Be Part of a Vital Research Effort on Local Wildlife
Sedona, AZ — Attention, bird watchers and nature lovers in our community! A fascinating scientific endeavor is underway, and you have the chance to play a crucial role. Along with bird researcher and master bird bander Steve Bouricius, Sedona researchers are conducting a study on the Rivoli’s hummingbird, a striking and rare avian species noted for its shimmering plumage and agile movements. We invite you to join this effort by keeping an eye out for these remarkable creatures in your yard or local green spaces and allowing licensed banders to come and conduct their important work.
Why the Rivoli’s Hummingbird?
The Rivoli’s hummingbird, with its iridescent colors and unique behaviors, provides valuable insights into habitat health, migration patterns, and ecological balance. Studying this species can help scientists better understand the challenges it faces, from habitat loss to changing climates. Your participation in this study will contribute to vital data that ensures their survival and informs broader conservation efforts. The current hummingbird breeding book doesn’t show this bird breeding in this area, but our study will confirm they actually are—we have already banded two confirmed gravid (pregnant) females in our study.
What Can You Do?
If you spot a Rivoli’s hummingbird in your yard or garden, we urge you to take the following steps:
- Note the date, time, and any observed behaviors of the hummingbird.
- Contact the research team through the provided email to report your sighting. Email Lenore Hemingway at lenhem@msn.com, Hilary Morejon at hummingbirdsofjoy@gmail.com or Steve Bouricius at bouricii@earthlink.net
- Grant access to licensed banders who will come to your yard to carefully capture, band, and release the hummingbird. This process is safe, humane, and conducted by trained professionals.
How Do You Know It is a Rivoli’s??
This hummingbird is 2 to 2.5 times the size and weight of the most common hummingbirds normally seen at your feeder. It will be noticeably larger and quiet when it comes to the feeder or flowers. The male is quite spectacular in color and the female will be mostly green/grey in coloring. You can refer to the photos here or online by searching for this bird. It was called the Magnificent hummingbird until recently when it was given the new Rivoli’s name to separate it from a similar species.
Why Banding Matters
Banding is an essential technique for studying bird populations. It involves placing a lightweight, numbered band on the bird’s leg, which allows researchers to track its movements, lifespan, and interactions with the environment. Each banded hummingbird adds a piece to the puzzle, helping scientists unravel complex questions about Rivoli’s hummingbird ecology and confirm it is breeding in the Sedona/Oak Creek area.
How You’re Helping Conservation
By participating, you are contributing to efforts that extend far beyond this local study. The data gathered will shape conservation policies, protect habitats, and inspire future generations to appreciate and safeguard the natural world.
Get Involved Today!
Your yard could be the next discovery site that advances our understanding of the Rivoli’s hummingbird. Look for its brilliant plumage and swift flight among your flowers and trees. Together, we can take small steps that make a big difference in preserving this beautiful species.
Let’s unite as a community to support science, protect wildlife, and celebrate the natural wonders around us. Together, we can ensure the Rivoli’s hummingbird continues to enchant observers for generations to come. Reach out today and join the study!
Photos by Hilary Morejon
