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Hummingbird Banding Research Program
Miller Canyon, Madera Canyon, and Arivaca,
Arizona
by George C. West
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| Banding Hummingbirds at Beatty's Miller Canyon
Guest Ranch - Bev Pickering and George West |
Introduction: We initiated a project in 2000 - trying
to learn more about the population distribution
and timing of hummingbird movement through
Miller Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains,
one of the several "sky island"
habitats in southeastern Arizona. That program
ended in 2003. In August 2001, we started
an ancillary program in Madera Canyon in
the Sant Rita Mountains primarily to check
for birds crossing over between the two sky
islands. In 2002, we joined with Susan Wethington
to form a cooperative research program to
study hummingbird diversity and relative
abundance in the sky island habitats in southeastern
Arizona as part of the Hummingbird Monitoring Network. We had nine sites in 2002 and 15 sites
in 2003 at low, mid, and high elevations
in the Catalinas, Santa Ritas, Pinalenos,
Huachucas, and Chiricahua Mountain ranges
of Arizona and 7 sites in southern California.
The Miller and Madera Canyon sites are part
of this cooperative program. In 2004, we
will add several sites at low (e.g. the Arivaca
site -see side menu) and high elevations,
remove sites that did not work out, and continue
most of the sites started in 2002.
Our goals are:
- To describe the migration schedule of all
species of hummingbirds as they move through
the sky island habitats of southeastern Arizona
in spring, summer, and fall.
- To document the sequence of molt in each
species during the year.
- To record the amount of fat accumulation
prior to and during migration.
- To find clues to breeding condition of resident
birds in summer.
- To document unusual hummingbird hybrids and
aberrant plumages.
- To refine characteristics of plumage and
morphology that will assist in identification
of ages and sexes of hummingbirds.
- To trace the movement of hummingbirds during
their migration by recapture of banded birds,
and the movement of birds from one mountain
range in Arizona to another, and
- To obtain information on longevity of different
species of hummingbirds.
Methods:
MADERA CANYON: We trap and band every other Monday morning
at the Chuparosa Inn in Madera Canyon southeast of Green Valley,
AZ at about 4,950 feet
elevation. The schedule
is on the Madera Canyon
web site (see side
menu). To reach the Chuparosa
Inn from Tucson,
drive south on I-19 to
exit 63, Continental
Road, go east under the
freeway on Continental
Road and turn right at
White House Canyon
Road (4-way stop). Continue
across the railroad
tracks and up the hill,
bearing right following
the pavement where Box
Canyon Road goes straight
ahead. Continue into Madera
Canyon, drive
3/4 mile past the Santa
Rita Lodge, and see
the Chuparosa Inn on the
right. Park on the
left or in the driveway.
ARIVACA: We trap and band every other Tuesday norming
at Melva Robin's house in Arivaca.
In both locations, we arrive
shortly after
daybreak and set up two
Hall hummingbird
traps. We start trapping
within one-half
hour of sunrise and trap
for five hours (usually
this is 0600 to 1100).
This follows the same
protocol as trapping at
all other sites in
our study.
Birds are placed individually
in mesh bags
and processed in the order
captured. Each
bird is banded and then
identified, aged,
and sexed. Measurements
are taken of the
wing, tail, and culmen.
The bird is checked
for fat, molt, and reproductive
condition,
and finally weighed. Photographs
are taken
of unusual plumages. If
retained over 5 minutes,
the bird is given a drink
of sugar water
before it is released.
Reports on prior years'
results are listed
on the Miller, Madera,
and Arivaca site pages
(see side menu).
We encourage visitors to
come and watch,
take photographs, ask questions,
and have
a hummingbird rest in their
hand for release
after banding. We also
are always on the
lookout for qualified assistants
to record
data and trap hummingbirds.
Details and schedules
are on the relevant site
web pages (see side
menu).
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