
humans intrude on this practice by telling hummingbirds when to leave then
what next? Will we expect them to send a card telling us when they're coming?
And if so, how will they address us and who will pay the postage?!