San Marcos Record, San Marcos, TX

Features

Related Photos

  • The brown pelican is no longer considered an endangered species, removed from that list by the National Fish and Wildlife Service.

    flying pelican

  • Jerry Hall saw the Galapagos tortoise Lonesome George on a 2003 trip to the Galapagos.

    lonesome george
November 28, 2009

Birding with Jerry Hall: Calliope hummer sighting only part of good news

By Jerry Hall

I have three bits of good news, two about birds and one concerning a tortoise.

First, a calliope hummingbird showed up Nov. 20 at the home of Howard Williams in Dripping Springs.

“Two Novembers ago, it was an Anna’s, last November, the Costa’s and this November a calliope,” he wrote. “I think I have about run out of rarities.”

He sent me photos of the male calliope at his feeder and his good fortune has inspired me to leave my own sugar water feeder up a little longer. I was hoping for an over-wintering hummer, but was about to give up and take it down. I told Howard he must be doing something right.

“Honestly, the only thing I do right is hang a feeder or two – the rest is dumb luck,” he claimed. To attract any hummingbird this time of year is unusual; to have a rare calliope is just amazing. Congrats to Howard.

Second bit of good bird news: The brown pelican is no longer considered an endangered species. It was recently removed from that list by the National Fish and Wildlife Service due to significant increases in its population. There were 12 breeding birds in Texas in 1973. Today, it’s estimated there are more than 12,000 breeding annually.

I love to watch squadrons of brown pelicans fly in perfect formation, just inches above the waves and I also enjoy seeing them dive from on high and — kersplash — go after a fish. Neat birds. Glad they’ve made a comeback.

Third, and finally, there is good news about a tortoise. Lonesome George, the last remaining Galapagos giant tortoise of his type, may soon be a father. This comes after many years of scientists trying to get him to mate.

Described by the Guinness book of world records as the “rarest living creature,” Lonesome George is between 90 and 100 years old, and both the female tortoises kept with him have laid eggs. The eggs, 11 in all, are being cared for in an incubator and scientists should know soon if any are fertile.

George, who weighs 198 pounds, is the only living Pinta Island tortoise. His female companions are of a similar but different species.

I saw George on a visit to the Galapagos in 2003. He was in a corral at the Charles Darwin research center on Santa Cruz Island and he looked perfectly content chewing on some green, stringy vegetation.

Tortoises in the Galapagos were hunted for their meat to near extinction. Also, goats introduced to the islands ate away much of their habitat.

Here’s hoping George becomes a dad. With 11 little tortoises around, he sure won’t be lonesome anymore.

Text Only
Features
House Ads
Business Marquee
AP Video
FAMU Bandmates: Victim Volunteered to Be Hazed Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released Raw Video: Tornado Appears During Wedding HP to Cut 27,000 Jobs, Save Up to $3.5B Inquiry Hears Wider Secret Service Misbehavior Md. 911 Dispatcher Caught Sleeping on Job Raw Video: Toddler Trapped in Washing Machine Iowa Man With Zebra, Parrot in Truck Gets DUI Egyptians Pick New President in Free Election Giant Bull Head Draws Drivers to South Dakota Astrodome Fades As Houston Decides Fate Franciscan Files Tell Stories of Priest Abuse Wildfire Destroys 2 Homes Flight Diverted After Suspicious Note Joplin Remembers Deadly Tornado, 1 Year Later Panel Recommends Against Routine Prostate Test Fired Lingerie Employee Claims Discrimination Facebook Shares Continue Negative Slide Cuba Waiting for Cyber Age to Come 8 Hurt in Oklahoma Shooting After NBA Playoff
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
Twitter Updates
Follow me on Twitter
Facebook
Video
Seasonal Content