Sunday, July 12, 2009

Hummingbird Mysteries Uncovered through Banding

Did you know that fourteen different species of hummingbirds have been documented in the eastern United States? Or that some of our Ruby-throated hummingbirds may be traveling west to winter instead of south to Central America and Mexico? That was only two of the interesting bits of information given by Bob and Martha Sargent last night at a packed Ijam's Nature Center in Knoxville, TN. In fact, so many people showed up for the banding demonstration conducted by Knoxville's Mark Armstrong that the crowds were divided into several observation groups and the Sargents gave two presentations to standing room only audiences.
Above you see Mark, President of the Knoxville chapter of the Tennessee Ornithological Society, at his banding station. Hummingbirds are trapped in wire cages that enclose the feeder. The cages are equipped with a door that can be lowered with a fishing wire manipulated by another banding team member who watches a distance away. When a hummer is caught in the trap, he (in this case) is carefully removed by a handler and gently placed in a net bag to help protect him from injury.
A tiny little metal band is clamped onto one leg with a unique number that identifies this particular bird. This number is then recorded at the Bird Banding Labratory, US Geological Survey, Patuxent Research Center, MD. While the hummer is captured, his tail, wing and beak are measured, his weight taken and observations about age and condition are recorded before release.
When the bird is caught again or the band found in other circumstances, biologists can check the number and recorded data and learn valuable information about longevity, species migration patterns, the individual bird and the general health of the species. Watching Mark patiently handle the hummingbird, who is not still mind you and chirping loudly, while simultaneously talking with attentive on-lookers was a marvel unto itself. Knowing that he is an expertly trained Master Bander helped as I felt my heart-tug while hearing the distress calls of a captured hummingbird. It was after seeing this, my first banding demonstration, that I then heard Martha and Bob Sargent's presentation on hummingbirds and discovered some of the amazing reasons why banding is so important. Bob and Martha founded The Hummer/Bird Study Group in 1993, a non-profit organization dedicated to the study and preservation of hummingbirds and other neo-tropical migrants.

More information about why banding is so important in my next post.

Linked to Bird Photography Weekly #46 at Birdfreak.com to promote the conservation of our world's birds.

21 comments:

  1. Great post! I always enjoy watching banding..and I know how u feel when the bird calls out..thank goodness these people know what they are doing and dont harm the bird.
    Thanks for the Bird study group link.
    oh and welcome to twitter..if u need help just holler. i know when i first started I was totally confused.and if u go back to my first post u will see that I hated it...but now its lots of fun. and can be a time hog if u arent careful.

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  2. Thanks, Vickie! This is way cool!
    I'm thinking some of your hummers must end up at Huntington Library, in San Marino CA, where I spend a month each winter. They are such beautiful little jewels, they take my breath away!

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  3. Ooo, can't wait for your next post! Sounds like an amazing workshop. That's so great that you got to attend it. It must've been absolutely fascinating.

    I suspect that, given hummingbirds' personalities, those distress calls you heard were actually the hummer cursing Mark out. Hee-hee.

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  4. Fascinating! What delicate handling such small birds must require.

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  5. This is a wonderful post! We got to see hummingbird banding in West Virginia. Can you immagine how gentle one must be to handle such a tiny thing?

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  6. Great post! What tiny birds they are.

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  7. Vickie. Great job covering the banding. Thank you. I'm sure Mark thanks you as well.

    You are the best.

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  8. Thanks for all the information Vickie. Most interesting even though we have no Hummingbirds in australia. I think the same would apply to our Bee-eaters.

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  9. Simply amazing! Imagine producing a band small enough to fit their tiny legs. Sounds like such a great experience.

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  10. Interesting information, Vickie. Thanks for sharing!

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  11. great post/great photos. I'll share. marge

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  12. Wow, neat post! Very cool to learn how they capture hummingbirds for banding. I'm going to a banding demonstration next Saturday (my first) and I'm very excited! I'm looking forward to your next post!

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  13. Hi Vickie, maybe that's why I have so few Hummers at my feeders this year. I've only seen a very few... This is the first year that I haven't had a bunch!!!!

    IF they are not going south---well, then they aren't coming our way. Have you heard of others in our area who don't have many this year???? My friend in Arkansas has a BUNCH.

    Thanks for the banding lesson. Very interesting.

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  14. Vicki, great photos! I saw Bill Hilton band a hummingbird in West Virginia, and as I recall there are only a small handful of people who have the separate, special license required to do this. They are so precious and amazing to see up close.

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  15. Betsy,
    I have heard other comments like yours in middle and northeast TN. It likely has to do with nectar sources and weather patterns but no one quite understands it. I'm in east, TN, Knoxville. I don't have many flowers but lots of trees, shade and three feeders out that I can see readily. I am getting a steady parade of hummers as migration is already underway for the northern breeders.

    The good news is that the species population is stable so that isn't the problem.

    Western migration is a relatively new discovery. There isn't enough data to show how frequently this occurs at the present.

    I appreciate everyone's comments.

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  16. Great shots! Thanks for posting this. Would you like to see banding of other birds at Seven Islands Wildlife Refuge? If so contact me. Billie Cantwell bfcantwell@gmail.com

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  17. Great post on Hummingbird banding Vickie! I spent a day with a friend banding Kestrels, Barn Owls and Tree Swallows but I can't even imagine banding those tiny legs!

    Very informative post on how they accomplish this amazing feat.

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  18. I loved seeing how you worked with the hummingbirds, fascinating. I knew you could hold them after my cat caught one and brought it to me alive.
    :) Sheri

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  19. Thanks for this lovely post Vickie.
    Hummers must surely be challenging birds to band due to their delicate nature and apetite.

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  20. I recently attended a hummer banding demo, but nobody showed up (as far as the birds are concerned, that is - there were plenty of humans in attendance)! It was a bit of a let-down, but things happen. The fellow who was there to do the banding mentioned that he has a special permit specific to banding hummers, separate from the one he has for banding songbirds. I don't know if that's a country-wide requirement, or just certain states.

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  21. Hi Vicki,

    Great site! I LOVED your pics and the info about the hummingbirds! I have NEVER seen one! I know I am deprived; I love the little creatures, but they evade me! Someday... Nice work. You do some truly great artwork! Mark Chenoweth, Whoopers Happening

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