Both birds were present on Sunday December 7th at their usual locations, please see directions below. The RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD was observed sitting on a open perch on the east side of a White Cedar adjacent to the feeder at the south side of the house between 8:30 and 8:45 a.m. It was evidently warning itself in the sun after surviving a very cold night. Mr. Yendt came out of the house to check the hummingbird feeder to find that the sugar/water solution was partly frozen despite it being under two warming lamps. Perhaps a heating coil could be inserted in the feeder? The BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK was feeding on the platform feeder when I arrived at 10:55 a.m.. It fed for about ten minutes then roosted in trees behind the feeder. It then fed one more time at about 11:30 a.m. It then left the area and did not return to the feeder when I left at about 12:30 p.m. The Sharp-shinned Hawk, present yesterday, did not reappear when I was there. DIRECTIONS FOR RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD: from Hwy 401 @ km. 623 go south on Hwy 15 to the T-junction at Hwy 2 and then east on #2 Hwy to King Pitt Rd., then south on King Pitt Rd. to #24 at the end of the Road. CONDITIONS: The owners are birder-friendly. They request that visiting birders not block the streets or driveways. Please visit in small groups, 5 or 6 persons at a time are welcome to watch the hummingbird feeder on the south side of the house from a distance of 20 ft. A good vantage point is the row of rocks at about that distance south of the feeder. DIRECTIONS FOR BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK: Directions from Ottawa: Take the 417 west and exit at #44 west to Almonte. Take main street in Almonte west to #29. Turn right (north) on #29 and drive 10 kilometres and turn left (west) on Cedar Hill road. Drive 4 kilometres west until you come to a T-junction and turn right (north) on concession #6. Take the first left which is Klondike road. The house is #305 on the left (south side) of the road. Directions from Toronto: Take Hwy 401 east to exit 623. Take Hwy. 15 north to #29 at Carleton Place. Turn right (north) on #29 and then turn left (west) on Cedar Hill road where #29 jogs right (east). Drive 4 kilometres west until you come to a T-junction and turn right (north) on concession #6. Take the first left which is Klondike road. The house is #305 on the left (south side) of the road. CONDITIONS: Please call before heading out. Bob Jurmain normally takes visitors on weekends only. His telephone number is (613) 256-0160. There is a donation box, please be generous! Alfred Adamo aadamo2003@hotmail.com Brampton, ON (416) 432 2246 "Adamo, Alfred (Innovapost)" <aadamo@purolator.com> Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.

Birders, Alfred Adamo wrote: > The RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD was observed sitting on a open perch on the east > side of a White Cedar adjacent to the feeder at the south side of the house > between 8:30 and 8:45 a.m. It was evidently warning itself in the sun after > surviving a very cold night. Mr. Yendt came out of the house to check the > hummingbird feeder to find that the sugar/water solution was partly frozen > despite it being under two warming lamps. Perhaps a heating coil could be > inserted in the feeder? Actually, there is something available called Heat Tape, which is basically a wide strip of tape wrapped around a wire heating coil, with an electric plug at the end. This can be wrapped around the upper portion of the feeder, as long as the feeder is glass on top and not plastic. The heat lamp that I usually recommend is a red spotlight style that is about 200 watts, which you can put into a small aluminum parabolic-type socket. This should be placed about 18-inches (45 cm) from the feeder. If temperatures are consistently predicted to be around -10, then move it closer. These bird have survived multiple nights of -15 to -18 C, so having the nectar in liquid form for their first feed in the morning is the most helpful thing that can be done. Another possibility is to take the feeder inside well after dark, and replace it before first light in the morning. This has an additional advantage of warmer, room temperature nectar in the morning for the bird to feed on. It does require a committment to wake up early enough every morning, since these birds have been known to start feeding as early as 6:30 a.m. even in mid-December in northern latitudes. Allen Chartier amazilia1@comcast.net 1442 West River Park Drive Inkster, MI 48141 Website: http://www.amazilia.net Michigan HummerNet: http://www.amazilia.net/MIHummerNet/index.htm "Allen Chartier" <amazilia1@comcast.net> Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.