This Week at Hilton Pond

Bill Hilton Jr.
Executive Director
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History
York, South Carolina 29745 USA

Hummingbird Jubilation, Tinged With Sadness (22-30 June 2008)

During our 25 years of hummer study we've had our share of "hummingbird jubilations," including several of our banded birds being recaptured at other locales. None of these, however, matches the excitement we experienced "This Week at Hilton Pond" when we got word of the unprecedented long-distance recovery of a ruby-throated hummingbird we banded earlier this year. Yippee!

We won't give away the jubilant secret here--suffice it to say it involves the U.S. AND Costa Rica!--but ask that you read the full story in our current photo essay for 22-30 June 2008 at http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek080622.html . As always we provide a tally of all birds banded or recaptured during the period, including miscellaneous notes about our unusually low numbers of ruby-throats.

Figure 1. The female ruby-throated hummingbird photographed above wore a band inscribed C51599 that assured her a unique place in the history of ornithological study. Photograph copyright Bill Hilton Jr.

Evidence For Breeding Success (1-14 July 2008)

Everywhere we looked "This Week at Hilton Pond" we saw signs of breeding success among animals that live on the property: Deer, insects, songbirds (including a "mystery bird"), snakes, and even an influx of tiny toads. For a photo essay about all this procreation, please visit our 1-14 July 2008 installment at http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek080701.html

As always we include a list of birds banded and recaptured--and what a week it FINALLY was for ruby-throated hummingbirds!

Figure 2. Along with numerous other creatures around Hilton Pond, Japanese beetles (above) were spending considerable energy this week in attempts to propagate their genes. Photograph copyright Bill Hilton Jr.

To help support the education, research, and conservation work of Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History, please see http://www.hiltonpond.org/FundingMain.html. Editor.