Depends on where she lives. I've had Annas I've been feeding all winter, they don't migrate from here (coastal Washington). A first rufous for the year last week....

Here is a link that might be useful: Hummingbird forum, season beginning for many

Here's the hummingbird map.. I see they are already in my area. I usually don't get them till around the second week in April.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hummingbird map

Thanks lydia, I see according to the 2011 map the birds usually are in Ohio in April. The 2012 shows spottings here already in March.

Our wintering hummers (Rufous and Rubies) started migrating about 3 weeks earlier than usual. Adult males leave first to claim breeding grounds the adult females about 2 weeks later, then juvies about 2-3 weeks after that. The migrating is started by hours of light but it seems that warm temps must play a part, at least from what we see here in central Florida. There are some that remain here all year and in parts of Florida, they are more numerous in the summer than winter. I am part of the area where banders come in winter and capture birds to band so that we can see where our birds go in the summer.
Keep your eyes out for birds with a tiny silver band on the right leg. If you see one after April (once they are in the breeding area) then you should report it to the local Audubon Society who can put you in touch with a bander who can come capture it and record the destination. Congratulations on the hummer your Aunt saw - hope it is first of many.

I would think we will see the hummingbirds early this year because we have had such hot weather. In TN most years the first ones are here around the 3rd week in April. Last year they stayed till the middle of Oct when most years they leave end of Aug. In one month I went through 55 lbs of sugar just feeding these beautiful little birds.

There is a debate going on about reports of early Hummingbirds in Ohio, my daughter just FB it today, she works for Cape May Bird Observatory and posted this blog

Here is a link that might be useful: Hummers???

We were just talking about this last night when my husband said it was because they were riding on the backs of the Canada geese who were returning. We just stared at him, then he laughed and said he used to tell that story at work.

That's a lot of sugar, Mary and a lot of work turning it into nectar and filling those feeders!

I hung up 2 feeders today, everything is blooming early here in NW AR and I know that'll mean early hummers. The lilac bushes are loaded with blooms and covered up with butterflies today, it's like watching a dance performance, seeing them flit around.

We usually see our first hummer on April 8th, with multiples on the 15th, like clockwork every year. I'll be interested to note the date this year.

I use the maps/sighting reports from Journey North vs. hummingbird.net because I like to read what the person reporting has to say about what they saw. This site also shows reports in the states like Ohio, although there are more further south. You can also look at the map in animation and see the weekly progress north. The site is www.learner.org, I think or google Journey North.

Many post that they see the birds at feeders. I'm not sure that the hummingbird moths use the feeders as hummingbirds do. I have both in my yard and have never seen the hummingbird moth at a feeder.

As I said earlier, migration for our winter birds started about 3 weeks earlier than normal for us. I just saw a female hummer but its the first sighting I hae had in a week so I'm pretty sure its a migrant and not my one from the winter.

The map for Rufous on Journey North shows how they have a much longer trip to their breeding grounds and they arrive there in a much shorter time span than the Ruby-throated ones do who have a shorter distance to go. And of course they leave their breeding grounds earlier to go south before the Ruby-throated do. I just find all of this so amazing.

I think I trust most that most of the people reporting sighting know the difference between the moth and the bird. If you are interested enough to post, you probably have researched and found out the difference between the two.

Either way, its exciting to see these beauties. Congrats to all who have them come visit.

Just got my update from Journey North and there is an article explaining that the migration is about 3 weeks ahead of last year - birds have actually been reported
in areas where they usually aren't seen till late April.
There has been a warm wind from the south the last three
weeks and it seems to be keeping the birds moving northward since they aren't having to stop and wait out colder weather.

There was also an article about Lanny Chambers and his site hummingbird.net. In it he explains that he does verify reports and plots out the maps by hand and if something seems awry then he verifies the sighting.
If you are interested, go to www.learner.org to see the Journey North site.

I had thought that my hummer days were over for the season but yesterday I actually had two in my yard. I'm attaching pictures of one that fed at the feeder all day long. Saw it again today but not as much. I am assuming she is a migrant traveling through. She is a female Ruby-throated.

I have mine filled and ready to go out. I haven't seen any as yet. I am sort of central and a little west in TX.

Looked at the sightings and someone from Wimberly, TX, northeast of San Antonio had reported 20+ birds at her feeder on th 26th, and knows she has Ruby-throated and Black-chinned. I'd say put them out now, the Rufous going west and north to Alaska and the Pacific Coast are already moving through your area.

I saw a female hummingbird in my neighbor's garden this morning, here in Southern California, and she says she's been seeing them for a couple of weeks.

I have had hummingbirds most of last year, until our cold spell in Jan. They returned earlier this week, to my yard.

Saw our first hummingbird yesterday, April 2. NW Arkansas. I actually heard him, then I ran to the feeder in the front and saw him. He didn't like me sunbathing under the feeder out back.

So he arrived only 6 days ahead of his normal schedule.

Where do hummingbirds go, esp at night, when the temp falls to 30 or 29?? My aunt is worried because she hasn't seen the hummingbird since that first time.

Hummingbords can actually go into what is called topor (not sure of spelling) but its like a level of hibernation where the heart and breathing rate drop, kinda like hiberantion during the night. So they can deal with the cold weather but if you have feeders out, make sure to bring the sugar water in and warm it slightly for them early in the morning. They usually start feeding just before dusk and will feed about every 15 -20 minutes, esp. when its cold and they need to replenish energy fast.

Sometimes you can find them clinging to something while still in their torpor state and warm them up in your hands. And they do feed extra heavily in the early morning and late evening.

We'll usually see a scout hummingbird, he'll stay and feed for a day and then disappear for several days and when he comes back, he brings a crowd. :) Not that I recognize him, but that's what we've read and it seems to be the way it plays out. Tell your aunt to not worry! As long as it didn't stay 29� for days, I'm sure he's fine!