Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!lll-winken!lll-lcc!pyramid!oliveb!oliven!mjm
From: mjm@oliven.olivetti.com (Michael Mammoser)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Xantus Hummingbird
Message-ID: <15792@oliveb.olivetti.com>
Date: 24 Feb 88 01:00:53 GMT
Sender: news@oliveb.olivetti.com
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	I thought that you all might be interested in the fact that there
is a Black-Fronted ( Xantus ) Hummingbird in Ventura, Ca. This is a Mexican
species and is normally found at the southern end of Baja. From what I hear,
this is the first U.S. record in 70 years. I just came back from a weekend trip
to the L.A. area and had a chance to see it. It built a nest in someone's
backyard and is evidently incubating eggs ( no one knows whether they are
fertile or not ). The bird is quite cooperative for anyone who can make the
trip there ( when I was there, about 700 people had made the journey - many
from across the country ). There were also 2 Broad-Billed Hummingbirds at the
same place. A feeder is set up in the yard and the hummers visit it quite
frequently.

	The address is 157 Via Baja ( ironic? ). In Ventura, take highway 101
to Victoria exit; then take Victoria north til it ends at Foothill; go right
on Foothill for about half a mile and turn left on Via Plaza; then left again
almost immediately on Via Baja.

	I picked up 8 life birds on this weekend. Besides the 2 hummers, I got
Spotted Dove, Grace's Warbler, Rusty Blackbird, Black Skimmer, Black-Tailed
( California ) Gnatcatcher, and Canyon Wren ( yes, I still needed this bird ).

good hunting,
Mike