Man, I can tell it's too early to think. Up there I typed:

"...someone in this forum told us about a hummingbird that stayed in their yard while it was SNOWING on the ground."

After previewing my original message, I went to fix something... and now the sentence looks silly. I mean to delete "on the ground." Too bad we can't correct our messages. LOL

(Can you tell I'm a stickler for writing errors?)

Have a good day!

Katy

That's OK, why should you be different than the rest of us. The situation while uncommon, is not as uncommon as you think - this is especially true in the coastal west where anytime it snows, it snows on hummingbirds. And in the past decade or so as more and more western strays attempt to winter in the east, hummingbirds and snow are now expected. Some years ago a Rufous remained at my feeder into January, enduring the worst possible conditions - snow, ice, single digit temperatures. Eventually the bad conditions took their toll and the bird was no more. I have no great desire to host another one.

Thanks for your reply, Ward. I just received an email from another forum member, and he remembered the post I was talking about but wasn't totally sure who wrote it. He did believe it was a Rufous, just like the one in your yard.

I see you live in Jersey. It's strange how some of us along the East Coast are seeing Rufous hummers around. To date, I have seen only the Rubythroats.

So sorry to hear the little bird at your feeder didn't make it through the winter. Nature can be cruel sometimes.

Thanks again for writing,

Katy

Hi Katy, I'm pretty sure that was Frank in California. Frank's not posting on this board anymore but has included a link to all his pictures somewhere else. Look through the 9-22 post that starts "frank-more pictures?"

That probably was Bobky, who is now over on the new forum.

Here is his picture gallery,below

JB

Here is a link that might be useful: Picture gallery

Roberta and JoBird... THANKS! I think I have my answer now. :o)

Katy

I thought you were supposed to put the hummingbird feeder away in the winter time, so the birds go south for the winter?

They will go south anyways- they follow their own clock. There is a Rufus in NYC too Central Park stays all year long and there isn't a feeder. Maybe it's just the Rufus who would stay seeing they are out of their elements to begin with on the East Coast. Just a thought..I mean, you never hear of a Ruby staying...at least I haven't yet.

I have two (maybe 3?) Rufus hummers that seem to be staying the winter in my yard this year -- it's been a treat for me! But there's a guy here in Louisiana that is keeping track of the hummers that people report throughout the state, and a special list of ruby-throats -- because apparently not all of them are leaving! So, you just never know. I would never have known to leave feeders up year around if I hadn't started visiting forums like this :-)

--Jane in Baton Rouge, LA

Here is a link that might be useful: Rufus hummer at the firespike

Hello to jap373 - it's a very funny thing but when I clicked on your link "Rufus hummer at the firespike" what I got was two long-beaked water birds, one white, one brown, feeding in what must be a roadside ditch, since I hear cars going by in the background.

Not only Rufous Hummingbirds, but other species have experienced snow as well. A friend of mine who bands hummingbirds near the Texas coast got nearly a foot of snow Christmas eve 2004. He had Rufous, Ruby-throats, Black-chinned, Allen's and BUFF-BELLIED (that's right, essentially a tropical bird at the northern end of their range) before the snow. All species were present after the snow, with the Buff-bellied some of the first to return to the feeders.

You might find this article interesting about just how many hummingbirds are seeming to adapt to cold weather. I sure wish they would do so in our part of the country.

Last year was our first time to attract (and see in person) hummingbirds and now we can't wait to see them again except that it will signal the end of summer. Still we were so fascinated, as were our neighbors who also fed them, that we feel we will always look forward to August here in a more special way.

Here is a link that might be useful: Experts study whether more hummingbirds are spending winters in colder East Coast climes

a snow visitor can be found at this page

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/hummingbird/msg112350367258.html

Look for the Kent Wa sightings and read down. Some Great pics of an Anna's that apparently winter near here.
russ

Frank and Bob & Bernie as well as others have had hummers during the winter when there has been snow. Most are no longer on this forum

Penny