texas parks and wildlife

the texas

HRHHRUUMMMMMMEER spring 2001

a newsletter for texas hummingbird roundup participants

2000 hummingbird roundup summary he 2000 season is now reporting that they kept a gram at the end introduces more than 25%. Additional Tbehind us and, while I am still feeder active all year. Of the Roundup, the questions reminders sent after the receiving the occasional these 68 observers, 38 (or we are asking and what we Christmas season increased report, the bulk of what we 56%) had at least one hum- hope to learn from them. the percent return over that are going to get for this year mingbird during the winter. While details are being worked of 1999, and so will probably is now in. The program grew Six species were observed out on some of the workshops be continued. You can help considerably this year, with during January, February or for this year, Trans-Pecos work- by reminding friends who are 1,145 people enrolled in the December. The most shops are finalized and also participants to get their Texas Hummingbird Roundup northerly report of winter referred to later in this report. reports in at year’s end. by year-end. To date, 265 hummingbirds in the state annual questionnaires have was from Lubbock County. The 2001 survey is off to a What can we expect this been received for a 23% par- good start with 520 partici- year? The wet winter and ticipation in the report. This In the Trans-Pecos, Brewster pants already enrolled for the spring many of us are enjoy- represents 101 counties or and Presidio counties year. These are spread ing will probably bring an 40% of the counties in the reported the greatest species throughout the state with no abundance of wildflowers, state, including five of the diversity with eight species real recruiting effort yet meaning that the birds will eight Trans-Pecos counties or each followed closely by Jeff undertaken for this year. We have more natural foods avail- 62.5%. While this participa- Davis County with seven have set a goal of more than able. Hummingbirds may be tion level is quite good, there species. These mountainous 1,500 participants involved by scarcer around the feeders this is still room for improvement, regions are obviously rich in year’s end. year, and those seeing rare especially in the Trans-Pecos flying jewels. In the rest of birds may have to look harder and Panhandle regions where the state, Travis and Lubbock Our second goal is to to find them. Good luck and there are large stretches of counties reported six species increase survey returns to enjoy our flying jewels. land unrepresented in this each while a number of coun- year’s survey. ties reported five species. It is good to see the Panhandle Seventeen of our eighteen reporting some diversity. mission statement species of hummingbirds were reported this year, with Some major developments in only the Green-breasted the program this year include Mango not appearing in the the introduction of a work- The mission of the Hummingbird Roundup is to improve the conserva- 2000 species list. A note shop on hummingbirds includ- tion of hummingbirds by gathering information about their distribu- inside this newsletter reports ing a brief introduction to the tion and providing information to the public. The survey encourages an early 2001 occurrence of species, a program on garden- Texans to maintain natural habitat for the birds, properly care for this rare bird. ing for hummingbirds, an iden- hummingbird feeders and record sightings. Your observations further tification session and closing our knowledge of the hummingbirds of Texas, guide new research Winter hummingbirds were with a pest and predator man- efforts, and help the Wildlife Diversity Program in its mission to keep not lacking this year, with agement program. For those these tiny visitors returning each year. 68 observers in 44 counties interested, an additional pro- the question of allen’s hummingbird The suggestion in last had 40 records for Allen’s note, mature males with a year’s Hummer that we use Hummingbird. Subsequent fully mature tale and full gor- the Rufous/Allen’s (R/A) years have continued to see get, can reliably be called an abbreviation for green-backed large numbers of reports and Allen’s. Since this is an Selasphorus seen in surveys multiple bird occurrences on extremely rare bird in Texas, has received a mixed review. the record. Either we are see- we would still require a The change to R/A, in keep- ing a lot of birds no one else detailed description and a ing with changes being made is seeing, or there is a situa- photograph. For juveniles and by other groups, was made to tion of misidentification. females, if you think they maintain the integrity of the might be Allen’s it is better to data and even improve on One of the arguments we say Selasphorus – and isn’t some questionable responses have heard against changing R/A easier to write anyway? we are currently receiving. the coding has focussed on I hope to address some of the “coppery” color that peo- these concerns below. ple report in the gorget of presumed Allen’s Humming- While many of the early field birds. Field work has shown guides and books written repeatedly that this is not a about hummingbirds have unique character when trying indicated that there are dis- to distinguish between the It’s festival time! tinct differences between the two species. two birds, researchers in the field are finding that it is Another unreliable character- impossible to reliably tell the istic for distinguishing the two difference between immature birds is the vocalization. Last year’s newsletter included an article about nature Rufous and Allen’s humming- National Geographic Field tourism and the two communities in our state that have birds. Since most of the Guide to the Birds of North festivals focussed on hummingbirds. Both Rockport– Allen’s we have seen and con- America has consistently indi- Fulton and Fort Davis continue to sponsor these festi- firmed in Texas have been cated that the song and call vals, and people attending them have a great opportu- immature, this makes it very of the Rufous Hummingbird nity to see hummingbirds. difficult to justify accepting are identical to those of the reports of Allen’s Humming- Allen’s Hummingbird. Wing Fort Davis will celebrate their hummingbird festival this bird without measurements trills are equally nondiagnostic. year on August 17–19. Centered on the Prude Ranch and photos to support and Davis Mountains State Park, this festival will feature the identification. People have tried to use field trips in which as many as nine species of hum- “characteristic” flight to distin- mingbird are possible. Speakers will talk about hum- Equally confusing is the situa- guish between the two mingbirds, hummingbird research, wildlife habitats and tion we are running into. species. While this works general nature themes. For information on this year’s Although birders accept the when you have a distinct, and festival, contact the Prude Ranch at 915-426-3202. Allen’s Hummingbird as an consistent behavior in the ani- extremely rare bird, we con- mal – like the Sprague’s Pipit The Rockport–Fulton Annual Hummer/Bird Celebration tinue to get a staggering with its stair-step flight and will run September 15–17 on the central coast. This fes- number of unsupported sudden drop pattern when tival, always a big and exciting event, offers the oppor- reports each year. The Texas flushed, no such patterns – tunity to see hundreds of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Bird Records Committee, both distinct AND consistent – with the occasional Buff-bellied Hummingbird or Rufous (website members.tripod. have been found in Rufous or Hummingbird, as well as speakers, a bird banding sta- com/~tbrc/about.htm) which Allen’s Hummingbirds. tion and much more. More information on this festival is charged with reviewing and is available through the Rockport–Fulton Chamber of maintaining our official list of Does this mean we should Commerce at 800-826-6441. Texas birds, record only eight never report Allen’s Hum- confirmed records ever, yet mingbird on our form? Not at Why not get out and enjoy some of Texas’ nature and the first year of the survey all. As the field guides clearly birding festivals this year?

