Tuesday, May 22, 2012

The Chuparosa Challenge

Black Chinned Hummer
Oh my gosh, some months are what I'd like to call a "huevo buster"!  Blogging, final exams, summer plans all mixed together. I do enjoy writing and photography, but I love being in the field just as much as the other two.  As I'm finalizing this months work, I'm prepping up my material for June.   I'll be taking you to the Phoenix Comicon and the "Islands of Lake Michigan".  It's more of a historical trip back in time with family and friends.  But I'm also working on another series, inspired by Warren at Pittswood Birds.
Broad Billed Hummer
He suggested in a comment back in April that I find all 16 or 18 hummers around the Tucson area.  But I'm also going to extend it to Wisconsin as well since we'll be visiting there.  I've begun the search already and have spotted 4 of the required hummers.  I even purchased a guide to help me discover where I'd find them all.  It appears the Allen's Hummer may be my biggest challenge.  But maybe not.  My detective skills have gotten sharper.  Again thanks to Warren's encouragement, I was able to track Great Horned Owls and their nests this year.
As I find them, I will post the pictures.  The blog titles will be labeled, "The Chuparosa Challenge-"Insert Hummer Name".  I'm being a little creative here with their name.  I like the word hummingbird, but one of the Spanish names is "La Chuparosa" or "Rose sucker".  It sounds better in Spanish:)
Many of you are fascinated by hummingbirds and don't have them flying around your areas so I thought I'd share these tiny and delicate little birds with you.  Hummers are VERY territorial, smart, and aggressive birds.  I like to think of them as the Chihuahuas of birds:)  But prettier.....
So what have I seen this year?  So far, if you type in hummingbird into my blog search, you'll see captures of a Costa's and Anna's Hummingbird(which are year round at El Presidio).  They nest here and have families in and around our property.  Other hummers I've spotted?
Today, you see two more hummers that I'm adding to the list.  There is the Black-Chinned Hummer.  The blue one with the orange bill is called the Broad Billed Hummingbird.   Both are common around the Tucson area.  The Black-Chinned I have found all around town.  The Broad Billed is in the canyon and lake areas like Madera Canyon or Patagonia Lake.  
Hummingbirds can be difficult to identify.  While I was in Panama, I had a blast filming them in the rain forest.  The hard part, however, comes from distinguishing the blues and greens from each other.  The males and females are very different and many of them can appear similiar.  A birder told me that many times, it comes down to the throat coloring.  Tricky tricky.
The summer brings many of these beautiful birds up to visit.  In a previous post, I had stated that there were 18 hummers here in Southern Arizona, but another birder told me that only 16 were found here.  Briefly I'd like to mention this cool meeting while we were checking up on the resident owl family.  She was trying to find the owlets and I helped her out.  We got to talking some more and hummingbirds came up. She had found them all except for the reclusive Allens.
To conclude, I have yet to find the Plain-capped Starthroat, Green Violet-Ear, Lucifer, Violet-Crowned(this one comes to my garden in June and July), Berylline, Buff-bellied, White-eared, Blue-throated, Magnificent(this one should be easy), Ruby Throated, Calliope, Broad-tailed, Rufous, and Allen's hummingbird.  There have been reports of the Rufous in Florida canyon....a place I have yet to explore.
Stay tuned for more from this series......

33 comments:

  1. I am missing Arizona's humming birds and will be glad to follow your discoveries...

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    1. I have had several. I'm hoping that there will be more:)

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  2. I love those hummingbirds, so delicate. Keep them coming.

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    1. And I'll try to keep them up to your perfect standards. And please tell me if any stand out. Your eye for detail is amazing and I appreciate your feedback. I'll do my best:)

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  3. First, I have to say you are so lucky to be able to see so many hummer species where you live. I only see the Ruby-Throated here. I enjoyed your post and the photos. Have fun on your hummer quest. I have now added Southwest Arizona to my wish list of places to visit. Have a great day!

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    1. The Ruby-Throated I have yet to find, but they'll be crossing through in July?? However, I think I'll have a better spotting in Wisconsin where they are all over the place....plus it will give me some time to chill with my Grandma over Bloody Marys. That will be fun:) Any chance to chill with my Grandma is okay by me:)

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  4. I really miss hummingbirds. Just this morning at breakfast(Frukost) I was looking out at the plants I have inserted into the cracks and crevaces in the massive granite boulder bedrock in my backyard where only two Scots Pines have manage to eek out a living there. I have several flowers like yellow Columbine & "Lady's Locket" (Dicentra spectabilis) out there with no visitors any time soon.

    *sigh*

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    1. I picture your dilemna. I'm the same way in Wisconsin. I expect to find things like lizards or an exotic bird....and nothing. But I find that there are always other things hiding that don't live in Arizona. There's always a challenge wherever you go. Your trip to the Canary Islands would be a challenge for me. There's a lot of rock on these islands....and it was always tricky to find the shot when I lived in Cape Verde. I do miss the green though from time to time.

