Rare Bird Alert!

STORY LYNNE RICHARDSON | PHOTOGRAPHY ELOISE JUTZI

On a crisp fall day last November, my phone pinged with a message about a bird. A frequent occurrence for a birder, of course, but this one was different. It was from the Ontario Rare Bird Alert listserv moderator about a sighting not too far from me. A special bird was coming to a feeder, and the homeowner had agreed to have birders come for a look. It was a bird from the west coast of Canada, way off course from its migratory route to Mexico for the winter.

Such occurrences cause quite a stir in the birding world as they provide an opportunity to see a species in Ontario that you may never otherwise have a chance to see. Birders would “flock” to see such a bird (to use the usual pun).

RARE BIRD AMBASSADOR

So this is where I became involved under the auspices of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) Rare Bird Ambassador program. This initiative involves working with the property owner hosting a rare bird to establish viewing parameters – where to park, when to visit, where to watch from, how many people can be accommodated at a time, and any other requirements – all to the host’s satisfaction. We also advise what to expect when we put the word out on the listserv about a rare bird. It often means many people will be standing quietly in their backyard at the crack of dawn the next morning, with many more coming and going throughout the days the bird remains.

This homeowner was very amenable to a few simple guidelines. Once these ground rules were established, the word was put out to the birding community – and the fun began. Over the few short days that the bird lingered, over 100 people from all over southern Ontario had the opportunity to see a rare and wonderful little species.

HUMDINGER!

So, what was this special bird you ask? Well, it was a bird that defied the odds of probability by surviving what would have been a 3,000-plus kilometre journey. It was a wee wisp of a thing, and it was a beauty. It was a brilliant rufous hummingbird, far from home.

This homeowner had left her hummingbird feeder hanging, even though her summer hummers had departed in August. However, just the day before, she had taken the feeder off its hanger and placed it on the deck, en route to storing it for the winter. Lucky for this little bird, the feeder hadn’t made it there yet. The next morning, to her surprise, a hummingbird was hovering around the feeder. A second surprise was this hummer’s colouration – a striking, rich rufous with a white throat band and a gorget that shines gloriously orangey-red in the sunlight. Definitely not our common, local ruby-throated hummingbird.

MIGRATION MIX-UP

So how did this hummer manage to get itself to the middle of the fields and forests of rural Grey County – so far from the feeders and flowers of British Columbia? Rufous hummers have a famously long migration from their BC summer nesting grounds to their Mexico over-wintering locales, so they’re no stranger to long-haul flights. But due to a migration mix-up, severe weather, or a loss of its internal compass, it somehow ended up winging its way straight east instead of due south.

SERENDIPITY

How any bird can end up thousands of miles from their home base is a puzzle that fascinates birders and adds a sense of mystery to the whole “rare bird” watching experience. Many stars had to align for this minuscule mite of a bird to be buzzing by the very spot where a forgotten feeder was still outside in November. Next, the homeowner had to be home, and, second, glance outside at exactly the moment the bird chanced by and stopped for a quick hovering pit stop to check out the forlorn feeder. The story could have stopped there, but for the caring homeowner who immediately boiled some sugar water, filled two feeders, and re-hung them on the slim chance the bird would linger long enough to return. And when the hummer, amazingly, did in fact do just that, the homeowner decided to find a random site on Facebook that might help her get information and an ID on this wee waif. Then, of course, an experienced birder familiar with a non-endemic species would have to come across the post while it was still live, quickly and correctly identify it, and contact the poster for further info. This person would also need to be aware of the significance of this sighting to the birding community, understand that other birders would give anything to see it, and know how to get the word out appropriately through the OFO Rare Bird Ambassador program and its listserv. And that is exactly what happened – all these crazy “coinkydinks” happened rather lickety-split, and finally, many lucky birders got to see him in all his shimmery glory.

ANY TIME, ANY PLACE

For a birder, almost nothing tops getting a crack at seeing a new bird species – a lifer, a bird never before seen by that person. Birders travel to exotic destinations – other countries, other continents even – to add new birds to their Life List. But having a rarity show up in a doable driving distance from your own locale adds another element of excitement to the birding game. A rare bird can show up anytime, anywhere, in the least expected places. You never know where, and you just never know when. On any given day when you’re simply going about your business, you’re not expecting to hear about a rare bird. You’re certainly not prepared to drop everything and go after a bird at a moment’s notice, but that is exactly what’s required. A delay could mean the bird disappears as mysteriously as it appeared. It may be years (or never) before you have a chance to see the species. So that’s what you do… get going as soon as you can. Adding to the excitement of the scenario is the chance that you won’t be successful. Should you really go? The bird may have flown by the time you get there. What other pastime carries with it such intense intrigue?

BON VOYAGE

All in all, this was a very successful rare bird alert. The homeowner was amused and entertained, and remained graciously accommodating even as many observers continuously occupied her backyard. Birders signed a guest book, left donations to a cause of her choice, the odd bag of sugar, and many, many thanks! The hummer cooperated for a few days before realizing it wasn’t in Mexico and, hopefully, headed on its way. It was a bright and beautiful sight and an unexpected experience for everyone over a few grey November days. OH