Texas - Louisiana Buff-bellied
Last November, I was very excited to announce the recapture of a Buff-bellied Hummingbird on 11/6/02, at the home of Rose and Jack Must in Lafayette, LA. It was originally banded by Brent Ortego in Raisin, TX, on 9/17/01, as an immature male. He was recaptured 4 times through the summer of 2002 by Brent at the same site with the last recapture date of 10/13/02.
A few days after the "Must" recapture, he disappeared from the Must residence. A few more days and he shows up at Belle Rive Townhomes on 11/14/02, about 3 miles away. I manage the complex and maintain a dozen or more feeders through the winter. He still had the green paint placed on his head during recapture at the Must's, and I knew right away who he was.
On 12/14/02, I accidentally caught him again while banding other winter hummingbirds in the complex. I double checked the band number and took a couple of photos of the wing showing all primaries present, and tail which lost a couple feathers during the photo session. Just after New Years, I noticed the wing appeared to have a gap in the primaries, and set up the video camera to check out the situation. The following are a sequence of captured video frames showing the progression of molt.
January 2, 2003
First notice of a gap in primaries. P1 100%, P2 90%, P3 75%, P4&5 missing, P6-10
old.
January 14, 2003
Primaries 1-5 new, P6 75%, P7-10 old.
January 27, 2003
Primary 6 90%, P7 missing, P8-10 old.
February 4, 2003
Primary 1-6 new, P7 hidden, P8-10 old.
February 14, 2003
Primaries 1-6 new, P7 90%, P8 missing, P9-10 . Tail molt seen.
February 20, 2003
Primaries 1-7 new, P8 10%, P9-10 old, tail molting.
March 7, 2003
Primaries 1-7 new, P8 99%, P9 pin feather, P10 10%.
March 18, 2003
Primaries 1-8 new, P9 80%, P10 90%. Tail complete.
March 20, 2003 The last day of spring 2003, he was observed at Belle Rive Townhomes in Lafayette, LA.
April 6, 2003 Brent Ortego recaptured him again in Raisin, TX. It is suspected that he remained in the area during the summer but was not recaptured by Brent until August 10, 2003. Brent caught him once again during a banding session in Raisin on September 18,2003.
October 3,2003
First Observed for the 2003 winter at Belle Rive Townhomes, Lafayette, LA. He
was recaptured October 4, 2003, to confirm the band number. He is still present
at Belle Rive Townhomes, Lafayette, LA, as of today, November 6, 2003.