I Found a Banded Hummingbird!

Because a friend of mine in Arizona had found a couple banded hummingbirds at her feeders in 2008, I got interested in volunteering at a banding station being done in my area of northern California in 2009. This program was quite interesting to watch, but more rewarding when I actually took part in it and found that some of the hummingbirds we were trapping (safely I might add) had been previously banded in prior years.

For the last 3 years I have watched and photographed all my visiting hummingbirds, hoping to find even one that had a silver band on its leg and that finally happened on August 22nd of this year. I didn't notice the band until I was going through some photos I'd downloaded. Here's the first shot that got my attention:

Most of you know how small and thin the leg of a hummingbird is, so here's a photo of the actual bands on a hanging wire ring to show you how tiny they actually are (notice the enlarged insert):

Once I'd found the first photo of the banded bird, I went out and watched for all my male Anna's hummingbirds (there's at least 20 or more hummers here now) so I could get more photos of him sitting on a branch or perch. Luckily my hummingbirds are all people friendly and will allow me to stand close to them. By that afternoon I had taken hundreds of photos and after cropping tightly in the leg areas of each photo, I was able to get my complete band number of E04314. I should add that the bands are secured on the birds' legs lose enough that they'll easily turn as the birds move or fly so each time this bird either landed on the feeder perch or nearby tree branch (attached or our deck) I could possibly see more numbers on the band. Here's one of many cropped photos showing a partial number:

I watched this being done. It is very cool and there is a website you can log your sighting - I dont remember what it is off hand. I always look for them but have not ever seen them in the wild.

It took exactly 9 days after I'd pieced together the full band number and several emails to all the banding networks, the USGS and the Univ of Calif at Davis to finally locate the proper banding station that had banded this hummer.

To my delight it turned out that this male Anna's hummingbird had been banded on Sept. 6, 2009 at the McLaughlin Reserve, Lower Lake, CA. and "I" was one of the team of four people that actually banded this hummer. I also found out that this hummingbird was only captured once during the banding sessions that occurred once a month over that year and that happened to be the last year any birds were banded due to loss of funding.

At least I know this little guy flew 23 miles through the mountains to my home sometime during his migration. By the way, he's still here and I hope to see him in the coming years.

Here's another photo of him.

One more just because I think he's a cutie.

I hope all of you are watching your hummingbirds closely-you never know when you'll locate a band. At least I'll be able to help you try to locate the proper bander!

That is so wonderful! How exciting to know he found you!! :D

Congratulations duc! That is very exciting!

Nice one! You did very well to be able to read the ring number without catching the bird.

Resin

Great work Vicki. Close to him or not, those are some very sharp pictures.

That is awesome Duc!!! What a privilege, to have a bird, you guys banded, come to your yard. I`m sure, he must be very precious to you. You should find him a name. Congratulation on your find.

To have captured the band numbers and then to discover you were part of the team involved in the actual banding must have been thrilling. Congratulations.

Quite a story. Congratulations!

Those pictures are great !

That would be surreal.

Thanks everyone for your comments. Resin, that would really have been something to find!

I had to show you the photo I got of him today. I'm so glad he's choosing to stay here and entertain me.

This message was edited Aug 31, 2011 11:52 PM

Such a lovely shot!!!

Another one I read about (not someone I know personally like the above) - a ringer ringed some Sedge Warblers in England breeding near his home.

That winter he went on a research expedition to Senegal (West Africa). First bird he lifted out of the nets was a Sedge Warbler, wearing one of his rings. 4,500 km.

Resin

Wow, I can only imagine the thrills. Such a wonderful experience Vicki, fine fine job! For those birds that were discovered far, far away. Such amazing journeys they travel!

I love hearing stories of birds that have traveled so far and to hear of these being located so far away by the person that tagged them is just awesome. Maybe in the future there will be tiny microchips that can show the travel routes.

These are absolutely the best pictures of hummers I've ever seen in one collection .

Wonderful flight shot duc!

Another one:

Arctic Tern, more than 80,000 km/year http://www.pnas.org/content/107/5/2078.full.pdf (pdf file)

Resin

That is an exciting story. I had a hummingbird visit my snapdragons that were still blooming over Thanksgiving one year. People came from St Louis and banded her in my dining room. She stayed around until the first really, really hard freeze in December. I think she froze to death. :(

Thanks Resin, I'll check the links out. I noticed one of them even had a solar powered tag so it would last 5 years.

Birder, your little hummer may have just moved on to a warmer area. Mine survive our weeks in the 20's over winter and are just fine.

This message was edited Sep 2, 2011 3:50 PM

I hope my little hummer made it further south. When they banded her, they said her wings were a little frayed.

Wow...duc...that's really amazing!! Congratulations!!!

Your pictures are just beautiful. But even with all those pictures you took, it's incredible that you were able to get the whole number off that tiny little band!

It made me realize just how rarely I even see their tiny little legs all the way down to their feet. I get the best view at the feeders by my kitchen window and, depending on where they're perched, I may not even see their legs. That makes your discovery even more amazing!

Resin - Those are some wonderful threads and stories! But the two incidents with the banders (ringers) are extraordinary!! How strange this wonderful world can be sometimes.

Birder17 - Your hummer may have been just fine Sometimes they stick around a little longer to build up strength if there's food, but then move on. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of them have slightly frayed wings by the end of the season.

I would like to think my little female hummer made it safely "south". It was a unique experience. Having a hummer here in Nov. and Dec. was pretty special and watching her get banded at my dining room table. They let me let her go out of my hand. My daughter took a picture just as the hummer left my hand.

How incredibly exciting and rewarding that must have been!!

Yes, it was very exciting. It is a memory I will never forget.