2 Male Black-chinned

Illustrations by Clemente Guzman III

Male Ruby-throated identification tips A newsletter should be and tail feather patterns. In both educational and infor- his recent book National mative. The last two have Audubon Society Sibley Guide included a short article about to Birds, David Sibley points identification issues, and this out another, rather simple one will be no exception. way to tell the two apart. Examining the wing tips of Most of our identification the two birds at rest shows issues center on the two that BCHU has a clubbed Archilochus species common appearance while RTHU has a The First U.S. Record of an Adult to Texas – the Ruby-throated tapered appearance. As with Green-breasted Mango Found in Texas Hummingbird (RTHU) and the almost all identification tips Black-chinned Hummingbird for the female Archilochus, While not part of the 2000 Texas Hummingbird Roundup record, (BCHU). This is because these this is still a relative descrip- February of 2001 brought another first for Texas. While we had pre- birds are the most common tion, but it should be easier viously enjoyed the presence of the Green-breasted Mango in our and widespread species in the than examining tail feather state, all seven previous records had been birds that had appeared state. They can also be two color patterns. late in the fall migration, and all were juveniles. When a late winter of the most difficult species posting on TEXBIRDS listserve mentioned a Green-breasted Mango to identify. Please send any comments in McAllen, we could only hope this was an adult bird. on this field identification Female Archilochus hum- technique. As a photo, taken and scanned by Ray Beiber, one of the birders mingbirds are often identified that first identified it, appeared on my computer screen, this was by the males they accompany. Thanks to Cliff Shackelford, indeed Texas’, and the nation’s first confirmed record of an adult This doesn’t always work, nongame ornithologist with Green-breasted Mango. The bird spent about 10 days at various especially in areas where the Texas Parks and Wildlife, feeders in McAllen and was not seen again. two species occur simultane- for calling this tip to my ously. Previous attempts to attention. The natural history of the Green-breasted Mango makes appear- identify the two have ances in Texas possible, but appearances by adult birds less likely focussed on color differences than those of juvenile birds. The breeding range of this bird in Mexico is about 300 miles south of the Texas border. Fall records are probably young birds that get disoriented during migration and fly north into the southern part of Texas.

