BCR 129: Sheri Williamson, Hummingbirds
Sheri L. Williamson is a lifelong naturalist, co-founder and co-director of the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory, and author of A Field Guide to Hummingbirds of North America in the Peterson Field Guide Series. She lives near the Mexican border in Bisbee, Arizona with her husband and colleague Tom Wood and their dependents: a geriatric parrot, a rescue dog, three pampered pet chickens, and hundreds of freeloading wild birds.
Show Notes:
- You and your husband Tom Wood founded the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory in 1996. What inspired you to do that?
- You’ve called hummingbirds “a ‘gateway drug’ for birding and conservation.”
- Tell us about the Amethyst–throated Hummingbird – first USA record in West Texas then Quebec
- Why does Southeastern Arizona have so many different species of hummingbirds and when is the best time to see hummingbirds in Southeastern Arizona?
- You are one of fewer than 200 hummingbird banders in the U.S who handled more than 7000 individual hummingbirds since 1990. Tell us about banding hummers.
- Some hummingbirds have adapted new wintering areas and the speculation is that the sheer number of feeders throughout the south has literally changed their migration patterns. How can I attract hummingbirds to my yard?
- Correction: it has come to our attention from guest Sheri Williamson, that Isabelle Hunt Conant was referred to as Elizabeth.
Mentioned In Episode:
BCR 192: Tom Wood, Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary Saved
Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory
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Just in time…perhaps!
I have recently returned from the san Francisco area, where I got a picture of what I believe may be a hybrid hummer. Is there any way to send the photo, and request identification?
Mitch, feel free to send a photo along to mardi@birdcallsradio.com and see if we can help you ID this hummer of yours. Cheers, Mardi Dickinson Host.
I was so lucky to be on a Sierra Vista AZ trip a few years ago that Sheri guided. Such a great week!
BEST Birdlife and Conservation podcast worldwide handsdown! Fantastic site and lots of helpful information here. I am letting several buddies of mine know about this great resource! Thanks for all your efforts!
Enjoyed the segment with Sheri L. Williamson tremendously! I had the honor of having a hummer visit my yard in early May, 2104. A rare event for us in northwest Nebraska. He was identified as a Broadtailed hummer by someone from eBird and as a Ruby by another identifier. So went back to one of them to try to clear up the confusion. He asked if I cared if he sent the pictures to a hummingbird expert and of course that was fine with me. The expert was Sheri L. Williamson and she identified him as a RT X BT.! She stated that this was the first time a Ruby Broadtail cross has been documented. I was excited to say the least!