Seward, AK
Sunny
today, a marvelous change from yesterday’s gloomy gray, though it lifted
spirits, not the temperature. The NNW wind remained strong, from 23 to 31 mph
with gusts to 46 mph. With temps ranging from 12º to 18º the wind chill ranged
from -8 to -2º. Brrrr!
Last night I rounded up two
no-longer-needed round trashcan lids and cut a scavenged piece of greenhouse
Lucite ripple to 36” high. I learned how to use a rivet tool to
attach the Lucite to the top and bottom lids. Once I had the basic cylindrical
structure, I used pieces of scrap white electric wire to hang the clamp lamp
from the top lid, then screwed in a broomstick dowel near the top across the
diameter with an eyehook to guide the line holding the hummingbird feeder.
Other eyehooks guided the lamp cord and feeder line along the edge of the
Lucite to keep the opening clear. I added two long cords to the opposite sides
of the bottom lid to for tiedowns to keep it stable in the wind.
First thing this morning, I hit
upon the idea to use the cut off sleeve-down part of an old T-shirt to fit over
the top and further reduce the opening and draft, and another old T-shirt
around the bottom to raise up. This is adjustable, depending on the wind and
temperature. I scrounged around for some red ribbon and decorated the upper
circumference to further attract the hummer to this contraption.
In the predawn twilight, I
struggled on a ladder against the buffeting wind to drill a hole overhead in
the soffit, screw in a hook, and then hang it. Luckily, it was very light. I
drilled two smaller holes down lower and screwed in the lower eyehooks and tied
it tight. Nice and solid. I plugged in the 60-watt lamp, lowered the feeder
ring, hooked up the feeder half-filled with fresh, warm solution, and raised it
close to the lamp, secured by a chain to another eyehook for maximum
adjustability. Voila! In business!
Just then, I heard ticking from
the nearby spruce tree. Official dawn, 9:40 am! The hummer! I was so excited! I
stepped back from my whizz-bang Super-Deluxe Hummingbird Windbreak and Feeder.
The ANNA’S buzzed over, looked it up and down and zipped away. What?! Snubbed
by a hummer!
How could he afford to be picky
after sitting somewhere in the dark for 18 hours, buffeted by the wicked north
wind gusting to 46 mph, and temps in the teens? He is one tough hombre!
My neighbor reported that he was
back at her feeder, licking the concentrated sugar solution that froze under
the yellow plastic flowers when it was accidentally tipped. Hard to compete
with frozen sugar pops, but at least he knows I plan to be in business if he
ever needs my contraption’s offerings.
I monitored the feeder throughout
the day, and though it was mighty cold, the solution did not freeze. THAT is a
huge improvement. I plan to leave the lamp on all night and see if it remains
liquid by morning.
It’s astonishing how a tiny bird
weighing less than two thin dimes can make adults go to such great pains to
accommodate their particular needs. But, just to hear his brave ticking and see
him after surviving another frigid Alaskan winter night makes it all
worthwhile.
While I was busy installing the
Super-Deluxe, I heard and watched ROBINS flying in to feed on my Mt Ash trees,
joining the cheerful whistling PINE GROSBEAKS. An adult BALD EAGLE soared
overhead, and RAVENS played in the wind.
Just before noon, I headed out
again. A flock of about 20 Robins plucked red berries from a neighbor’s Mt Ash
trees; the berries must be frozen and hard as little rocks, but down they hatch
they went. I heard the chirring of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS and found a dozen sitting
in a nearby Mt Ash; only a few were actively feeding. Such handsome birds!
A few blocks away, whitecaps
whipped across Resurrection Bay and sea smoke streamed south like whirling
ghosts. Three PELAGIC CORMORANTS braved the sea smoke as it swirled around
them. In the lee of the bank by the Alaska Sealife Center, a small mixed flock
of BARROW’S GOLDENEYES and COMMON MERGANSERS circled around, searching for
small fish.
GLAUCOUS-WINGED and MEW GULLS
patrolled along the waterfront, dipping into the wind and down to the water.
Two sea otters bobbed placidly in the waves, holding their paws up out of the
chilly water, disturbed only when one paddled backwards into the other by
mistake. The shiny, round head of a HARBOR SEAL poked up to look around then
quietly descended like a periscope.
At the harbor mouth, two MARBLED
MURRELETS, a small flock of BARROW’S GOLDENEYES, and COMMON MERGANSERS dove
after small fish. NORTHWESTERN CROWS scavenged along the beach or sat
forlornly, fluffed up against the cold. RAVENS looped and called, quite pleased
with the wind toy. More Goldeneyes and Common Mergansers swam in the boat
harbor.
I checked the Stash and Store Pond
at mile 3.5 Seward Highway and immediately found the male HOODED MERGANSER,
looking debonair, in the company of a tiny female BUFFLEHEAD.
Over at Fourth of July Beach, many
Northern Sea Nettles lay frozen where the tide left them early this morning.
They glowed like little suns in the low afternoon light. Upside down, they
resembled frozen confections.
Several GLAUCOUS-WINGED and MEW
GULLS fed on partially thawed sea nettles as the tide slowly rose to engulf
them. Earlier this winter I noticed the gulls feeding on live ones as they
drifted in to shore. Jellies seem to be a food source for gulls, and they are
plentiful. Another gull with much darker gray primaries that I think is a
GLAUCOUS-WINGED X HERRING hybrid also fed on the thawing, submerging jellies.
The birds, scenery, and the sun
warmed my spirits but not my body, so I reluctantly retreated to the shelter of
the warm car and drove home. Though I patiently stared at the Super-Deluxe in
hopes of conjuring up the hummer, it was in vain. But tomorrow is another day
of hope for everyone.
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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