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Not Jumping to Conclusions




HI . . .

I'm trying not to speculate too wildly about possible causes, but the 
hummingbird happenings are very different in the spring of 2002 here 
at Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History.

--On 30 April I re-trapped a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird RTHU); 
this was the second earliest RTHU sighting ever in the 19 years I've 
been banding this species

--I trapped an unbanded female RTHU today (8 April); she was four 
days ahead of the previous early female

--As of today, I've also banded three new male RTHUs, tying the 
record for total males by this date

--The average early date for the first unbanded RTHU is 13 April

--I've never had a recapture prior to 8 April; this year I had one on 
30 March; one each on 3, 5, and 6 April, and two today

Add to all this the fact that I'm looking at Lightning Bugs flashing 
over Hilton Pond on 8 April, and I can say will confidence that 
things are 'way ahead of schedule.


Happy Hummingbird Watching!

BILL
-- 

BILL HILTON JR., "The Piedmont Naturalist"
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History
1432 DeVinney Road, York, South Carolina 29745 USA
hilton@hiltonpond.org, (803) 684-5852, eFax: (503) 218-0845

Please visit our web sites (courtesy of Comporium.net) at 
http://www.hiltonpond.org and
http://www.rubythroat.org

"Never trust a person too lazy to get up for sunrise or too busy to
watch the sunset."					BHjr.