Hummingbird Hope

Both of these Hummingbirds are shown harvesting nectar from the flower of a native Black Twin Berry located in the Arboretum Creek visioning site, just south of Boyer St. In addition to their feeding behavior, these two Hummingbird species are also quite similar in size, speed, and shape. Nonetheless, if current trends continue, the future of each species will be quite different.

The bird on the left (or top) is a Rufous Hummingbird and the one on the right (or bottom) is an Anna's Hummingbird. The Rufous looks like a subadult male. This Anna's looks like a female. However, I am seldom 100% positive. Young male Anna's can look pretty similar to mature females. (Plus, in a Panamanian Hummingbird species researchers are even finding some adult females with plumages that resembles adult males. Click Here to read more.)

**************

Update:

Thank you to Gary Luhm for this perfect illustration of the concept! This is a female Anna's Hummingbird on her nest, but her extensive red & dark reflective feathering (on her forehead and far more than normal below her bill) resembles a male of her species more than a normal female. Compare her to the female in the next photo and the male in the set of two smaller photos later in the post.

Click Here to see more of Gary Luhm's photos and work.

************

However, in my experience, adult Anna's generally have reflective red feathers only on their throats. This female was gathering spider silk in the Arboretum. The spider webs are used to hold their nests together.

The females, typically, are the only ones to build nests, feed the young, and protect them.

According to All About Birds the nests of the Rufous Hummingbirds are about one-third larger, in diameter, than those of the Anna's Hummingbirds. In this case, it also looks deeper.

Adult female Rufous Hummingbirds usually have a spot on their throats, somewhat similar to an adult female Anna's. 

Adult male Anna's normally have reflective feathers covering their heads, like a hood. From most angles, the hoods are darkly colored. The bright reflective red is only visible when the sunlight hits at just the right angle. These two photos show the same bird. The only notable difference is the angle of his head and the resulting change in color.

In Western Washington, when I see any orange on a Hummingbird, I generally assume it is a Rufous Hummingbird. (Allen's Hummingbirds are also orange but southwest Oregon is the northern limit of their normal range.) 

The Rufous Hummingbird's wingbeats are listed as 52 - 62 beats per second on the All About Birds website. This multiplies out to more than three and a half thousand wingbeats per minute!

A male Anna's Hummingbird at a winter-blooming, non-native Mahonia.

The wingbeats of Anna's Hummingbird's are slower - only 40 to 50 beats per second. The slower pace seems logical since the Anna's wingspan is listed as being one centimeter longer i.e. 12 cm vs 11cm or 4.7 vs 4.3 inches. So, even though the two species are virtually identical in weight, if the Anna's gets a bit more lift with each wingbeat it should require less of them.

Surprisingly, given all of their similarities, they do have significant differences.

One example is their migratory behavior. Check out this dynamic weekly abundance map for Anna's Hummingbirds:

Click Here then push the white triangle in the blue box on the right side to see how their sightings change during the year.

Did you notice any significant migratory movement? I did not see much, maybe just the faintest hint. This is not a surprise. Locally, I have photographed Anna's Hummingbirds in every month of the year.

Birds of the World makes two interesting statements concerning the Anna's migratory behavior. 1) "The nature of migration is unclear; different populations appear to behave differently..." 2) "...little is known about populations north of California." 

All About Birds states, "The Anna's Hummingbird is the most common hummingbird on the West Coast of the U.S. and thrives along side human habitation. Its range has increased dramatically since the 1930's, when it was found only in California and Baja California. Thanks to widespread backyard feeders and introduce trees such as eucalyptus, it now occurs in healthy numbers all the way to Vancouver, Canada."

For comparison, check out the migratory behavior evident in this dynamic weekly abundance map for the Rufous Hummingbirds:

Click Here then push the white triangle in the blue box on the right side.

Their migration is obvious. Did you notice that when heading north they fly up the Pacific Coast, where the Anna's reside, but when flying south they move inland? Evidently, this migration choice optimizes the food available based on the time of year. I suspect they may have been flying this pathway for thousands of years, starting sometime after the last ice age.

In the Conservation sections of All About Birds, the descriptions of their changing populations are starkly different. Anna's Hummingbirds have been increasing, by 2% per year, from 1966 to 2019. The Rufous Hummingbirds have been decreasing, by 2% per year, during the same time. The result is a 67% decrease in the Rufous Hummingbird population. However, the estimated population size, for the Rufous Hummingbirds, is still 22 million. The growing Anna's population is only 9.6 million. 

