I received the following email from Bruce Peterjohn who is the Hummingbird
Bander in Richmond, Virginia who captured our Rufous Hummingbird on
December 7, 2024 to find she was already banded. It's been really cool --
there's been communication among the 3 hummingbird banders and the 3
homeowners who have hosted the Rufous. I'm just in awe of this little bird.
I am holding my breath until September to see if she returns for a 4th year
to our feeder!
Cheers!
Deb Rittelmann
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Bruce Peterjohn <bpeterjohn...>
Date: Fri, Jan 24, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Subject: Rufous Hummingbird update
To: Debra Rittelmann <dlrittelmann...>, <ch3ll8...> <
<ch3ll8...>
Cc: Sandy Lockerman <sandylockerman...>, David La Puma <
<woodcreeper...>
Debra, Michele:
The good news is that the female Rufous Hummingbird has survived the cold
weather in Richmond this January. The temperatures have been 15-20 degrees
below normal since January 2. Daytime high temperatures frequently have not
reached freezing or barely made it into the 30sF. Nighttime lows have been
in the teens and occasionally single digits. While I am not surprised the
Rufous Hummingbirds can survive short spells of weather this cold, to
survive 3 weeks of constantly cold temperatures is much to ask of any
hummingbird. She is one tough little bird.
The weather forecasts are calling for a return to normal temperatures
(highs in mid-40s, lows in upper 20s) beginning on Sunday and at least for
next week. Hopefully, the worst of the cold weather is behind us.
I will keep you posted as I receive updates from the homeowner.
