- Playing
- Hummingbird Bander
- From
- Northwest News Network (N3)
Hold a penny in your hand. That?s about how much a hummingbird weighs. Every summer, hundreds of the tiny birds gather in a backyard just outside of Walla Walla, Washington. It's like a truck stop on their migration to Mexico. It's a great spot for Ned Batchelder [BATCH ?elder]. He's been trapping and banding the hummers for about eight years. The bands help scientists track hummingbirds' migratory patterns. So far Batchelder has banded about 20-thousand of the tiny creatures with his wife Gigi. We caught up with him recently. Here's Ned's story in his own words.
More from Northwest News Network (N3)
Living In Gangland: Former Gang Member Makes New Life
(05:09)
From: Northwest News Network (N3)
CALDWELL, Idaho - Most new gang members join when they’re about 13 years old. They think the gang will give them prestige, a sense of belonging and protection. But it often ...
Living In Gangland: Some Women Don’t Choose Gang Life, But It Affects Them Nonetheless
(04:46)
From: Northwest News Network (N3)
YAKIMA COUNTY, Wash. -- Across the nation there are an estimated 750-thousand gang members. That’s according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Some of them are women, but ...
Living In Gangland: Outlook Community Activist Wants A Town Where People Aren’t Afraid
(05:13)
From: Northwest News Network (N3)
OUTLOOK, Wash. – Outlook, Washington is a tiny unincorporated township near Yakima. It’s mostly known for the massive dairies that flank it. But now, it’s become infamous as ...
Living In Gangland: Rural Gangs Claim Public Lands
(05:05)
From: Northwest News Network (N3)
Gang violence is mostly a big city problem. But in parts of the rural Northwest, police are grappling with gang rivalries, graffiti and even drive-by shootings. Just ask ...
Portrait artist on a mission to paint the fallen
(03:45)
From: Northwest News Network (N3)
Vietnam Vet has a new mission: to draw portraits of fallen soliders in the Iraq War, for free
When Farming and Housing Collide in Noise
(03:35)
From: Northwest News Network (N3)
Creativity trumps lawsuits over farmers use of noise to protect crops
Army Trains US Soldiers to Speak Arabic
(02:58)
From: Northwest News Network (N3)
The Army is starting to rely less on Iraqi-born translators to manage war relations.
Quilting through Grief over Iraq War
(04:34)
From: Northwest News Network (N3)
NW quilt makers harnessed to comfort Iraq vets
History of the Tator Tot
(03:50)
From: Northwest News Network (N3)
Tater Tots: From Cattle Feed to Retro Cache
Iraqi war translator struggles with new life in America
(03:45)
From: Northwest News Network (N3)
Profile of an Iraqi who came to Seattle as a political refugee
Related Pieces
Piece Description
Hold a penny in your hand. That?s about how much a hummingbird weighs. Every summer, hundreds of the tiny birds gather in a backyard just outside of Walla Walla, Washington. It's like a truck stop on their migration to Mexico. It's a great spot for Ned Batchelder [BATCH ?elder]. He's been trapping and banding the hummers for about eight years. The bands help scientists track hummingbirds' migratory patterns. So far Batchelder has banded about 20-thousand of the tiny creatures with his wife Gigi. We caught up with him recently. Here's Ned's story in his own words.
Broadcast History
Northwest News Network, which includes NWPR, OPB, KUOW, KPLU, KLCC, JPR, KPBX and KMUN
Transcript
STORY:
BATCHELDER: You know some people hunt, fish, golf, ski, snowmobile. We band hummingbirds. That?s what we do.
SOUND: Hummingbird flying
SOUND: This is another Black-chinned. This is an adult female. So let me get a band ready here. We have a little toe of a nylon stocking here that we put them in on their back.
SOUND: Wind
BATCHELDER: These are feisty, mean birds. They are not gentle little birds. They?re mean birds. If you watch their behavior they?ll drive another right down to the ground. I mean to establish a breeding territory and a food source. This is serious business.
SOUND: Pliers clinking
SOUND: I?ll load the band inside the pliers here. I will grab a hold of her claws. There?s her little drumstick, like any other bird. When I close these pliers it circles the band around her leg. It doesn?t pinch her leg at all. She?ll wear this for the rest of her life. She...
Read the full transcript
Timing and Cues
Humming bird bander goes to work in a Washington backyard
0730AK_Hummingbird.wav [mp3] [jpg] 2:09 Feature 07/29/08 Anna King/CD
LEDE: Hold a penny in your hand. That?s about how much a hummingbird weighs. Every summer, hundreds of the tiny birds gather in a backyard just outside of Walla Walla, Washington. It?s like a truck stop on their migration to Mexico. It?s a great spot for Ned Batchelder [BATCH ?elder]. He?s been trapping and banding the hummers for about eight years. The bands help scientists track hummingbirds? migratory patterns. So far Batchelder has banded about 20-thousand of the tiny creatures with his wife Gigi. We caught up with him recently. Here?s Ned?s story in his own words. [2:09 story ends on humming bird flying noise]
BACKANNOUNCE: That was Ned Batchelder [BATCH ?elder]. He?s a volunteer hummingbird bander from Hamilton, Montana. The story was produced by Richland Correspondent Anna King.
Related Website
Of 1 purchasers of this piece...
- 1 also bought:
Kids Corner: Youthful Vision (59:00) - 1 also bought:
Democracy on the Block (59:01) - 1 also bought:
- 1 also bought:
Democracy Yes, Change No (07:02) - 1 also bought:
Small Stuff Democracy (07:24)
