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.
