I forgot to tell you all while we were busy figuring out how to keep our winter humming bird alive one day THERE WERE 2!!! Almost had to rub our eyes to believe it.

It was Nov. 29th and we had another here for 2 days so it must have been just a migrating bird. Never got to see what kind it was...but our Annas has never left and keeps her schedule!

Did you have a bnader come out to band her? They do have a fidelity and will often return to the same yard each winter after going to the breeding area in the summer.

What a great story. Your hummingbird clearly found a great home.

We would love to have her banded but have not been able to locate one. One from Newport but he is in CA for winter I have no luck getting help from the local audobon society they are more interested in the big birds right now. If you have any suggestions please let us know.

I've enjoyed reading about your Winter Hummer and offer this thought.
If it happens that your Anna's should stay for the summer and into next winter and beyond, I won't be surprised.
Looking thru my journal going back to 2001, all we ever had was the summer Rufous, but for the first time in 2008 and then every winter since, we've also now had the Anna's stay year-around, including seeing the female collect nesting cotton and actually finding her nest and nestlings in 2010. Records show that Anna's have been expanding their range for many years.
It is the Female Anna's that establishes the nesting territory and nesting should begin in another month or so here near North Bend, WA.
If your Anna's should stick around through the summer, you might just be having your husband get used to the early morning winter feeder duty!!! Enjoy and Good Luck