The Third Annual Hummingbird Festival sponsored by the Hummingbirds of New Mexico organization was the focal point of this birding excursion. What a grand event it was---well organized and executed by extremely friendly, knowledgeable people!

Joan Day-Martin, veteran hummingbird bander, plied her banding skills each morning at her home close to the Sapillo Fire and Rescue Station near Lake Roberts north of Silver City, New Mexico, where the festival was held. Rufous, Broad-tailed and Black-chinned Hummingbirds were the most numerous, but several Calliopes were present and close enough for a good look at both males and females.

Guided walks were held each morning at the nearby lake and canyons followed by slide presentations on local birds, bird banding, hummingbird identification, the area's native history, geology and bats.

Artists offered drawings, pottery, jewelry, feeders and bird-related gear plus Native American food was available.

Participants stayed at Grey Feathers Lodge where hundreds of hummers fought for food at the many hummingbird feeders on the porches. Breakfasting while hummers battled for the abundant sugar water just on the other side of the window was a treat. And the Lodge's "people" breakfasts were ample and good.

Cool weather at 7,000 feet in the Gila National Forest was a pleasant respite from the Sonoran Desert highs. Resident and nesting birds added to the variety seen and heard. Some birding highlights and observations: A flock of Turkey Vultures behaving like warblers had taken over one of the forest campgrounds. A Gray Catbird mewed incessantly in the lakeside shrubs, but birders never saw it. A Yellow-breasted Chat called loudly from some willows giving birders a picture-book view. Band-tailed Pigeon, Mourning Dove, White-winged Dove and Eurasian Collared Dove were seen in the same locale. Western Wood Pewee seemed to be the most prevalent bird...it was ubiquitous.

The entire bird list includes: Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Mallard, Ruddy Duck, Cooper's Hawk, Gambel's Quail, Sora (heard), American Coot, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Band-tailed Pigeon, White-winged Dove, Mourning Dove, Eurasian Collared Dove, Greater Roadrunner, Black-chinned, Calliope, Broad-tailed and Rufous Hummingbirds, Belted Kingfisher (h), Acorn Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Western Wood Pewee, Black Phoebe, Say's Phoebe, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Cassin's and Western Kingbird, Plumbeous Vireo (h), Warbling Vireo, Steller's Jay, Western Scrub Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Purple Martin, Violet-green, Northern Rough-winged and Cliff Swallow, Mountain Chickadee, Bushtit, White-breasted and Pygmy Nuthatch, Canyon Wren (h), Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Western Bluebird, American Robin, Gray Catbird (h), Northern Mockingbird, Phainopepla, Yellow Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, Common Yellowthroat (h), Yellowbreasted Chat, Hepatic, Summer and Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee, Canyon Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Lark Bunting, Black-headed and Blue Grosbeak, Red-winged Blackbird, Western Meadowlark (h), Brown-headed Cowbird, Bullock's and Scott's Oriole, House Finch, Pine Siskin, Lesser Goldfinch and House Sparrow.