Project List
Monitoring: Our program is tied to regions. The regions
where we work and some latest developments are:
M1. Arizona - Most sites are in southeastern Arizona where
differences in hummingbird populations are studied in many of the sky islands.
In 2006 we expanded to the White Mountains at a site near Alpine, AZ.
M2. California - Most sites are in southern California. In
2004 we expanded to central California to a site near Mariposa, CA. In 2006
additional sites are being investigated to include regions between the central
and southern California sites.
M3. British Columbia - Monitoring began in 2004 at sites
along the coast. In 2005, sites in the interior began monitoring. We will
now gain an understanding of how hummingbird populations vary across BC.
M4. Expansion to new areas - Our goal is to determine the
best long-term monitoring sites for all North American hummingbird species.
Research: Each research project is guided by a research
question. Currently, our research is focused on questions about how the distribution
of nectar resources affects hummingbird abundance and in turn what factors
are beneficial for maintaining these resources. For more details, go to Research on this website.
R1. QUESTION: How does flower density affect hummingbird
visitation rates at feeders?
PROJECT: In October 2003, fieldwork began at Tohono Chul
Park in Tucson, Arizona, where where there are a number of gardens planted
with hummingbird-visited flowers and the flower density varies throughout
the year. This study, led by University of Arizona Ph.D. graduate student,
Rachel McCaffrey helps HMN estimate hummingbird populations because the density
of nearby nectar resources may influence the numbers of hummingbirds visiting
HMN's monitoring sites. Fieldwork is almost over and data analysis will begin
soon.
R2. QUESTION: How does the distribution of nectar resources
affect hummingbird abundance at HMN monitoring sites?
PROJECT: Botanist Meg Quinn began mapping the locations of
plant species used by hummingbirds at nectar resources in southeastern Arizona.
Once mapping is complete, we will begin estimating flower abundance each year
and correlating it to hummingbird abundance. This correlation is needed to
ultimately estimate hummingbird population sizes.
R3. QUESTION: What are the habitat requirements for successful
nesting of breeding hummingbird species in the Madrean Pine-Oak Woodlands
and does grazing affect these requirements?
PROJECT: Our research will begin with funding from the USFWS,
SWRS and HMN will begin our research partnership. Graduate student Rama Callan
will help on this project.
R4. QUESTION: Where are the important wintering sites for
North American Hummingbirds
PROJECT: Dr. George C. West has begun investigating sites
in Sinaloa and has obtained permits to band hummingbirds in Mexico.
He began inventorying some populations at a private ranch in La Guasima off the Durango
Highway, east of Mazatlan, in February 2006. We have formed a partnership with Pronatura that has a station also on the Durango Highway at El Palmito that is at a much higher elevation. HMN has trained graduate students from the University of Sinaloa in Culiacan to monitor wintering hummingbirds at this site in 2006 - 2007.
R5. QUESTION: What is the energetic cost of sustained hummingbird flight? How much water is lost through respiration during flight?
PROJECT: Dr. Donald Powers is working in Patagonia and at the Southwest Research Station with live hummingbirds to record their oxygen requirements while hovering and feeding at an artificial flower that serves as a gas collector. This also allows him to determine the water loss from the rapid respiration of hovering hummingbirds. He will extend these studies to flying birds over longer periods of time.
R6. QUESTION:What is the importance of hummingbirds to pollination of the Southwestern Coral Bean (Erythrina flabelliformis) and what nectar resource does this plant offer hummingbirds?
PROJECT: Dr. Marilyn Loveless will be making observations of color-marked birds feeding on Coral Bean nectar and tracing their movements to other plants of the same species. Her studies will be in the Chiricahua, Huachuca, and Santa Rita sky islands of southern Arizona.
Preservation
P1. Protecting the Fog Forest of western Ecuador - We are working with Dr. C. Dusti Becker and the community
of Loma Alta, Ecuador to strengthen and expand protection of the fog forest, that
is home to the endangered Esmeraldas Woodstar (hummingbird).
Education:
E1. Public outreach at monitoring stations - We invite visitors to come to our public monitoring sites to observe and learn about the banding operation and understand more of what we are doing and how we hope to protect hummingbird populations. Visitors take photographs, ask questions, and are allowed to release a bird from their open hand. This is an ongoing activity at our monitoring sites open to the public.
E2. HMN bander Rebecca Hamilton is writing a children's book to tell the story of a Rufous Hummingbird that was banded in Arizona and a year later trapped in a kitchen in British Columbia. It will educate young people about migration and energetics of hummingbirds.
E3. HMN's resource information guide - will provide information about hummingbirds, how to identify them, their distribution, and ecology. This project is also an ongoing activity. Some of the guide will be available on this web site in late 2007.
E4. New projects on the horizon.