Still, if this trend continues in time the Rufous Hummingbirds will become very hard to find. In Seattle, the Anna's already outnumber the Rufous Hummingbirds. While not a statistically valid experiment, since 2011, I have accumulated approximately 5,000 Anna's Hummingbird photos and about 50 Rufous Hummingbird photos, in Seattle. 

Minimal migrations allows the Anna's to focus on reproduction. Which they are doing. The All About Birds website says, the Anna's have 2-3 broods of young per year, while the Rufous Hummingbirds only have one. 

Some other factors that favor the Anna's, are non-native winter blooming plants that provide nectar for the Anna's, but have finished blooming by the time the Rufous Hummingbirds arrive. This advantage, combines with climate change, i.e. warmer winter weather, and the heat-island effect of our cities and suburbs, to reduce the Anna's need to migrate.

However, when we stop and think about the abundance maps, we realize that the Rufous Hummingbirds spend the majority of the year in places where the Anna's do not exist. Plus, there are numerous other (non-hummingbird) bird species that are facing similar declines. Click Here to read about the "State of the Birds" report. Essentially, it says that 70 species of North American birds are experiencing declines similar to the Rufous Hummingbirds. So, the competition between the hummingbird species seems more like a symptom - rather than the cause of the Rufous Hummingbird's decline. 

Thinking of population made me wonder, How has our human population changed during the same time? Click Here to see the growth of the United States population. Between 1960 and 2020, our U. S. population increased by more than 150 million people. In response, we have expand our highways, built new homes, commercial buildings, and factories, and nearly doubled our production of food. 

It seems quite likely that the related loss of native habitat may have impacted all 70 of the bird species mentioned above. Competing with humans creates a situation that birds are unlikely to win. Particularly, since we are not likely to eat less, tear down our houses, or destroy our roads to restore native habitat. 

However, in his book, "Nature's Best Hope", Douglas Tallamy proposes a viable and straightforward solution. His idea is a Homegrown National Park. He says, "Across the United State, millions of acres now covered in lawn can be quickly restored to viable habitat by untrained citizens with minimal expense..." He is proposing that we add native plants and trees in our own yards. This type of change does not require vast sums of money, lengthy legislation, or specialized permits. It would quickly assist numerous species, not just the Rufous Hummingbirds. Plus, if we implement it all across the country it would be directly beneficial to migrating birds, butterflies, etc.

You might ask, What is the problem with lawns? In Seattle, lawns turn what was once a multi-dimensional layered forest, reaching hundreds of feet in height, into a 4-inch tall one-dimensional non-native plant that needs summer watering to stay green, stores minimal carbon, and supports very little life. Plus, when we mow our lawns the grass is not able to flower and produce seeds. So, even the limited benefit it could provide is reduced. Finally, after we mow our lawns we often allow the cuttings to be removed from our property, so the long-term level of nutrients in our yards is declining. 

On a continuum, from asphalt to a flourishing ecosystem, lawns are closer to asphalt. The critical difference is they are much easier to restore!

An Anna's Hummingbird feeding on the flowers of a native Red Huckleberry.

Let's consider restoration. How might a backyard filled with native plantings help the Rufous Hummingbirds. First of all, native plants tend to naturally bloom at the time that native migratory birds and butterflies arrive. By having multiple levels of trees, bushes, shrubs, and ground cover we multiply the productivity of our yard. If all four (or more) levels produce flowers during the normal native growing season they might all provide food when the Rufous Hummingbirds are here to compete for it. Plus, as the trees and bushes grow taller they will provide nesting habitat.

If we allow the moss and lichen to grow on the limbs of the trees they will provide nest-making materials for the hummingbirds. Also, if we allow spider webs to accumulate between the branches and among the plants then in the Spring the hummingbirds will use the spider silk to hold their nests together. If we allow the leaves, and dead branches, to fall among the plants and they will provide nesting habitat for insects, that provide particularly nutritious food for young hummingbirds, and the decomposing leaves and branches will also return nutrients to the soil. (There are additional relevant suggestions in the Going Native section below.)

