Broad-tail hummingbird Larimer County

[Pat Hayward]

Hi all,

   Last weekend I was gardening and noticed our Ribes aureum flowers were just opening in our garden. These are usually our indicator plants. 

   On Monday I was pretty sure I heard a BT hummer but never saw it so went ahead and put out our feeders. Today Joel says that there were at least 2 males hanging out in a large shrub next to our deck, but he did not see them go to the feeders all day - just kind of hung out in the shrub (Cercocarpus ledifolius about 15' tall)

   Well - while I was writing this we just had one come to a feeder at 7 pm, temp 31 F!

  Our previous FOY dates:

2000: 4/21

2001: 4/26

20002: 4/16

2003: 4/22

2004: 4/17

2005: 4/15

2006: 4/14

2007: 4/16

2008:4/16

2009: 4/24

2010: 4/23

2011: 4/30 

2012: 4/23

2013: 4/24

2014: 4/17

So obviously this is the earliest first-of-year sighing for us in the 16 years we've been recording. We live in a rural neighborhood of 50 homes in the foothills west of Fort Collins, and it's fun to share observations with people close by who are also paying attention.

--

Pat Hayward
Masonville CO
at 5400' west of Fort Collins