The tale of Yosemite Sam: How a California hummingbird got lost and landed in Saskatoon | 24CA News

While most native birds had been engaged on their migration down south, in mid-October a younger male hummingbird as a substitute landed in a Saskatoon yard.

The arrival of the two.8 gram fowl shocked birding fans across the province as that species of hummingbird — Costa’s hummingbirds, native to the Southwestern United States and Western Mexico — had by no means been seen within the province earlier than.

The thriller of how the tiny hummingbird received to Saskatoon caught the attention of Environment Canada Chemist Geoff Koehler. His crew used a way referred to as secure isotope evaluation to study a tail feather and decide the place the fowl got here from.

“The bird was hatched around the Yosemite National Park area,” Koehler stated.

That’s how the tiny Costa’s hummingbird received his newly appointed title: Yosemite Sam.

Birds usually fly south for the winter months, however Yosemite Sam flew north. Koehler stated that error known as reverse migration.

“Sometimes birds just go the wrong way,” Koehler stated. “When they go the wrong way they go the wrong way 180 degrees. Instead of going south they go north, they don’t go east or west.”

Is Yosemite Sam having fun with his first Saskatoon winter?

Koehler stated that is the primary time his crew has been ready to take a look at a case of reverse migration to seek out out the birthplace of a fowl utilizing secure isotope strategies.

“Usually if a bird goes the wrong way, it doesn’t make it through the winter,” Koehler stated.

“This little bird was lucky to have found a home in Saskatoon where he could be rescued.”

After discovering Yosemite Sam, the homeowners of the yard he landed in referred to as Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation, a Saskatoon charity that helps injured and orphaned animals mend till they’ll return to the wild, and received the fowl into care.

Jan Shadick, the chief director of Living Sky, stated the hummingbird has been properly cared for on the wildlife rehabilitation centre. 

Yoesemite Sam resides in a cage designed to really feel like California, the place he enjoys a specialised costly weight loss plan consisting of fruit flies and a particular protein drink with substances introduced from the United States.

“Hopefully he has enough to keep him busy. We do hear him flying around, buzzing and chirping,” Shadick stated.

“Hopefully he’s not too bored and he’s having enough fun that he’s willing to hang out with us until spring.”

How will Yosemite Sam make it dwelling?

Shadick hopes to discover a rehabilitation centre for Yosemite Sam in California that may launch him again into the wild — however now that the fowl has crossed worldwide borders, an export allow is required to convey him dwelling.

The California rehabilitation centre would additionally want an import allow to convey him in.

If a global border crossing is not doable, she hopes to convey Yosemite Sam to a rehabilitation centre in British Columbia — the place Costa’s Hummingbirds have been seen — however permits are nonetheless required to cross provincial borders.

“He could have some mentors to at least take him in the right direction,” Shadick stated.

Shadick could be involved about releasing Yosemite Sam from Saskatoon. She says he got here in an adventurous error, and is not positive the Costa’s hummingbird would have the intuition emigrate south.

“1,900 kilometres is a long way to go, and there’s some concern that releasing him here would not necessarily bode well for him,” Shadick stated.

“He may not make it back.”