Rufous Returns
Vivaldi's Gloria Thu May 4th Male Rufous Hummingbird - Selasphorus Rufus Steller's Jay in the front garden A debate is starting to rumble in BC as to whether the Rufous Hummingbird should replace the Steller's Jay as the official provincial bird. The Rufous, which has just returned from its winter sojourn in Mexico, will be here until the middle of summer, when it will head back the 2500+ miles to avoid the BC winter. The one above has been a frequent visitor to our feeder, along with all year round Anna's Hummingbird. I'm not overly convinced that a bird that spends less than six months 'in town' should warrant the title, beautiful though it is. I do find it pretty amazing that something so small, weighing in at 0.1oz (3 grams), flies such distances. Flying at speeds of 20 - 30 mph, that is 100 days in each direction. No wonder it is only around for 3 - 4 months. The Steller's Jay is resident year-round in BC. Others favour ...