Newspaper Page Text
Page 2C
April 6, 2022
MONROE OUTDOORS by Terry W. Johnson
Reporter
Hummingbirds are back in Monroe County
Bob Hurley reported the first female ruby-throated hum
mingbird, like the one above, seen in Monroe County in
2022 on March 24. (Photo/Terry Johnson)
lthough
I am
certain
that many
Monroe
Countians
have not spot
ted their first
ruby-throated
hummingbird
of the year,
these stunning
flying jewels
have indeed
arrived in
Monroe County.
The first report that
hummingbirds had ar
rived in the Peach State
this year came from Kitty
Spivey on March 9. Kitty
lives in the tiny town of
Ochlocknee situated near
Thomasville. As one might
expect, she was thrilled
when she spotted her first
bird. However, a short
while later she could not
believe her eyes when she
saw several more hum
mingbirds zipping about
her yard.
Based on the emails
I have received to date,
rubythroats had reached
Monroe County two days
later. On this date (March
11), Beth Singletary spot
ted the first ruby-throated
in Monroe County. Beth
hung her feeder out on
the 10th and saw her first
hummer only a day later.
How does this date com
pare to the date of the first
hummingbird sighting in
2021? Dan Jeffers saw the
county’s first humming
bird in 2021 on March 12.
This was two days earlier
than arrival date of the
first hummingbird in 2020
on March 14. This bird
visited the home of Judith
Geib.
This year humming
bird sightings have been
trickling in since the first
bird was seen
drinking nectar
at the Singletary
residence March
11.
Debbie Me
nard notified
me one of her
friends caught
sight of a bird
in Cochran
March 12,
whereas Stan Fendley ob
served his first humming
bird in Perry March 14.
Hummingbird enthusiast
Eloise Doty reported she
caught sight of a hum
mingbird at her Butler
home March 17.
However, back home in
Monroe County a week
went by before the coun
ty’s second ruby-throated
hummingbird showed up.
Judith Geib finally broke
the drought when she
spotted a male in her yard
on the afternoon of March
17. For the next several
days, more hummers were
reported than at any other
time during the month.
The next day (March
18) Jan Davis spied her
first rubythroat of the
year at her home. This
sighting was followed in
quick succession by a bird
showing up at the home
of Bob Hurley March
19. Also on the 19th,
two adult ruby-throated
hummingbirds fed at the
Bolingbroke home of Dot-
tie Henderson. (This was
the county’s first multiple
hummingbird sighting.)
Linda Padgett also caught
a glimpse
of her first
migrant on
the 19th.
She noted
in her email
this was a
few days
later than
when she
normally
sees one.
Rounding
out the list
of hum
mingbirds
seen on
March 19
was a sight
ing made
by former
Monroe
County
resident
Linda Guy
in Wood
land.
Bob
Garza was
the only hummingbird
enthusiast to report a bird
March 20.
March 21 proved to be a
big day for hummingbird
arrivals. My wife, Donna,
and I saw our first ruby-
throat on March 21. Hum
mingbirds showed up at
the homes of Kim Walton
and Patricia Padgett. Ron
Lee reported he and his
wife saw their first ruby-
throated hummingbird in
McDonough on the same
day.
Maida Evans sighted her
first hummingbird March
22. She wrote in her email,
“. ...so happy to see them
again and look forward to
a busy hummer season.”
Debbie Menard saw her
first rubythroat of the year
March 22. On the same
day, my daughter, Angela,
saw her first bird at her
Grovetown home.
Rounding out the tally of
reports of hummer sight
ings received was the
sighting of the first female
rubythroat of the year.
Bob Hurley saw this bird
March 24. Fe
males typically
arrived a week
or two after
the arrival of
the first males.
Bob’s bird
turned up 13
days after the
first male was
reported in the
county.
In his email
Bob Hurley
mentioned
that he is also
now seeing
many hum
mers around
his home. My
wife and I did
not see multiple
hummingbirds
until we saw
two males
fighting over
rights to one of
our feeders on
March 27.
If you have not seen a
hummingbird yet, don’t
get discouraged. The
spring hummingbird
migration stretches out
over several weeks. Con
sequently, there is plenty
of time to see your first ru
bythroat. When one finally
arrives in your backyard,
please let me know.
Although we are get
ting a pretty good idea
when the first birds arrive,
information as to when
most Monroe Countians
see their first bird (male or
female) is sketchy. With
that in mind, I would
appreciate it if you would
let me know when you
see the first rubythroat in
your yard. Since, females
are now back, please let
me know whether the
birds you see are males or
females.
I want to expand on
Maida Evan’s sentiments
and wish all of you a busy
hummingbird season.
Terry Johnson is retired
Program Manager of the
Georgia Nongame-Endan
gered Wildlife Program. He
has written the informative
column Monroe Outdoors’
for the Reporter for many
years. His book, “A Journey
to Discovery,” is available at
The Reporter. Email him at
tjwoodduck@bellsouth. net.
Diane Soule
School Board District 1
• Parents should be able to parent, and
schools should be able to teach.
• Parents should make choices for their children
on issues like masks.
• Extracurricular activities should have access
to fundraising
• Critical Race Theory has no place in elementary,
middle or high school. It belongs at the college level.
Vote May 24th
TERRY W. JOHNSON
The New MX4 Small Group Training Program
The new program promises an inspiring group environment to maximize results.
Original, diverse, and progressive workouts from Matrix Fitness
Functional training systems, self-powered treadmills, rowers,
and an upper-body cycles
Open to people of all fitness levels
Shed pounds, improve performance, and improve overall fitness
Small team environment, limited to l 2 participants per session
One-on-one time with a coach who will help tailor the
program to your ability and goals
SIGN-UP TODAY!
Live classes are open now
Sessions are expected to fill up quickly!
The first 50 sign-ups will receive
special discounted pricing!
To sign up for an MX 4 Small Group Training session, please visit the facility at...
FitCo
Health Club
833 Patrol Road • Forsyth, GA 31029
(478) 993-2202
WWW.FITCOHEALTHCLUB.COM
The Most Patriotic Gym You II Ever Join
Group Fitness
Small Group Training
Personal Training
Tanning / Sauna
Fit 3D Scanner
Walking Tack / Cardio
Indoor Turf
Meal Plans
Silver Sneakers
# fitcohealthclub
FORSYTH • MACON • BONAIRE • WARNER ROBINS • MONTICELLO • PEACHTREE CITY / FAYETTEVILLE • GRAY