2004 PUBLIC SCHEDULE for hummingbird banding
All events below are FREE (donations accepted, videos for sale)

Updated 17 August 2004

Check back frequently. This page will be updated at a moment's notice during the month of August as evening banding dates at locales in and around Mtn Home (Elmore County) become finalized -- for many of them the public is welcome...

Write SJPeterson _at_ aol.com for driving directions to these sites.

May 30, 31 (Sunday and Monday)
Rudeen Ranch, Power County
All day Sunday, and at least the morning on Monday, beginning 8 AM each day
Last year we banded over 200 hummingbirds there during Sunday & Monday of Memorial Day Weekend, including lots of Calliope and Broad-taileds (both sexes), with a splattering of Black-chinneds. We didn't encounter any Rufous at that time, so that species is not to be expected this year either. Hummer numbers are staggering, especially right before sundown when the half-dozen or so feeders are literally swarming with birds. We stop banding at that time just to sit in awe and watch the show! At least one "local" Audubon group will be in attendance.

RESULTS: We banded 226 new birds (182 Calliope, 23 Black-chinned, and 21 Broad-taileds) and recaptured 62 of the 209 that were banded last year!

June 6 (Sunday)
Brockman Feeding Station (South of Twin Falls), Twin Falls County
8 AM until 11 or 12 AM, potentially longer
This is another incredible site literally out in the middle of nowhere in the Shoshone National Forest south of Twin Falls (well off the road to Jackpot, NV). For the past two years we have banded there at the end of July / beginning of August for migrants. This year we're adding a June date to see what the resident population looks like. We banded over 100 birds there in 2002 and another 100+ in 2003, including a few exciting recaptures from the last year! I'm not exactly sure what the mix of species will entail in June, but we had lots of Calliope and Broad-tailed with a few Black-chinneds and Rufous in late summer. This is planned in conjunction with a Twin Falls Audubon Society field trip, but guests are certainly welcome.

RESULTS: We banded 137 new birds (106 Calliope, 18 Black-chinneds, and 13 Broad-taileds) and recaptured 20 birds that had been banded during the summers of 2002 and 2003.

July 23-26 (Friday through Monday)
Kern River Preserve, CALIFORNIA
I will be banding as part of a demonstration for the 6th Annual Kern River Preserve Hummingbird Celebration. If you want to see different hummers -- come to California with me!

RESULTS: Don Mitchell and I banded 155 hummingbirds (71 Black-chinneds, 61 Anna's, 19 Rufous, and 4 Costa's) and recaptured 17 that had been banded there in previous years. A little over 600 guests enjoyed the birds -- the largest crowd on record for this 6th annual celebration.

July 30 (Friday)
High Valley, Valley County
8 AM until noon or shortly thereafter
This private residence is a new humbanding site that holds ample potential! The setting itself is beautiful and we can't wait to band there again (we spent some time earlier this summer when abundant wildflowers limited the numbers of hummers at the feeders).

RESULTS: Dad and I banded 94 hummingbirds (67 Calliopes, 21 Black-chinneds, and 6 Rufous). No immature Calliopes noted yet!

August 1 (Sunday)
Brockman Feeding Station, Twin Falls County
8 AM until about 3 PM, with break for lunch
See June 6 above.

RESULTS: Visiting Louisiana humbander Dave Patton and I banded 128 hummingbirds (57 Calliopes, 41 Broad-taileds, 26 Black-chinneds, and 4 Rufous) and recaptured 37 that had been banded there in previous sessions since 2002. Finally -- 2 immature Calliopes noted, along with 10 immature Broad-taileds.

August 3 (Tuesday)
Y-Stop General Store, Prairie, Elmore County
8 AM until noon
This is generally a good site to see Calliope and Black-chinneds, and I suspect a few Rufous at this time of year. Don't worry about lunch -- the store offers tasty charizos, hotdogs, and burgers grilled to order outdoors, along with a nice variety of snacks and drinks. The owners are very supportive of our research, and I like to support their store in return!

RESULTS: I banded 50 hummingbirds in Prairie (29 Black-chinneds, 11 Calliope -- all adults, and 10 Rufous) and recaptured 4 that had been banded there in previous sessions.

August 4, 5 (Wednesday & Thursday)
Rudeen Ranch, Power County
Beginning approx. 9 AM Wednesday, ending Thursday evening
See May 30 above.

RESULTS: Dad and I banded 144 hummingbirds (103 Calliopes, 20 Black-chinneds, 18 Broad-taileds, 2 Rufous, and a possible Calliope X Black-chinned hybrid) and recaptured a whole bunch (to be tallied!) that had been banded there in previous sessions. Only 2 immature Calliopes were noted, and no immature Broad-taileds... Our most exciting recapture was of an adult female Calliope that we found to already be wearing a band when we captured her -- and it wasn't one of ours! A little investigative work revealed that this bird had been banded by a researcher near Silver City, New Mexico, on August 13, 2003! That is 668 miles from the Rudeen ranch!!! Neat stuff.

August 8 (Sunday)
Pearl, Gem County
8 AM until birds dwindle, usually 10 or 11 AM, hopefully later!
We've banded several times at this private residence over the past couple years, but have yet to encounter a banded "return" bird. Maybe this will be our first! This is planned in conjuction with a Southwestern Idaho Birders Association (SWIBA) field trip, as well as a "Bird House and Habitat" store (Eagle, Idaho) birdwalk. Other guests are certainly encouraged to come.

RESULTS: We banded 30 hummingbirds in Pearl (28 Black-chinneds and 2 Rufous) and recaptured an adult male Black-chinned that I had banded earlier this spring (5/18/04) at a private residence in Mtn Home -- 60 miles to the southeast!

We then drove up to High Valley and spent a few hours there in the afternoon. There we banded 47 more hummingbirds (20 Rufous, 19 Calliopes, 9 Black-chinneds, and to immature birds that looked intermediate between Black-chinned and Calliope and may be hybrids...).

August 9 (Monday)
Mountain Home, Elmore County
7 AM until about 11 AM (whenever birds depart)
I've banded hundreds of birds at this site over the past couple years and always enjoy the time! This is a private residence on the north side of Mtn Home Reservoir -- a veritable oasis in the middle of nothing! The birds that arrive often don't stay long -- just enough time to tank up and (hopefully) get banded before they leave. So we'll band until they decide to vamoose for points farther south.

RESULTS: We banded 32 hummingbirds this morning (25 Black-chinneds and 7 Rufous).

Through 16 August 2004, we have banded 99 hummers at this site this year (72 Black-chinneds, 25 Rufous and 2 Calliope).

There will certainly be several more morning and evening sessions at the "Mtn Home Reservoir" site in Elmore County throughout August. Keep your eyes peeled here for updates -- many "last minute."

August 22 (Sunday)
Challis, Custer County
Time: All day at various homes
Due to the driving time from our home, we've been unable to band at this location previously, although we've wanted to for the past couple years. But this year we're making every effort to "nail" down the opportunity to do it. If you live anywhere near Challis, this may be a great opportunity for you to observe humbanding without driving forever to reach a site! If you are interested in details, drop me a line (see link at bottom).


 Donations: We gladly accept donations at our banding sessions, but they certainly are not required. You can even donate online from your bank account via Paypal by clicking the link at left. Sorry, we are not a tax-exempt organization so your donation is not tax deductable. But it is greatly appreciated!

To return to the Idaho Hummers page, click here.

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