After banding only 9 hummers last Saturday, Bruce 
Peterjohn and I thought the banding season was 
over at my house. However, I was still seeing good 
numbers through the week, so we decided to give it 
another shot this morning. Were we glad we did! At 
8 AM, Bruce had already banded 3 or 4 and there 
must have been 2 dozen zooming around. At times 
there were 3 or 4 hummers in the trap at once 
although I never caught more than 2 at once 
because that was all Bruce could handle. The 
action was continuous until about 10 AM when it 
suddenly ceased. Few birds were to be seen and we 
only banded 5 more in the next 2 hours. In all, 
Bruce banded 30 new birds. All were HY - 18 males, 
9 females and 3 that we couldn't sex by 
measurements or plumage. In addition, a couple 
escaped before being banded and we recaught 4 or 5 
that had been banded earlier in the morning.

I think I heard somewhere that hummers leave on 
migration about mid-morning. Last week the action 
ceased about 9 AM and today it was 10 AM, so that 
idea is supported at my house.

I think today's total brings the catch for the 
year at my house at 224 new birds. In addition, we 
recaught 25 or 30 that were banded last year.

Now, if the banders down south would catch a few 
of these birds and let me know they are doing 
well, I would appreciate it. :)

Les

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Les Eastman
mailto:[log in to unmask]
Havre de Grace, MD

The eagle looked down on the river below
And he wrapped his wings round him and he fell 
like a stone
And the big salmon fought but the talons held true
And he shuddered as the world turned from silver 
to blue
                               Steve Earle