This male Rufous Hummingbird has been visiting the Steve and Mary Nesgoda farm in LeSueur County, Minnesota since September 13th. As of Oct. 3rd, he'd had 240 people flock there to see him. Why the great interest? According to ornithologists, this is just the fourth male Rufous documented in Minnesota.
Rufous Hummingbirds breed in western North America and winter in increasing numbers in the southeastern states, rather than in tropical Mexico. By migrating as far north as the Yukon or southern Alaska in the spring, Rufous hummers nest farther north than any other species. That means they must adapt to occasional temperatures below freezing. This cold hardiness enables them to survive the cold—if they can find food and shelter. "We've had enough frost here to knock down the Mexican Sunflowers and Four o'clocks, which were main attractions for the Rubythroats and Monarchs," said neighbors Barbara and Art Straub. October 5th was the first day Rufous was not observed, but he reappeared again Oct. 8th.
"He was an aggressive little dickens who chased all Rubythroats away from HIS feeder all day, every day while he was in the area. Photographers, birders, and ornithologists made quite a lot of traffic on Pumpkin Hill Road for three weeks. We should have sold popcorn!" Barbara and Arthur Straub. LeSueur, MN 10/08/14
Barbara and Arthur Straub, Lesueur, MN 9/30/14