Hummers

     Mention "hummers" in the Research Triangle region of North Carolina, and most will conjure images of the maligned sports utility vehicle.  To birders,  however, "hummers" refer to the most remarkable of all bird groupings, the hummingbirds of the family Trochilidae.  In our region, we have but one species that is a true seasonal resident, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

     On a November trip to Costa Rica in 2007, I was delighted to see several species of wintering hummingbird, but I was most dazzled by our very own Ruby-throat, which winters in Central America and breeds in the eastern US.  It astonished me that these tiny birds, not much bigger than bumblebees, could migrate such long distances.  Even more remarkably, many of those Ruby-throats had made their migratory journeys over the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico!  The following spring, back home in Fearrington Village, I had developed an extra appreciation for these miraculous little creatures that suddenly appeared in April and May.
     In order to fuel up for spring and fall migration, Ruby-throats get busy by drinking lots of nectar.  Humans assist this process by placing outdoor feeders, typically filled with sugar water.  Around here, the feeders are mostly quiet during the summer, as Ruby-throats breed and gather nectar from flowering plants like Virginia Creeper.  But come late August and early September, as migration nears, feeders can be swarming with hummers, especially with juvenile birds just learning to fend for themselves.  Prime feeding spots, like outdoor feeders, can bring out fierce territorial behavior in these birds.
    Typically, one Ruby-throat asserts its dominance at a certain feeder, and spends much of the day chasing off other birds.  The defense of these feeding spots can be quite vicious, as many a gardener preparing his fall garden can confirm.  The reward for all this arial jousting is sugar, the ingredient that fuels the hummingbird's voracious metabolic engine.
     In a few weeks, most of the hummers will be gone from this area of the Piedmont, as they head back to Central America for the winter.  Successful birds will survive to attempt next year's spring migration, all for the chance to pass on genes to the next generation.  In the meantime, I will be appreciating these little gems at my feeder, wondering where "my" birds will end up come November.

Taking Flight

Fearrington Village, which lies in the Haw River basin near Chapel Hill, North Carolina, is best known for its resident cows, rare Belted Galloways originally imported from Scotland.  The Village is also a popular retirement community, a unique dining and shopping destination, and home to one of the finest country inns in the Southeast.  What is less known about Fearrington Village is that it is also home to over 100 species of birds.  Many of these birds, like me, live here year round.  Others, like some of our retired residents, live here seasonally.  Still others, like our guests at the Fearrington Inn and Restaurant, may seek respite for a day or two before moving on.
I know that there are over 100 species of birds here, because I've counted 'em.  Species number 53 was the richly colored Indigo Bunting, pictured above, which I first saw in Fearrington in the spring of 2008.  This August, I finally cracked the century mark with a pair of Yellow-billed Cuckoos in my front yard.  There are some fairly common birds that I haven't yet seen, but I'm sure are here at least part of the year, like the Eastern Screech Owl and the lonesome Whip-poor-will.  There are plenty of migrants, too, that are likely to catch my eye sooner or later.  On any given day, though, no matter what time of year,  I can count on seeing 40 to 50 species in a two hour period, something any bird enthusiast would enjoy.
I first began birding seriously in 2005, after a trip to Trinidad and Tobago awakened me to the beauty of avian life.  When I returned to North Carolina, I was amazed at how many local birds I had never seen, including spectacular species that could be found in my own neighborhood.  I have come to believe that most of us would do more to protect vital habitat for bird species if we only knew what was around us.  The aim of this blog is to help residents and visitors of Fearrington Village, and the surrounding Piedmont, to learn about, and to protect, birds and the ecosystems they live in.
I will attempt to post my local birding exploits, with photographs when available, along with some helpful information about what I've seen and where.  Residents and visitors of Fearrington Village will, I hope, get some valuable information as to where to look for birds during certain times of the year.  Feel free to comment, to send a request, or to contact me directly.  If I have time (unlike most of my neighbors, I'm far from retired), I will be happy to take you out for a neighborhood bird walk.  Otherwise, enjoy the blog, and if you happen to find yourself in Fearrington Village, don't forget to bring your binoculars.