History

In 2002, we began monitoring hummingbird populations at nine sites in Arizona and two sites in California. Thus, a new conservation program for hummingbirds began. At the time, we did not even have a name, just a vision. Dr. Susan M. Wethington had envisioned this program in 2001. That year she became certified by the North American Banding Council to band and to train others to band hummingbirds. She also talked with others about the need and concept of what is now the Hummingbird Monitoring Network (HMN). During this gestation phase, Dr. George C. West, a retired ornithologist from University of Alaska, and Ms Barbara A. Carlson, then the Director of Nature Reserves for University of California-Riverside, already banding hummingbirds in Arizona and California respectively, enthusiastically joined the effort. The three of us became the founding scientists of the Network.

We started monitoring first because much baseline information such as: what are the population sizes of hummingbird species, how do populations vary through time, and where are the important breeding and migration stopover sites? These are unknown for hummingbirds. In 2001, we began training citizen scientists to band hummingbirds and to manage a monitoring site. This began our volunteer program and proved to be an essential element for our success. The support and dedication of these volunteers have been extensive and unwavering.

Violet-crowned Hummingbird

Other essential elements for success were to find a professional home for the Network and to find funding. Dr. Wethington approached the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum with the idea. They approved it and made her a Research Associate. We now had a professional association for developing the Network. Now, we needed to find some initial funding. At first, it appeared hopeless, but every once in a while luck prevails. The National Park Service (NPS) Research Coordinator for the Desert Southwest Cooperative Ecosystem Study Unit (DSCESU) learned of our program and understood that our goals and the goals of the DSCESU were compatible. He committed funding for three years and this made it possible for the Network to grow. We will always be grateful to Dr. Richard C. Brusca, ASDM Executive Program Director and Mr. Larry Lee Norris, NPS DSCESU Research Coordinator for their role in starting the Hummingbird Monitoring Network. Larry took the additional step of learning how to band hummingbirds and manage a monitoring site. He now runs one of HMN's monitoring sites. He also first suggested our name.

The 2002-monitoring season was first considered a pilot study season, but the monitoring yielded much useable information. So, we began to inform others. Dr. Wethington presented the data at the Cooper Ornithological Union's annual meeting in Flagstaff, Arizona in the spring of 2003. At this meeting, Dr. Wethington's presentation followed Dr. C. Dusti Becker's presentation on her work in the Fog Forest of Ecuador. These two scientists quickly discovered that their work could benefit the other. The area in which Dr. Becker worked is now an important bird area, which also happens to be a hummingbird oasis. There, the tiny endangered Esmeraldas Woodstar lives. This Woodstar weighs less than two grams and is so tiny that it evades capture in mistnets. Dr. Becker wanted to better document the occurrence of the Woodstar in the Fog Forest of western Ecuador and Dr. Wethington saw the importance of this region to be preserved. Thus, a new collaboration began and HMN's first preservation project followed from 2004 through 2007.

We continued to present our monitoring results and encouraged other hummingbird banders to join the Network. In 2004, we established monitoring sites in central California and British Columbia with the help of Rita Colwell and Cam Finlay. The Network continues to expand to new regions. In 2007, we have more sites in California, and have expanded into northern Arizona, central Texas, and central Mexico. We are hoping for new sites in Colorado and New Mexico next year.

The Research section of HMN also began as a result of the monitoring work. At the end of the 2003 monitoring session, all resources needed to address the question - How do nearby nectar resources affect hummingbird-visitation rates at feeders? - became available. The fieldwork and data analyses are finished. Now, PhD student Rachel McCaffrey is writing her dissertation. Research at HMN has expanded to include a botany program-started in 2004 thanks to NPS DSCESU funds, and in 2005 the development of a partnership with the Southwestern Research Station, owned by the American Museum of Natural History.

HMN is established as the science-based, project-driven conservation program for hummingbirds. In 2004, we applied and received our official tax-exempt status and became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We have established our independence and hope that you, the reader, will find us worthy of support.