Bill Hilton Jr. recently returned from Costa Rica on another Operation Rubythroat citizen science expedition. Since 2004, hummingbird expert Bill has been traveling to Central America to study Ruby-throats. Bill's report on his 18th expedition can be found at hiltonpond.org.

At 10:25 a.m. the team mist netted another bird of importance, but it wasn't "just another" Ruby-throated Hummingbird. No, this new hummer was special for two reasons: 1) She was the first female RTHU captured in 2012; and, 2) She was the 1,000th RTHU banded in the Neotropics through Operation RubyThroat. This is especially significant because prior to our work--which began in December 2004--only 46 ruby-throats had been banded in all of Mexico and the seven Central American countries where the species overwinters.

 

[caption id="attachment_4268" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird marked with blue dye. Photo © Bill Hilton Jr.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4269" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Photo © Bill Hilton Jr.[/caption]

Read more: http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek121101.html

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Costa Rica // February 5-15 SOLD OUT

Nicaragua // February 16-24 SOLD OUT

Belize // February 27-March 7 SOLD OUT

Costa Rica // November 6-14