the texas HRHHRUUMMMMMMEER spring 2000 a newsletter for texas hummingbird roundup participants The year in review he sixth year of the Texas Hummingbird Roundup saw a year of Trebuilding and growth, with the number of Roundup 2000 surveys mailed out reaching 250 by December of 1999. This means that the numbers in this year’s survey are again down slightly over previous years. Many of these requests were mailed out in the final two months of 1999, and these participants apparently decided to await the 2000 birds before beginning their reports. Surveys were returned by 85 of the 250 participants that registered in 1999 for a 34% participation level. Reports representing 49 counties were received including 5 of the 9 Trans-Pecos counties. Notably miss- ing from the Trans-Pecos was a report from Reeves County. Only one observer from one Panhandle county reported, leaving a big hole in that region of the state. How can these holes be filled? We did not receive reports from sev- eral counties where surveys were mailed to, despite the reminders sent over the holiday season. Perhaps a follow up note just after the New Year is in order. To strengthen interest in the Roundup, a series Photo of Rufous Hummingbird courtesy of Hummingbird Workshops is being considered – with emphasis in of Juanita Gibson, Hidalgo County. those areas where observers are needed. More information will follow in later communication. mission statement Observers reported a total of 10 species this year, although not all of the birds considered common in Texas were reported. Magnificent and Blue-throated Hummingbirds were absent from our reports while The mission of the Hummingbird Roundup a probable Allen’s (Harris County) and a Green-violet Ear (Palo Pinto is to improve the conservation of hum- County) joined the reports. mingbirds by gathering information about their distribution and providing informa- tion to the public. The survey encourages Texans to maintain natural habitat for the To join the Hummingbird Roundup, please send a $6 donation with your name, address, county, telephone number, and e-mail address to: birds, properly care for hummingbird feed- Hummingbird Roundup ers and record sightings. Your observa- Texas Parks and Wildlife tions further our knowledge of the 4200 Smith School Road hummingbirds of Texas, guide new Austin, TX 78744 research efforts, and help the Wildlife Please remember to return your Roundup 2000 survey forms Diversity Program in its mission to keep by January 15, 2001 to the address above. these tiny visitors returning each year. trans-pecos observer’s comments The Avent Family of Jeff ested in this area of great Davis County reported observ- climatic and geographic diver- ing female hummingbirds sity. She observed a definite fighting over snake cotton pattern of birds reappearing (Froelichia sp.) to use in their after significant rainfalls, and nests. I noticed that they did disappearing during the dry not report finding a nest. spells. The diverse habitats in A good way to do so is to the Trans Pecos region pro- actually follow a bird carrying duce areas of dry weather material for nesting. and other areas of heavy rains at different times of the In October, Melvin Walker year. Hopefully these can be La-Follette of Presidio County correlated with observation reported that he saw a Blue- data to help determine some throated Hummingbird for hummingbird behaviors. notes from the trans-pecos the first time since 1993. This year we received six this region are not isolated or He notes “I observed a large, The Zelazny Family of reports from Hummingbird skewed by urban concentra- dark hummingbird perched in Brewster County may have a Roundup participants west of tion. Eight species were an acacia shrub. She was very interesting report. They the Pecos River. While these observed in the region this catching insects as they flew mention a juvenile RTHU at numbers are very small for a year by those observers, with by. Then, she had to reach f their feeders in September region so rich in hummingbird another four species observed or one and left the perch, and October. This would be diversity and so diverse in by the coordinator or TPW displaying the unmistakable noteworthy since it is consid- hummingbird habitat, many biologists during visits to the tail with the huge, white erably out of traditional more packets were sent into region. Notable among the spots.” This points out once RTHU habitat. While this that region late in the year. observations from the region again that features other than could be a wandering juve- This holds a lot of promise for were Violet-crowned Hum- the gorget can help identify nile, a nesting Ruby-throated the 2000 survey. mingbirds observed in Fort hummingbirds. Hummingbird in west Texas