Hooray! A winter hummingbird has come to stay!

On November 29th we were elated when we saw a hummingbird drinking from a feeder near our front porch. I knew it had been a couple of weeks since I changed the sugar water in the feeder, so I quickly made some fresh juice and filled up 3 feeders. The next day we saw the hummer again, but only for a second.
A few days later, I saw the hummingbird drinking from a patch of winter shrimp plant that was growing in a protected spot near the house. It looked like some kind of Selasphorus, probably a Rufous, but I couldn't be sure of more since I didn't have binoculars with me.

Today I finally was able to take some pictures of it. I sent some of the photos to our friend and local hummingbird bander, Linda Beall. She said that it looks like an immature female Rufous, but not to rule out an Allen's.

In Louisiana, any hummingbird observed after November 15th is considered a "winter hummingbird". Each sighting is reported to a local hummingbird bander and if the property owner wishes, the hummingbird is captured and a numbered band is placed on its leg. We are blessed with two expert licensed banders here in the New Orleans / North Shore area. Linda Beall handles most of the activity here on the northshore and Nancy Newfield (author of many publications) bands on the south shore and some places here on the north.

It has been at least 2 years since we hosted a winter hummingbird in our habitat here on the Tchefuncte River in South Louisiana. We look forward to this little western visitor brightening those dull winter days with its "ticks" and "whirs" as it makes its way around the garden.

For more information about winter hummingbirds, check out the following sites:
Banding a Hummingbird
Winged Jewels of Winter
Hummingbirds.net
Linda Beall's page
Winter Hummingbirds of Southwestern Louisiana
Cornell Project Feeder Watch - Hummingbirds in Winter

Beautiful St. Tammany Parish

Our nine acre National Wildlife certified backyard wildlife habitat is located on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. When we bought our property before Hurricane Katrina, in 1995, we were surrounded by woods and fields of wildflowers. Today, we are still in a rural area, and we have been busy planting trees to replace the ones that were destroyed.

St. Tammany Parish is located within driving distance from many interesting and enjoyable places. Just across the Causeway Bridge, on the South Shore is the historic city of New Orleans. Al has recorded many of his happy memories of growing up there in Top 10 Best of New Orleans in the Fifties.

Top 10 Best of New Orleans in the Fifties
I grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana in the 1950's and it was like a different world from the New Orleans of today. There was an almost magical quality to the city. Just think about it. We had Audubon Park, Pontchartrain Beach, Mardi Gras, Canal Street, the French Quarter and the Tulane Sugar Bowl Stadium. And you could get to all of them for only 7 cents and a transfer on the Streetcar. There were dances every Thursday through Saturday night and the music from the local artists was the best. If you wanted to breathe fresh air or do some fishing, the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi Gulf Coast were only a short drive away.

I can't think of a better place to live during that time. Here are some recollections about my top 10 most favorite places and events of New Orleans in the 1950's.

The North Shore has many nature oriented attractions. Not too far from us, near Folsom, Louisiana is the Global Wildlife Center where grazing animals from all over the world roam free.

Global Wildlife Center
Nestled among the back roads of the Florida Parishes, near Folsom, Louisiana, is a very unique wildlife preserve. Global Wildlife Center is the largest, totally free roaming preserve in the country. Animals of the grasslands from all over the world, some endangered or protected, make their home in the natural settings of the preserve. Safari tours are available which feature feeding the animals.

Global Wildlife is a great day trip for the whole family and is within easy driving distance from Baton Rouge, New Orleans or eastern Mississippi. It is open throughout the year, so a trip across the Lake to see the animals could be combined with the fun of Mardi Gras or any other celebration.

Covington is the parish seat of St. Tammany and is located where 3 rivers, the Tchefuncte, the Abita and the Bogue Falaya, intersect. It was once a thriving steamboat port where cotton planters sold their crop each year. Not far away is beautiful and peaceful St. Joseph's Abbey. We've written all about the interesting things to see and do in Covington, LA on New Orleans North Shore.

Covington, LA on New Orleans North Shore
Covington, LA is located on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain, across the Causeway Bridge from New Orleans making it the perfect place to stay when visiting the Big Easy.

It is the parish seat of St. Tammany Parish and it's history is old, dating back to the early 1800's. It was a major cotton trading stop for the paddle wheel boats and many a wealthy planter stayed at the Southern Hotel.

Today the beauty and solitude of the surrounding native areas attract nature lovers and artists. Many artist colonies have become established in and near Covington. The old Columbia Street Landing area by the Bogue Falaya River is filled with art galleries and antique shops. Covington and St. Tammany Parish provide the quiet solitude of the country while still being only half an hours drive from the city of New Orleans.