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  5. A wonderful idea for a project Chris - lovely to see your great photos of these beautiful little birds. Good luck with your challenge - especially the Allen's Hummer. I'm really looking forward to future posts :)

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    1. I figured....you have your moth challenge. I should maybe challenge myself as well. Your mention of using a book/guide for moths made me smile...because I'm never without that book in the field. Plus I have a copy at home.

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  6. This is going to be a wonderful challenge Chris (good old Warren, he's a very supportive blogger!) and I know I will enjoy following it. Out of all the 'foreign' birds it is the Hummingbirds I would most love to see here. They have always fascinated me, such beautiful little birds! I hadn't realised there are so many different ones. Lovely photos as always!

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    1. Warren and Bob. Excellent gentlemen for their advice and photography. After Warren suggested the idea, it stuck in my head for several days afterwards....and then I mentally accepted the challenge for myself. I really have learned quite a deal on this self taught lesson. It has been a wonderful adventure. These birds are loved by all and it's fun to see why they are treasured here in AZ. Thanks for your kind words.

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  7. Great undertaking Chris. I've seen almost none of the southeastern hummingbirds and Im really looking forward to your posts and information concerning these buzzing little jewels.

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    1. Thanks Laurence. It has been a project. This series has 2 more scheduled posts, but I have a long way to go yet. I'm hoping to complete the 4th part in Wisconsin, but I'm crossing my fingers for more sightings in the canyons. The problem I'm facing right now comes from all the wildfires in that particular area. So it's going to be tricky.

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  8. Hi Chris, I love hummingbirds --especially all of the ones you get in Arizona. I have a blog friend who bought a home in Tucson --and she is always showing pictures of all of her hummers. So neat... We have them here in Summer --but not nearly as many.

    Thanks for sharing.
    Betsy

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    1. You both will have to come to Tucson and visit! Wouldn't that be fun??!! There are so many incredible places to visit. I know you like the cooler temps from you mentioning it in a previous post.....so might I recommend November or April?

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  9. it's neat that you get multiple varieties. we only see ruby-throats here, but even still, they're wonderful!

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    1. I'm hunting for the Ruby-throats both here and in Wisconsin. BUT I think they'll be around our Tucson area in September?? I have to check the records of their migration patterns.

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  10. This is a really cool project and you're just the guy to get it done. :)

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    1. Okay...how about this one? It's another one of my "things" that I want to do...but what about a search for the colony of Peach Faced lovebirds??!!! Although it's a bit hot right now to do this:)

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  11. All the hummers are awesome to watch. Here we see Broad-tailed and Black-chinned. Good luck with this.

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    1. I imagine seeing a Broad-tailed Hummer with the Grand Canyon in the background.....now that's perfection:)

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  12. Thanks for these, I love Hummingbirds.

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    1. Arizona has a bad political rap. Not because of me though so I'll try to persuade you with our natural beauty. It's my duty to introduce Arizona in a positive and fun light:) But seriously, if you ever get a chance to visit, come during November or April. I think they represent the best weather to experience our great state....but I have to say, summer is pretty awesome as well. Especially July and the monsoon. All my best:)

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  13. You're off to a good start then Chris. I look forward to seeing some of those fascinating hummers in future posts ( no pressure!)

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    1. Warren, you have no idea. I am a determined man:)

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  14. Now you did it Chris, I'm green from head to toe with envy.
    I Love the adorable little hummingbirds. They don't come to our yard like I use to.
    cheers

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    1. But you have the most amazing seabirds!!! A Roseate is pretty cool:) As the summer gets going, hopefully you'll see a bunch of them swing by your way. Most of them migrate around the US during the summer.

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  15. Wonderful idea to post as you find each one. We only get a couple each fall so I am really amazed when I see all of yours. You got some amazing photos! We will be traveling soon to a place which is suppose to have hummingbirds so I'm hoping to snap some photos too.

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    1. Oooooo....I hope you get some great shots....maybe the Lucifer???!!! That's a cool one!

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  16. Oh, I will be looking forward to these posts! I have only seen the Costas and the (whichever one has the scarlet nape) I think it's a broad tailed. I used to have a really bossy one I called Sluggo, but I haven't seen him around this year. :-( And aren't you cute, coming to check on me like that? Yes, I have been back a couple of days but still trying to play catch up! It's always nice to be back among friends.

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    1. Yeah!!! You're back! I was missing both Magpie and your voice from the blogger world. I enjoy looking at your pics and hearing your adventures. So your "voice" was missed:) My turn is coming up soon...the blogger break:) Just 4 days but a little break. Glad you're back and hope you had a good time.

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  17. I love hearing about the hummingbirds. They have returned to my backyard ... so far, I think only a male and female but a few more should follow! I so wish I could find their little nest ... but having their feeder right outside my office window provides excellent photos!

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