Davis (first for Jeff Davis would be noteworthy. More than 50% of the county), Berylline Humming- I must apologize to counties in the Trans-Pecos bird returning to the Fort Mr. La-Follette for mistakingly Dr. D. Kruzich of El Paso were represented by these Davis area and a Broad-billed placing him in Brewster County notes that apparently 6 observers! This is good Hummingbird reported early County last year, see Hum- those who have wintering news in that the surveys from in the season at Fort Davis. mer, Spring 1999. He was the hummingbirds in El Paso are observer who saw the proba- in the mountain foothills. This ble Berylline Hummingbird is one of the reasons we will mentioned last year. be asking people to describe their habitat and those in the Babs Kneupper of Pecos Trans-Pecos to determine their County pointed out one of elevation above sea level. the reasons we are so inter- 2 hummingbird identification People are often surprised current Texas hummingbirds. them as songbirds, hummers most pronounced in the when we ask for pictures of A straight bill may be typical do have a repertoire of songs Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, unusual or rare humming- of a wide variety of birds, but and calls that can be used to but can be found throughout birds, but hummingbird identi- a curved bill is a feature of call your attention to a new the genus. It has helped fication, as those who have a note. The Lucifer Humming- bird. Get to know the songs observers in Houston confirm number of hummingbirds on bird – a west Texas beauty – of the birds that normally Selasphorus presence. their lists will tell you, is not can be quickly noted by a feed at your feeder. It will always an easy matter. There sharply downcurved bill. Other help you to notice that new, So next time you see an are examples when a person hummingbirds, including the possibly rare, jewel. unusual bird, don’t be too is describing a bird they saw Green Violet-ear may not have frustrated if the light isn’t and identified it as one the strong downward curve to Songs surprisingly are not right or the bird won’t stay species, when suddenly a fea- their bill, but may have a the only identifying sound put long enough to get good ture will be noted that does slight downcurve. A short bill, hummingbirds make. Birds of light on the gorget. Look at not fit. A few simple identifi- on the other hand is a feature the genus Selasphorus, which the other features that may cation tips help make identifi- of the Calliope Hummingbird, in Texas includes the Rufous, help to eliminate some of the cation of adult males easier. while the Violet-crowned Allen’s and Broad-tailed hum- confusing species. It makes Hummingbird can be noted by mingbirds, have a unique identification easier. Relative size can quickly rule the unusually long bill. wing structure that produces out some birds in some cases. a trilling whistle when the If we are looking at an unusu- Sound can also be an effec- males fly. This characteristic is ally large hummingbird, we tive tool in identifying the would not be considering the hummingbirds of Texas. While Lucifer, Costa’s or Calliope, we do not usually think of for instance. On the other hand, Magnificent, Blue- throated and Violet-crowned would certainly be possible candidates. When size draws your attention to a bird, note why it caught your eye and use that information in your identification. Gorget color, since it is dependent on the light angle, can not always be relied on for identification needs. Hard tissue colors, such as those in the bill, will be constant. Texas hummingbirds essen- tially have two bill colors – Photo of Ruby-throated Hummingbird red or black. Occasionally courtesy of Nancy Sprouse, Harris County. these will be combined as in a red base with black tip. Notice the bill color if you can, it may help in the identification. Not only is the color of the bill important, the shape of the bill can also help us isolate a species from the eighteen Illustration by Elishea Smith 3 New hummingbird sightings being reviewed by the Texas Birds Records Rolling Plains Committee include: and High Plains • Green Violet-ear from Kerr, Travis and Palo Pinto counties • Green-breasted Mango from Cameron County • Violet-crowned Hummingbird from Hidalgo and Jeff Davis counties • Allen’s Hummingbird from Bexar Black numbers and Harris counties indicate number of 1 • Broad-billed Hummingbird from participants per county 2 Jeff Davis, Brewster, Cameron and who returned their Kinney counties 1999 survey • Berylline Hummingbird from as of February, 2000 Jeff Davis county 1 These reviews help us to help bird colored numbers indicated enthusiasts and researchers by species reported delivering reliable information on where birds have occurred.