Probably Not This Winter

The nectar feeder has been in place all autumn, but it's looking very much like Rufous Hummingbirds won't be in the picture this season.  The map (from the 2011 Great Backyard Bird Count) gives one some idea of what we're up against.  There were a number of southeast sightings of the Rufous in the southeast, but they're overwhelmingly of the average-one-per-site level and that always spells R-A-R-E.  To be sure they're in my county this winter.  But it is a large county (2,220 square kilometers!) and most observers don't find them.  The trend lines favor my eventually attracting one.  It just won't be this year.  But it was worth the try...the nectar feeders will probably come down fairly soon.