Hummingbirds are hangin’ ‘round the San Juans

Staff report

A warmer fall is inviting hummingbirds and other creatures to extend their island visit.

According to KWIAHT’s Russel Barsh, the San Juans are experiencing an unusually warm autumn, “consistent with a trend (due to climate change) towards longer, drier summers.” “Hummingbirds,” he added, “are staying longer, and many are now year-round residents. There are jellyfish swarms and algal blooms around the islands this month – more typical of late summer than late fall. Some late-summer weeds are still flowering. Streams that usually begin flowing by November are dry, preventing trout from heading upstream to spawn.”

Barsh predicts seasonal birds will become year-round residents, and the remaining native trout will cease to exist.