When we're asked what sorts of animals prey upon hummingbirds, we usually answer they just don't have very many predators. We thought our short list was pretty complete until this week when friends from North Carolina reported an almost-unbelievable near-predation on a Ruby-throated Hummingbird--by an insect no less!
To read about this very unusual occurrence, please visit our 1-7 September 2007 installment of "This Week at Hilton Pond" at http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek070901.html Along with the predator photo essay we include our usual tally of birds banded or recaptured during the period, plus a mug shot of a Parula Warbler and a note about late-breeding American Goldfinches. Happy Nature Watching! BILL -- RESEARCH PROGRAM c/o BILL HILTON JR. Executive Director Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History 1432 DeVinney Road, York, South Carolina 29745 USA [EMAIL PROTECTED], (803) 684-5852, eFax: (503) 218-0845 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 **********
