Kern River Preserve, 18747 Hwy. 178, Weldon, Headquarters for the Kern River
Valley Spring Nature Festival (weekend closest to May 1) Hummingbird Celebration
( August), and Turkey Vulture Festival (weekend closest to
October 1) - Feeders are up from mid-March through mid-October. Large (48 ounce) feeders are hung from posts mounts in two hummingbird gardens. There is a water mister set up in the front yard. The
Preserve's nature trails are available for viewing hummingbirds in a natural
setting.
The
Kern River Preserve is an excellent, scenic, shaded, and cool location for
viewing abundant, in season, Black-chinned Hummingbirds, Anna's Hummingbirds,
and Rufous Hummingbirds. There are small numbers (c. 1:20 ratio) of Allen's
Hummingbirds in with the abundant Rufous Hummingbirds. But, they are only safely
identifiable in the hand. Costa's Hummingbird and Calliope Hummingbird are present on occasion in spring
or July and August; usually one individual at a time.
Black Rock Ranger Station, 8000+', Kern Plateau, Sequoia National Forest - 200
meters north of the junction of paved Sherman Pass Road and paved Kennedy
Meadows (Troy Meadows) Road. Ninety paved road minutes from Kernville. For
Calliope Hummingbirds in June, July, and August at look for
flowering plants between Blackrock and Troy Meadow. Anna's, Rufous, and Allen's may be
present as well. Open Memorial Day Weekend (May) through mid-October. The exact
opening and closing dates depend upon snow conditions on roads. Contact the
Forest Service's Cannell Meadow Ranger District headquarters in Kernville for
specific information. P: 1-760-376-3781.
Species Accounts for KRV Hummingbirds
Black-chinned Hummingbird - Common to abundant nesting species in the Kern
River Valley. Present from mid-April through mid-September. Common to abundant
from end of April through mid-July.
Kern River Preserve Headquarters feeders are an excellent location for
Black-chinned Hummingbirds as they nest commonly to abundantly in the riparian
(river associated) habitat surrounding the yard.
Feeders at businesses (e.g.: Kern Lodge in Kernville) and private homes
throughout the Kern River Valley communities surrounding Isabella Reservoir
in summer.
Anna's Hummingbird - Common to abundant nesting species throughout the Kern
River Valley. Present from mid-March through mid-October. Most leave for the
winter. Some individuals overwinter.
This largest of the regularly occurring Kern River Valley hummingbird species
will be found at virtually all feeders in the area; even appearing at high
elevation feeders during post-nesting wanderings in July and August (e.g.: Black
Rock Ranger Station at over 8000' in the Sequoia National Forest).
Costa's Hummingbird - Common nesting species in desert portions of the Kern
River Valley. Known to be present from mid-March (and often earlier) through
mid-August.
Natural areas for viewing Costa's Hummingbirds include Butterbredt Spring and
Audubon's Kelso Creek Sanctuary in April and May.
Feeder locations for reliable public viewing of this species will be posted as
they become available.
Calliope Hummingbird - Common nesting species in the mountain regions
surrounding the Kern River Valley. Present from the end of April through at
least mid-August.
Natural areas where this species is known to nest include along Chimney Creek at
Chimney Creek Campground, along Fish Creek at Fish Creek and Troy Meadow
Campgrounds, and at Quaking Aspen Campground.
The feeders at Black Rock Ranger Station are the most reliable location for
viewing this species with dozens of individuals present in late June and July;
virtually all females and immatures.
Be on the alert for this species at any feeders during migration.
Rufous Hummingbird - A super abundant migratory species throughout the Kern
River Valley and surrounding mountains from mid-July through early-September.
Some individuals may show up on southbound "fall" migration as early as the
latter third of June and linger as late as early October. A few individuals per
feeding location, usually adult males, pass through the Kern River Valley on
northbound "spring" migration from February through mid-May.
During the height of migration this species is the most numerous hummingbird at
all feeders, low elevation and high, throughout the region.
During the height of migration, Rufous Hummingbirds are also super abundant at
montane flower patches (Penstemon species, etc.) throughout the Greenhorn
Mountains and Kern Plateau.
Allen's Hummingbird - An uncommon migratory species throughout the Kern River
Valley and surrounding mountains from late-June through at least late-August.
During the height of migration this "Rufous Hummingbird look-alike" species has
been found, based on banding rates, to be outnumbered by Rufous Hummingbirds
20:1. It appears, like Rufous, to be at feeders, low elevation and high,
throughout the region.
Like Rufous Hummingbirds, during the height of migration, they are also found at
montane flower patches (Penstemon species, etc.) throughout the Greenhorn
Mountains and Kern Plateau. Allen's Hummingbirds are
virtually impossible to identify in comparison with Rufous Hummingbirds unless
by an expert doing so in the hand.
