GC.SUL@forsythe.stanford.edu (Sullivan) (02/24/90)
I know spring has arrived in the San Francisco Bay area when the first Allens Hummingbird shows up in the yard. I have been keeping track for the last three years and have discovered I always have at least one by Feb. 15. this year, I heard one in the yard (the wings have a higher-pitched "whirring" sound than the Annas Hummingbird), before I saw it. Anyway, Now I would guess there are around 3 males in the yard. I have 3 feeders up as the February freeze killed many of my hummingbird plants, and the Allens have no diffifulty competing with the local Annas. Last year the Allens stayed around for several months before continuting north. Also, the last two years I have had several Rufous Hummingbirds visit in the yard, but they don't stay more than a week or so, and usually arrive several weeks after the Annas. I am hoping they show up this year. I am "over the hill" from the Penninsula in La Honda (about 9 miles from the coast), and would be interested in any sightings of Allens or Rufous on the actual Penninsula K. Sullivan