This late winter bird was probably an early migrant that over flew the breeding grounds, and made its way to South Texas where it briefly stopped over.

3 Rolling Plains and High Plains

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1 1 Black numbers indicate number of 4 1 Winter Feeders participants per county 1 who returned their Twenty-six percent of those returning 2000 survey reports kept their feeders active all as of February, 2001 winter. Of these, 56% reported see- 1 ing hummingbirds in January, February or December. colored numbers indicated 1 winter species seen 2

1 Favorite Plants 3 Salvias 22% 2 3 Lantana 10% Honeysuckle 9% 1 Hummingbird Bush 8% Hibiscus 6% Turk’s cap 5% 3 2 Trumpet vine 5% (Natives with the exception of Trans-Pecos Hummingbird Bush) 1 1 1

1 Species (decreasing order of abundance) Edwards Number of Plateau 2 Counties Reporting Ruby-throated Hummingbird 88 Black-chinned Hummingbird 64 Buff-bellied Hummingbird 11 Broad-tailed Hummingbird 19 Rufous Hummingbird 39 Anna’s Hummingbird 14 Magnificent Hummingbird 3 Lucifer Hummingbird 5 South Texas Plains Calliope Hummingbird 11 Blue-throated Hummingbird 3 Selasphorous species 6 Broad-billed Hummingbird 2 Green Violet-ear 3 Costa’s Hummingbird 1 White-eared Hummingbird 1 Rufous Hummingbird Allen’s Hummingbird 2

4 Cross Timbers Post Oak Savannah and Prairies and Blackland Prairies 1 2 1 1 2 3 Mammals, Reptiles and Insects 1 3 1 1 1 4 Squirrels 6% 3 1 5 1 2 3 1 Raccoon 2% 1 1 2 1 2 Pineywoods Unidentified Butterfly 6% 1 3 2 Monarch 1% 1 1 Gulf Fritillary 1% 2 1 2 4 1 Anole 1% 1 2 2 1 1 1 3 2 Non-hummingbird Bird Visitors 1 House Finch 31% 5 1 7 Orioles 21% 1 3 1 Purple Finch 6% 7 2 1 Golden-fronted Woodpecker 6% 1 2 2 1 1 2 3 2 Unidentified Woodpecker 6% 4 1 17 2 1 1 5 1 2 1 3 6 5 2 1 10 5 1 2 1 Pests 1 1 3 3 Insect pests around feeders this year included: 2 3 Wasps 39% 1 Bees 32% 5 Ants 20% Gulf Prairies Yellow Jackets 8% and Marshes Flies 1% 1 2 1 3 1

