Some hummingbirds tough out the Northwest winter Feeders can
help hummingbirds survive Western Washington winters. A
hummingbird wintering in Western Washington hovers over its
feeder. A hummingbird hovers over a bush filled with red leaves
and berries. A hummingbird perched on a bush stretches its wings
and tail feathers. Momentarily still, a hummingbird perches on a
railing. It's cold, wet, windy and a bit gloomy, certainly not
the sunny, flower-filled weather we associate with hummingbirds.
Does that mean it's time to take down their nectar-filled
feeders? It's your call, according to area biologists. Most
hummingbirds have already headed south for the winter. But a few
Anna's hummingbirds stay here year-round, said Patricia
Thompson, a biologist from the Mill Creek office of the state
Department of Fish and Wildlife. And the number is growing. She
said annual bird counts showed 179 hummingbirds on the western
side of the state in 2001 and 1,137 last year. Experts say
Anna's hummingbirds typically were bas