[Mich-listers] Rufous Hummingbird in Van Buren Co.

[Allen T. Chartier]

Birders,

Last Saturday, November 14, I banded an adult female Rufous Hummingbird in 
Hartford, western Van Buren County. The bird shows no notch in the second 
rectrix (even in my in-hand photos) and identification was only confirmed by 
the measured widths of the tail feathers, so this individual is not 
field-identifiable. The bird is coming to feeders at two homes very close 
together, and at that time they were unsure about having birders visit and 
preferred to have each visitor give notice, through me, prior to coming out. 
On November 14, I gave directions to three birders in confidence, and called 
one homeowner to let her know they would be in the area later that 
afternoon, and she was OK with this. All last week, I was out of state and 
no additional visitors have been authorized to view the bird. Unfortunately, 
word has gotten out somehow and I have become aware of birders trying to see 
the bird last week without permission, and arousing suspicion among the 
neighbors.

As of today, November 23, the bird is still coming to the two feeders, and 
the homeowner has now agreed to allow birders to come and see the bird 
without prior arrangement, and she will try to advise neighbors what is 
going on, but birders are NOT allowed to enter the yards where the bird is 
visiting (one homeowner has health issues, the other has 14 dogs in her 
small home!). The feeders of both homes can be viewed from the narrow 
streets in the neighborhood.

>From I-94, take the Hartford exit (Exit 46, Central Ave.) and go north about 
3/4 mile to Bernard Street. Turn left and go one block to Maple Street. The 
bird is coming to a feeder in the backyard of the second house south of 
Bernard on the west side of Maple, and to a feeder in the front yard of the 
second house west of Maple on the south side of Bernard (the two homes 
adjacent to the corner house). Both feeders can be watched by parking 
between the first and second house west of Maple on Bernard, and looking 
south.

Please respect the privacy of the residents in this neighborhood, and please 
try not to block traffic on these narrow residential roads.

Allen T. Chartier
amazilia1(at)comcast.net
Inkster, Michigan, USA