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5 treasures of the trans-pecos High in the Christmas rains, wildflowers and bird bird he found at his feeders in Mountains of Brewster activities in the desert regions August. He specifically noted County, Carolyn Ohl-Kolb is of the Trans-Pecos, noting: that this bird was not working hard to create habi- “Interestingly, a period of banded. This is not surprising tat that is friendly not only to rains began on 11 June and since less than 1% of banded hummingbirds, but to birds in continued through the week- nongame birds are ever recov- general. She writes: “I’ve end of the 24th. Lots of rain ered or recaptured. Hum- planted about 100 trees and for the desert, over four mingbird banding and shrubs, made several large inches in all. Many wildflow- research associated with it is ponds, a stream, etc., and am ers and desert plants started becoming very popular and, on my way to having a desert to bloom during that period. in August 1999 Fort Davis oasis high in the Christmas During the latter half of June, hosted a meeting of hum- Mountains.” It is paying no more than a dozen Black- mingbird researchers from rewards. This year Carolyn chinned Hummingbirds were across the world. They recorded seven hummingbird observable each day, with an banded a number of birds in species, including a Costa’s occasional female Broad-tailed the Davis Mountains. Should Hummingbird, one of the rare Hummingbird.” Before this you recover a banded bird of species we request detailed period, Mr. La Follette had any type, the data is impor- information about. recorded 40 or more BCHU. tant to the research commu- The presence of the natural nity. In these events, please Melvin Walker La Follette food source appears to have call 1-800-327-BAND for fur- of Presidio County makes an pulled the birds off the still ther direction. interesting correlation of available feeders during this time. Similar reports were The Trans-Pecos region also received from Frank and had reports of the birds Carol Avent in Jeff Davis apparently leaving early. Frank County. In June, they and Carol Avent, in Jeff Davis reported 35 or more BCHU County, record: “Hummers with other species until the left early this year, usually week of June 25 when the stay through December.” numbers dropped off drasti- Others, including Dr. David cally after the rains. Kruzich in El Paso County, Carolyn Ohl-Kolb in Brewster Mr. La Follette also brings up County and Melvin La Follette an interesting point in report- in Presidio County had birds ing a dead Rufous Humming- into or through December.

Illustration of a Blue-throated Hummingbird by Clemente Guzman III

6 Hummingbird Observation Brings Rarities, Unexpected Birds

Many believe that the drought last year caused the hummingbirds to disperse considerably more than normal, and there is certainly some hummingbird workshops planned indication of that in the records and photographs received this year. A number of birds that we can not expect each year were seen. Equally surprising was the number of birds reported well outside their traditional ranges. Hummingbird Workshops are currently planned for mid- Hummingbird enthusiasts and birders descended on Nueces County August in the Trans-Pecos region of the state. Focussing after reports of a Green Violet-ear were received early in the year. on identification, gardening and pest management, the The location, which had enjoyed a visit from the same species five workshops are interactive with slide presentations, activ- years earlier, is ideal habitat for this bird, riverine with steep slopes ities and question answer opportunities. immediately adjacent to water. This heavily forested area allowed the birds plenty of cover. This species was also reported in Travis County Current schedules for the Trans-Pecos region are: though the observers were unable to get a good photograph. El Paso August 14–15 (evening) Fort Davis August 16–18 Gillespie County was particularly active, reporting and photographing both Lucifer Hummingbird and a White-eared Hummingbird, both rare Check local media for more information and confirma- east of the Pecos River. tion of these dates. A Broad-billed Hummingbird was reported and photographed from Howard County in October. This photograph, although taken through a screen over the window, showed all of the key features of a Broad-billed.

The Berylline Hummingbird made its almost annual (three of the last four years) appearance in Jeff Davis County this summer. While there are never any guarantees, this may be just the excuse you need to attend the Hummingbird Festival in preferred plants – Fort Davis this August. trans-pecos

There was a three-way tie for the A Costa’s Hummingbird showing up in mid-December most popular plants in the Trans- in Brewster County was a pleasant surprise for observers Pecos. These were Tree Tobacco, there. This, again is a bird we need careful and detailed Honeysuckle and Salvias. Close documentation on. Carolyn Ohl-Kolb was alert and behind these were Trumpet Vines ready, getting a photograph for the Texas Birds Records and Morning Glory. Committee and a good diagram for the Roundup.

A juvenile Blue-throated Hummingbird was observed by participants at the Texas Butterfly Festival in Mission (see www.texasbutterfly.com for details) this November. While not a Review Species for the TBRC, this bird was well out of range. Similarly, a Calliope Hummingbird in Bexar was pho- tographed and documented this year. Tree Tobacco

Documenting rare birds is important to help researchers learn Illustrations by more about them. All Texas Hummingbird Roundup kits con- Rob Fleming tain a form for documenting rare species. They were revised for the 2001 survey, with the 10 common species separated from the eight uncommon species requiring more information. Please be care- ful to take notes on weather conditions, what type of binoculars you are using, other birds present and any other observers. When you see Coral Honeysuckle these birds, it is also a good idea to post a note on your local rare bird hotline, so that others can confirm what you are seeing.

