Reposted from listserv:
As a new Internet-based activity in 2003, “Operation RubyThroat: The Hummingbird Project” (see http://www.rubythroat.org ) is encouraging individuals and teacher/student groups in the U.S. and Canada to participate in “Hummingbird Super-stimulus Experiment 2003.”
The experiment is an attempt to use a giant “fake” hummingbird feeder to get the attention of spring migrant Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) as they fly overhead. The idea for the experiment originally came from Gary Springer.
Guidelines for how to participate in “Hummingbird Super-stimulus Experiment 2003” are at http://www.rubythroat.org/FakeFeeder2003.html. We think this will be a fun way to get folks of all ages to learn more about migration dates and general hummingbird behavior. Results will be submitted via the Internet and posted on the Operation RubyThroat Web site. Please feel free to forward this message to friends–especially K-12 teachers–who may be interested in participating. For those in the southern U.S., it’s about time to implement; New Englanders and Canadians have a little more time.
Happy Hummingbird Watching, EDUCATION PROGRAM BILL HILTON JR. Executive Director Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History 1432 DeVinney Road, York, South Carolina 29745 USA education@hiltonpond.org, (803) 684-5852, eFax: (503) 218-0845