The International Hummingbird Society: Sedona Hummingbird Festival – Hummingbirds: Jewels of the Summer

Presented by Scott Rashid, Researcher, Rehabilitator, Master Bander, Author, Artist

Jewels of the Summer is a program that delves into the natural history of four species of hummingbirds that are found in Colorado. The Broad-tailed, Black-chinned, Rufous, and Calliope hummingbirds.

Have you ever wondered why hummingbirds hum, what their nests look like, what they use to build their nests, or how long it takes to construct?  These are some of the things that Scott will be discussing and showing in his presentation. 

You will learn interesting facts about hummingbirds including how the gorgets of hummingbirds reflect different colors in different light, and why the Broad-tailed hummingbird makes such a unique sound when it flies, and why the Rufous Hummingbird is so aggressive.

You will also see the ranges of each species, including where they nest and where they winter.

Biography

Scott Rashid is an artist, researcher, bird rehabilitator, bird bander, author and the director of a nonprofit, the Colorado Avian Research and rehabilitation Institute or CARRI for short. 

In 1992 he received his state and federal banding permits and two years later was asked to create a bird banding program near Estes Park, Colorado. In 2014, Scott and his volunteers banded their 10,000th bird there.

In 1994, he became a licensed bird rehabilitator, and began taking care of injured birds. Through his rehabilitation efforts, he has taken care of eagles, falcons, owls, and hawks as well as songbirds, hummingbirds and crovids of all kinds, returning hundreds of injured and orphaned birds back to the wild. 

He has an extensive knowledge of and love of owls.  Beginning with  an owl nesting research project in hopes of increasing the number of Barn Owls to studying the Great Horned owl, to researching the Northern Goshawk , to studying Long-eared owls, Northern Pygmy Owls, American kestrels, and  the Northern Saw-Whet Owl.

The first book he published was called “Small Mountain Owls:; a natural history study about the Northern Pygmy Owl,  the Northern Saw-Whet, the Flammulated and Boreal Owls. This was followed by “the Great Horned Owl: an in-depth study;”

“the Northern Goshawk: the Gray Ghost;”

“Exploring the World of the Barn Owl: an intimate look into their secretive lives;”

“American Kestrel: the Diminutive Raptor,”

and “The Northern Saw-whet Owl: the deep woods Gnome”, all including many of his superb illustrations and photographs.

Part of the Sedona Hummingbird Festival

Purchase tickets here