As we live so far south, the Hummingbird Societies ask we leave our feeders up long into fall or at least a month after we see the last hummer at the feeders. This is for birds that get lost, sick, very old, very young, etc. that may over-winter in the area. About 3 weeks after I thought the last bird was gone for the winter, I noticed a new little fella...different from any hummer I had ever seen at our feeders. I took a pic and emailed it to a couple in northern Alabama who band hummingbirds at Gulf Shores, AL every Spring and Fall. Low and behold, to my surprise, we had a treasure!! I started getting emails from bird watchers everywhere. Within three days, a volunteer bander from Montgomery, AL came to our home to band our tiny treasure. Mr. Fred explained the excitement to us. Mr. Cal (as the kids nicknamed him) was the first Calliope hummingbird to be seen in 'our neck of the woods' in a coon's age. LOL!! Mr. Fred stated, since his retirement, he banded hundreds and hundreds of hummingbirds every year all over the United States and this was his first Calliope of the year. After the secret of our treasure leaked out, we had several bird watchers from four different states bring their chairs, binoculars and camers just to get a peek at Mr. Cal. After about 5 weeks visiting with us, Mr. Cal decided it was time to travel on. (I did not do this as a slideshow as there is a bit of reading with most of the pictures. Just click on the arrow to advance to the next photo.) Here is a link that might be useful: Meet Mr. Cal

Thanks for the heads up, Cameron. Usually, I have the hummer feeders (complete w/red ribbons) out way too early - this year I dropped the ball and appreciate your post reminder. The nectar is brewing! On a continuing bird note ...... this morning I noticed an injured dove wending her way thru my back courtyard, coming to rest near the gate. Knowing that my pup would sniff her out fast and consider her a play-toy, I re-located the injured dove to just outside the gate in a soft bed of vinca (dog free zone). Just checked, and she's gone - apparently she recovered and I'm soooo glad I found her first and let her heal out of harm's way. I'm really a softie for my birds - last year doves built a nest atop my fence, but feet from the most used door, and raised two broods. Hope they do it again this year! Spring is so intoxicating! :o)

Believe it or not, my husband was camping out in College Fjord outside of Whittier, Alaska, earlier this week. There was snow all over, basically no food coming up for the bears yet, ice dangerously thick in the fjord still...but he saw 2 hummingbirds. I don't know what they'll find to eat right now.

Suzie, I used to always put away the feeders at the end of Sept. or in early to mid-Oct., depending on when I stopped seeing hummers. That was back when I was mostly seeing only Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. For the last 6 or 7 years, we have had very late migrants---mostly Rufous Hummingbirds---even in Oct. and Novemeber. I think the Rufous types must be more cold-hardy because they tend to arrive early and stay late, so now I leave one feeder out for them. How long do I leave it out? Well, usually until about November, but I will bring it inside at dark on nights we're expecting freezing temps. I noticed several years ago that bees and other flying insects will feed at hummingbird feeders in the fall and winter when there are few flowers in bloom, so I will put out hummingbird nectar for them all winter long as long as I'm seeing them flying around. I normally see bees all winter long. In January I've seen them feeding on hen scratch in the chicken pen, so I try to always have winter flowers (pansies, violas, snapdragons, etc.) in bloom for them and to have hummingbird nectar for them too. I also overwinter large, potted angel's trumpets (both brugmansias and daturas) in the garage, along with potted pepper plants, and drag them out into the sunlight during the day. The plants cycle in and out of bloom all winter long and also provide nectar and pollen for the small flying insects. I think that may be one reason I always have so very many bees and other pollinators around year-round. With all the snow last winter, I did not have the usual high numbers of active bees in Jan. and Fen. though, but had them in March even before the last snow fell on March 21st. I spend a lot of time in the cold season feeding deer, birds of all kinds and insects. Since moving to the country, I've been surprised by how many beneficial insects and pollinators are active all 12 months of the year and am conscious of their need to be fed too. We're still seeing plenty of hummers here, but of course we are very far south. Dawn