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WanderingAlbatross — Vagrant Anna's Hummingbird
Published: 2013-10-17 21:33:38 +0000 UTC; Views: 576; Favourites: 17; Downloads: 5
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Description
A 'quadtych' of a male subadult Anna's Hummingbird Calypte anna that showed up at my feeder on September 25th and is still here. Now, an Anna's Hummingbird on its own may not seem like a very big deal, but as a west-coast species, the individual pictured above is special because he's way off course and very rare in my province. I identified and reported him to the birds record committee and have since played host to a number of bird watcher and photographers wanting to get a good look at him. As migration direction is genetically determined, it is likely that he has some sort of mutation that caused him to head east instead of south, and he may very well attempt to overwinter at my house. Unfortunately, because it's Canada, his chances of survival are next to none when it starts to get really cold. So far we've built a contraption to keep our nectar from freezing, but apart from that there's very little we can do. Here's hoping he actually does decide to go somewhere warmer!Some of his nicknames include "Little Friend", and "Hummybuns".
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Comments: 7
What an interesting visitor, and lovely pictures you took of him as well. Since this pic is from a while ago already, I'm curious now: did he indeed move on to warmer areas or did he spend the winter with you?
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Birds are so hard-wired for migration that he probably tried to stay and ended up not being able to handle the cold (or he was caught and eaten by something). There's a reason a lot of birds get the hell out of Canada for the winter 
Birds also tend to return to the same wintering grounds year after year, and he did not show up again this fall. It makes me sad to say it, but he did probably die at some point last year.
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Unfortunate, but sadly also the way it goes when birds lose their way on migration and really go astray, especially when they end up in cold-ass places like wintery Canada! Sad end for pretty bird though We're (as in, the country I live in, Holland) playing host to a rather far-off species at the moment as well; a White-crowned wheatear that should be somewhere out in the desert, but is currently stranded in the rainy gardens of newly built dutch houses. First time this species has ever been seen here, so he's attracting quite a lot of attention. I wonder if he'll make it back home, or if he'll get eaten/killed like your Anna's as well :/
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Such a beautiful montage, love all these shots. ^^
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What a beautiful bird! I've actually pet and fed a hummingbird and they are just the most amazing creatures
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Oh my goodness, he is so handsome! Interesting that he made it up there no problems at all...hope he survives and who knows? He might be a pioneer hummy and start a whole new subspecies!
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