Re: [ECOLOG-L] spring wildflowers visited by Ruby-throated Hummingbirds?
Hi David, I wonder what they are eating way up in Canada already. High bush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) (yes, white flowers) and pinxter flower or pinxter azalea (Rhododendron periclymenoides, syn: R. nudiflorum) are some attractions and they are not flowering yet in southern New England. Scott Scott Ruhren, Ph.D Senior Director of Conservation Audubon Society of Rhode Island 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI 02917 Tel: 401-949-5454 ext. 3004 Fax: 401-949-5788 sruh...@asri.org Connecting People With Nature Stay informed all month long with eWing, Audubon's monthly e-newsletter. Follow us online: www.asri.org ~ Twitter ~ Facebook Consider supporting Audubon by making a donation today! -Original Message- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU] On Behalf Of David Inouye Sent: Monday, March 26, 2012 1:23 PM To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: [ECOLOG-L] spring wildflowers visited by Ruby-throated Hummingbirds? http://www.hummingbirds.net/map.html reports that Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have already arrived in Canada this month (3 weeks earlier than last year). What wildflowers do they usually visit during their spring migration, and are they already in bloom? David Inouye
Re: [ECOLOG-L] spring wildflowers visited by Ruby-throated Hummingbirds?
DAVID . . . My guess is that this may be one of those years when sapsucker wells--those horizontal, sap-oozing holes made by Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers--may be of more importance than usual in the northern part of the ruby-throat's range. (See images at http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek060515.html ) Hummers may also take small amounts of sap from tree buds that likely will be bursting early. I suspect warm weather that allows hummers to be further north than usual also will cause earlier-than-normal emergence of insects that will provide needed fats and proteins. The big question may be what will happen if there is a sudden cold snap now that ruby-throats are so far north. Will adults survive? Will early nesters lose the first clutch or eggs--or even a first brood? We'll have to wait and see, i guess. :-) Cheers, BILL === On Mar 26, 2012, at 1:23 PM, David Inouye wrote: http://www.hummingbirds.net/map.html reports that Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have already arrived in Canada this month (3 weeks earlier than last year). What wildflowers do they usually visit during their spring migration, and are they already in bloom? David Inouye = RESEARCH PROGRAM c/o BILL HILTON JR. Executive Director Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History 1432 DeVinney Road, York, South Carolina 29745 USA office cell (803) 684-5852 fax (803) 684-0255 Please visit our web sites (courtesy of Comporium.net): Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History at http://www.hiltonpond.org Operation RubyThroat: The Hummingbird Project at http://www.rubythroat.org ==
