I arrived at the Ripley Garden this morning around 8:45. Because the side
path had not been shoveled, I could tell the hummingbird feeder had not yet
been checked. While the nectar was still thawed, the holes were all iced
over. I suspect the heat lamp melted the snow which landed on the feeder,
and it then refroze. I broke off all the ice, tipped it to ensure nectar
was flowing through the holes, and then replaced it, as close to the lamp
as possible. I waited about 10 minutes, looking for the Rufous. Just as I
prepared to leave, I realized she was there--and probably had been the
whole time. She was sitting in the Rose bush, and because her back was to
me, she was almost perfectly camouflaged. Her feathers were fluffed, but
she appears fine--and she was not covered in snow, so she obviously moved
at some point! Although she did not use the feeder while I was there, she
can now if she wishes to.
Laura Farron
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