7 notes from hummer watchers

ing some of the rarities and unusual situations mentioned elsewhere. Tommy Kelly of Harris Kelly Heath of Bexar County County records: “My first time reports: “I noticed that they to see a hummingbird moth. seem to enjoy sitting on a Richard Myers of Taylor At a glance it really could be bare branch more than one County suggests a method mistaken for a hummingbird. with leaves. A snag near the for saving your hummingbird Seen once in the early morn- house was a popular resting feeders and reducing conflict ing feeding on my very large spot, with plenty of branches We received several com- between hummingbirds and hummingbird bush and twice for more than one hummer at ments about the drought. House Finches with a taste in late evening feeding on a time.” Their size, and the Some reported more birds for nectar. He records “I keep lantana and salvias. Very general shape of their bodies, around the feeders, others an oriole nectar feeder for interesting to watch.” makes them look like leaves reported birds being driven the finches. With the bee on the “dead” branch. away by the dry weather and guards removed, the feeding extremely high temperatures. orifices are large enough to Participant Mildred Rohmer allow the nectar to slosh out Several participants reported of Frio County commented: into the bell-shaped feeding unusual use of their Christ- Several observers asked about “I am now down to two feed- stations, allowing the finches mas lights by the humming- bee control. Linda Keese of ers and they get refilled two easy access to the nectar. The birds. Roxana Kornhauser Hays County reported “honey times a week, even if they still finches ignore the hummer of Hays County reported: bees really bad in September. have feed. I’m sure it can’t feeders, and the hummers “I noticed the hummers rest- Had to put out dishes of taste good after a few days.” usually ignore the finch ing on my year round icicle sugar water for them.” Bees I don’t know about the taste, feeder.” This tip may work for Christmas lights under the locate food by smell while but we do recommend fre- any other birds that frequent eaves of the porch in hot hummingbirds do so by sight. quent maintenance in hot hummingbird feeders. summer months.” Meanwhile, Dishes of sugar water, prefer- weather. During that extreme Jim Messinger of Palo Pinto ably a little sweeter than the heat last year, two to four County reports: “we left up 4:1 solution are a great trick, days may have been too long Christmas lights and the as are rags soaked in sugar in between changes. Barry & Brenda Mace of hummers tried to eat them.” water. Planting Mexican Anderson County reported Guess they were a little Heather away from the feed- watching a hummingbird hungry last year! ers is another great control apparently flicking the end of since bees seem particularly In keeping with the drought pine needles to flush out fond of this plant. theme, Karen Sanford of bugs. This is a very interesting Denton County reports: observation in hummingbird “This year we had a drastic behavior. weather change, a severe drought and, by July, triple digit temperatures. Ironically – To join the Hummingbird The Texas Hummer or maybe not so – our first Michael & Cheryl McGehee Roundup, please send a $6 donation with your name, is a publication of bird came earlier this year, Texas Parks and Wildlife’s in Uvalde County saw an address, county, telephone Wildlife Diversity Program. but by September we had example of the need for shel- number and E-mail address to: seen our last hummers, in ter for winter hummingbirds Hummingbird Roundup Written by Mark Klym spite of the plethora of plants this year. They watched an Texas Parks and Wildlife I had blooming for the birds 4200 Smith School Road Anna’s Hummingbird at a Austin, TX 78744 at that time.” Many people feeder until the landowner commented that the drought removed all the shrubs on the Please remember to return your seems to have dispersed the property. The ANHU immedi- Roundup 2001 survey forms birds more, possibly explain- ately left. by January 15, 2002 to the address above. 4200 SMITH SCHOOL ROAD AUSTIN, TEXAS 78744 1-800-792-1112 www.tpwd.state.tx.us

PWD BR W7000-242J (4/01)

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