Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 9:38 am, sunset 3:56 pm for a total daylight of 6
hours and 17 minutes. Tomorrow will be 2 minutes and 52 seconds shorter.
Overcast, with a howling north wind 25 to 35 mph with gusts
to 45, temperature ranged from a low of 8º to a high of 20º, wind chill below
zero, swirling ground blizzards, and generally pretty brutal conditions.
Tomorrow’s forecast is for sunny but much colder, with a
high of 12º, but warming to 31º by Wednesday.
Winter really slammed into Seward yesterday. It has been
challenging for anything to be outside during the day, not to mention the
bitter cold and windy nights.
My hummingbird feeder was frozen solid on top of the 7-watt
heater box. I swapped it out for the room temperature feeder, but that didn’t
last long without a better windbreak and higher wattage. I set off to see how
the other feeders fared.
My neighbor wrapped heat tape around the base of her feeder
with foam insulation around the glass, and moved it to the south side of the
porch where it was partially sheltered from the north wind.
After a short wait, at 10:50 am, I heard the familiar sharp
ticking from a spruce tree, then ZOOM, in he came, the amazing male ANNA’S
HUMMINGBIRD! It looked like he was licking sugar water from the base of the
yellow flower; not sure why. Maybe the port was frozen? As I watched, inspired
and grinning, he zoomed around the yard, from the feeder to the spruce and
back, then launched himself to parts unknown, just a little zing in the blasts
of wind.
How do they survive the almost 18 hours of darkness, stir
from their long state of torpor and zip to a feeder to revive?
Next hummer stop was Ava’s Place. Ava moved the front deck
feeder to the carport, warmed by a clamp lamp with a 70-watt bulb. She also
installed a windbreak of clear plastic on the north side of the feeder in the
back, and a short, pitched roof. Another clamp lamp with a 70-watt bulb throws
heat and light on the bare feeder; two cheerful oases in the grim, gray, bitter
cold and biting wind.
I stood, all bundled up but chilled, waiting expectantly.
After what seemed a long time, but likely less than 10 minutes, I saw a tiny
blur land on a bare willow branch. Hunched a bit, the green speck of life
surveyed his kingdom and me.
Then he launched over the house in a giant arc to check on
the action in the front yard: PINE GROSBEAKS, JUNCOS, GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS,
CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, DOWNY and HAIRY
WOODPECKERS, SONG SPARROW, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH.
Sadly, one of the Black-capped Chickadees had a deformed
upper bill, the first Ava has seen in a long time. It seemed to use the upper
bill to scrape the homemade suet from the suet log, and then had to use its
tongue to scrape the suet off the bill. Despite the difficulties, it
persevered, and was successful.
Ava also reported a large hawk recently, possibly a Northern
Harrier, attracted by all the action and probable voles. I did not see it
today.
After a minute or two, the Anna’s zipped back and approached
the feeder. Never landing, he sipped from one yellow plastic flower to the
next, hovering in between to watch me watch him. What a handsome hummer,
especially when the light caught his rosy gorget! Then, quick as he came, off
he went, as if it were a balmy spring day.
On my way home, I checked on my neighbor’s feeder and caught
a glimpse of the ’hood Hummer, in for a quick refill at 2 pm.
Then I got to work, building a wind shelter with a clamp
lamp and 7 watt base heater for my house. I will install it tomorrow and
monitor the temperature. I sure hope it works in case the Hummer comes calling!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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