Speaking of growth and nutrition, in the book, "Nature's Best Hope", Douglas Tallamy also introduces the concept of keystone plants. It turns out that some native plants are more valuable to birds than others. Vicki King has just completed a new updated review of all the best local keystone plant literature she could find. To read more about this very interesting concept click on the following link:

       Keystone Plants

The bottom line is we are not powerless in the face of declining bird populations. We can make a difference. Specifically, we can invest in the future by:

    - Removing lawns,  

    - Adding native plants and trees, 

    - Watering them until they take root (after which they may survive without watering) and

    - Leaving fallen leaves, branches (and even cut grass) to help replenish the soil and provide insect habitat.

The results will improve the odds for Rufous Hummingbirds, and many other native species. Seeing the growing variety of insects, birds, and other creatures in our yards in Spring will be a wonderful reward for our efforts. However, the biggest benefit may be our growing sense of hope!

Have a great day on Union Bay...where nature lives in the city and Black Birders are welcome!

Larry

 

**********

Recommended Citation

Clark, C. J. and S. M. Russell (2020). Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.annhum.01

**********

Going Native:

Each of us, who breathes the air, drinks water, and eats food should be helping to protect our environment. Local efforts are most effective and sustainable. Native plants and trees encourage the largest diversity of lifeforms because of their long intertwined history with our local environment and native creatures. Even the microbes in the soil are native to each local landscape. 

I hope we can inspire ourselves, our neighbors, and local businesses to respect native flora and support native wildlife at every opportunity. I have learned that our most logical approach to native trees and plants (in order of priority) should be to:

1) Learn and leave established native flora undisturbed.

2) Remove invasive species and then wait to see if native plants begin to grow without assistance. (When native plants start on their own, then these plants or trees are likely the most appropriate flora for the habitat.)

3) Scatter seeds from nearby native plants in a similar habitat.

4) If you feel you must add a new plant then select a native plant while considering how the plant fits with the specific habitat and understanding the plant's logical place in the normal succession of native plants. 

*************** 

My friend Elaine Chuang shared several resources (that were new to me) from the January 2022 Washington Ornithological Society meeting. By the way, Elaine credits Vicki King for researching and supplying this information. Keystone native plants are an important new idea. Douglas Tallamy in the book "Nature's Best Hope " explains that caterpillars supply more energy to birds than any other plant eater. He also mentions that 14% of our native plants, i.e. Keystone Plants, provide food for 90% of our caterpillars. This unique subset of native plants and trees enables critical moths, butterflies, and caterpillars that in turn provide food for the great majority of birds, especially during the breeding season. 

Here are the top two relevant links.

A video all about native keystone plants for wildlife:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5cXccWx030

New! Updated resources for adding keystone native plants to your yard. 

https://wos.org/wos-wp/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Native-Plant-Resources-10-7-22.pdf

This updated collection includes a variety of new and different books, perspectives, and interactions between plants, birds, and insects. Thank you to Vicki King for continuing to collect all of these exceptionally helpful works. Also, thank you to each of the individuals who contributed.

***************

In the area below it is my intention to display at least one photo each week to help challenge us to know the difference between native and non-native lifeforms.  

What plant is this? Is it native to our area?

Scroll down for the answer.

******************

Black Twin Berry: The same native plant mentioned at the beginning of the post. The flowers were hidden in the previous version of the photo but are shown now so you can see both the flower and the fruit, along with the leaves.

*****************

The Email Challenge:

Over the years, I have had many readers tell me that Google is no longer sending them email announcements. As of 2021, Google has discontinued the service.

In response, I have set up my own email list. With each post, I will manually send out an announcement. If you would like to be added to my personal email list please send me an email requesting to be added. Something like:

                Larry, I want to see more of nature. Please add me to your personal email list. 

Thank you for your patience and interest!

My email address is:  

                     LDHubbell@comcast.net

*******************

The Comment Challenge:

Another common issue is losing your input while attempting to leave a comment on this blog. Often everything functions fine, however, sometimes people are unable to make it past the robot-detection challenge or maybe it is the lack of a Google account. I am uncertain about the precise issue. Sadly, a person can lose their comment with no recovery recourse. 

Bottom Line: 

If you write a long comment, please, copy it before hitting enter. Then, if the comment function fails to record your information, you can send the comment directly to me using email.

My email address is:  

                     LDHubbell@comcast.net

Sincerely,

Larry

Odds and Ends: