Mansfield's Well-traveled Rufous

Once again, Mansfield has hosted a winter Rufous Hummingbird!  

This shy gal was perched well out into the yard, difficult to photograph.

Her favorite roost was within the boughs of a Blue Spruce.  Nice an toasty in there, well out of the wind and snow.

 Our friend Allen Chartier traveled down from Michigan to band the bird, while homeowner, Barb, anxiously photographs the whole examination.  Even the surprise...

 This bird has already been banded!  After the surprise of having a winter re-capture hummingbird, Allen checks his files and find - it was his bird originally.     (The band in this photo is highlighted)

Proud homeowner Barb, releases the hummingbird unharmed, while Steve McKee looks on and expert bander Allen Chartier takes photos.   It was certainly a day Barb will never forget!

Allen's take on the full account it posted below: 

Date: Wed, 4 Jan 2012 19:52:39 -0500

Ohio Birders,

On October 20, 2009 I banded an adult female Rufous Hummingbird near 
Loudonville, Ashland County,Ohio where she was First Observed on October 24 and Last Observed on November 9, 2009.

On December 18, 2010, Fred Bassett recaptured her in Pensacola, Florida (I`don't have FO and LO dates).

Today (January 4, 2012), I caught her again, this time in Mansfield,
Richland County,Ohio. She has been on site there since about November 1. The homeowner prefers not to host visitors as they have a small house and`yard, with limited parking. This is about 15 miles NW of where she was`originally banded in 2009(and less than 2 miles from where another Rufous`was banded in 2007).

This is only the second Rufous Hummingbird confimed as a returnee to Ohio`(none yet in Michigan or Indiana).

Since she was banded in 2009, she has likely flown at least 15,000  miles,including two returns in summer back to her breeding area somewhere in the Pacific Northwest (from Oregon to southern Alaska). She is also at least 3 years 6 months old.

Amazing!

--
Allen T. Chartier
Inkster, Michigan
Email: amazilia3 AT gmail.com
Website: www.amazilia.net
Blog: http://mihummingbirdguy.blogspot.com/