[mou] Hummingbird meadow in Ramsey County

[Val/Roger]

Hello, Bird Fans:
Today I happened to return to a favorite haunt, the Reservoir Woods area in
Roseville, and found, to my surprise, a jewelweed meadow swarming with
ruby-throated hummingbirds. This area has been marshy in years past, but the
jewelweed seemingly has exploded, and now seems to be edging out most other
plant life.

The hummingbirds love it; there were up to 12 at one time, zipping around,
battling, perching, etc. They seem to visit each orange bloom for only a
tiny sip before dashing away, making photography nearly impossible. [See
below for directions to this wonderful spot.]

There were other notable birds, as well, including:
ovenbirds
catbirds
young American redstarts
common yellowthroats
blue-gray gnatcatchers
red-breasted nuthatches
young Eastern wood pewees
a young Cooper's hawk
a young red-bellied woodpecker
and many more-common birds

Directions to Reservoir Woods and the jewelweed meadow:

Reservoir Park is on Larpenteur Ave., halfway between Rice and Dale Sts., on
the north side of the road, in Roseville. There's a small parking lot
planted, on the edges, with native plants, on Larpenteur (this is about a
quarter mile west of Linder's giant garden store). Pull into the lot, and
head down the hill; go past the dog park on the right, keep going on down,
and, at the bottom, when the asphalt starts veering left, step off and head
down the grassy path to your right, essentially heading west.

The jewelweed meadow begins almost immediately, and continues on for almost
a quarter mile, at some points only a narrow strip along the path, at other
spots a hundred feet or more deep. The little birds return frequently to lap
up nectar or insects, so the show continues all the while you stand there
observing. Most of the birds were either juveniles or females, but an
occasional young male popped up.

I hope many of you can visit this spot and enjoy this temporary migration
spectacle. If you have time, read the signs at several points in the park,
which tell how two intrepid women worked to save this area from development.
Val Cunningham
St. Paul, Minn.