Several months ago, I had numerous conversations with customers about hummingbirds. Back in April, May, and June, one customer after another was lamenting that they didn’t have as many hummingbirds this year as they did last year.
I listened to their comments—knowing they weren’t comparing April of this year to April of last year (and the same with May and June). What happens each year is that customers remember how many hummingbirds they had in their yard during peak season, which is August. The following spring, they still have in their memory the number of hummingbirds they were seeing in August, and compare that to what they are seeing in April, May, and June.
On Monday of this week, I received an email from a customer with the following message, “What a strange year for hummingbirds this has been! All through spring and early summer we saw only a handful—just those, really, that had spent the winter with us. Then a couple of weeks ago, the numbers exploded. We have nine feeders up, and yesterday I had to fill them all three times. There are so many, we could use an air traffic controller! I’m amazed there are not any mid-air collisions!”
I am really enjoying hearing customers talk about the numbers of hummingbirds they are seeing right now. Many are remarking they are seeing more hummingbirds this year than they’ve ever seen in the past. As I mentioned in my column last week, this is peak hummingbird season. Enjoy the show, as their numbers will start to taper off soon.
On another note, I thought I would provide you with an update on our 20th anniversary Birding Challenge. The challenge started back in January and ends in October. If you are not participating, it is not too late to start—you still have two months to complete as many of the requirements as you choose.
The competition includes a number of 5, 10, 25 and 50-point challenges. Points are awarded as one accomplishes each of the suggested activities. For example, the five-point challenge is based on seeing each of the species found in the two Sibley Birds of the Arizona Central Highlands folding guides. For each species observed, five points are earned.
The two folding guides highlight 145 species. Year to date, I have seen 144 species! What species has managed to elude all of my birding efforts this year? It is the prairie falcon. It’s not a super common bird of the Arizona Central Highlands, but that is the only bird species I’ve yet to see this year.
Other challenges range from opening an eBird account to becoming a member of one of the many nature/wildlife focused non-profits found in Prescott, such as the Highlands Center for Natural History, Prescott Creeks, Prescott Audubon, The Natural History Institute, or the Citizens Water Advocacy Group.
One of the twenty-five point challenges is easy. Simply submit a picture in this year’s wild bird photography contest. This is our 15th annual photography contest—and this is our first year in the new location with our new name, The Lookout, at 1230 Willow Creek Road. The submission period begins on Friday, September 1st, and runs through Saturday, September 30th.
We will announce the winners of the photo contest and the Birding Challenge at our 20th anniversary celebration event on Saturday, October 28th—put it on your calendar; you don’t want to miss it!
Until next week, Happy Birding!
Eric Moore is the owner of The Lookout, in Prescott, where you will find a Hallmark Gold Crown Store, wild bird products, and Vortex and Swarovski optics. Eric has been an avid birder for over 55 years. Eric can be contacted at eric@thelookoutaz.com.
