Seward, Alaska
I am sad to relay that there have been no sightings of the
famous, fabulous ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD since February 14th. Whenever I
visit Ava’s Place to eagerly, anxiously, monitor the three waiting feeders, it
seems so deserted despite the many dozens of other birds flying back and forth.
It seems so quiet without his unique ticking pronouncements and buzzy little
song though other bird songs and chatter fill the air.
The beauty of the other birds seem to pale compared to that
perky little bump, sitting on a snowy branch, flashing his brilliant magenta gorget
as his alertly looked around, his impossibly long bill sweeping back and forth.
The cold metal shovel where he liked to sit in the bitter
cold, shunning the warm lamp just out of range, waits frozen in the snow, to
serve this mite. Also waiting is the green wooden leg of the upside down chair
where he liked to sit in the sun next to the house. The Mayday tree, one of his
favorite places to survey his bird kingdom, holds all its leafless branches at
the ready.
Since early August of 2016, the Anna’s has amazed and
delighted birders. He scored a first for the 2016 Seward Audubon Christmas Bird
Count. Throughout the darkest, longest nights of winter, through everything
from bitter cold, drenching rain, sleet, and ice, he somehow survived.
I suspect he was a frequent flyer between Ava’s Place to an
isolated feeder at least 2.3 miles away in town, popping up regardless of the
strong north winds or gnarly winter weather. What an incredible bird!
The Boss displayed endurance, perseverance, and moxie that
inspired so many every day. I so appreciate this petite spark of life that lit
up our winter.
I have not given up on him, nor have the four feeder tenders
who faithfully keep his heated feeders at the ready. We all hope to see him pop
up any minute like he never left. “Tick, tick, tick!”
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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