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The Kitchen Table

Is anyone watching the progress of the humming bird migration?

18 years ago

I deleted the migration map...

And I want to know when to expect them.

patti

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Comments (16)

minnie_tx
18 years ago
I'm hoping mine won't show up this year. I have two stray (loveable) cats this year who might consider them a tasty meal
lilliepad
18 years ago
Patti-Here is a link for all types of hummers.Hope this is what you were looking for.
Minnie-Last year I had 8 hummers.The feeders are hanging on my deck.I had about 12 outside cats last year and fed them on top of an old kitchen counter about 8 feet from the feeders.The cats never bothered the hummers.One cat would sit on the deck rail about 3 feet below the feeders and watch the birds but never tried to catch one.I wouldn't worry too much about the cats getting them.I really think the hummers would be too fast for them anyway.
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Comments (7)
Your critics are wrong. The books written by real experts say that even in Alaska and Minnesota and Maine you can leave hummingbird feeders out as long as you want and the birds will still leave when they need to. If not wouldn't they all just stick around up north indefinitely and starve to death when the first frost killed the flowers? If you need something in writing to back you up, try Enjoying Hummingbirds More by Nancy Newfield or the Peterson Guide to Hummingbirds by Sherri Williamson. They're both bonafide hummingbird experts that post on other forums. And maybe the Audubon Society can recommend a hummingbird expert who can give a talk to your garden club about hummingbird myths. Those people could use some straightening out. Here are a couple of links I found with Google: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/News/HummingbirdsInWinter.htm "During the last FeederWatch season, a number of CostaÂs and Black-chinned hummingbirds wintered in the Phoenix area and points south, and AnnaÂs Hummingbirds were frequently seen across the state." http://www.sabo.org/hbfaqs.htm#migrate "If you live along the Gulf or Pacific coasts or in the desert Southwest, you may have hummingbirds visiting your yard all year long." I also checked the Audubon Christmas Bird Count website and on the latest count in Phoenix on December 19, 2006 they counted 23 Anna's and 2 Costa's. And I'll bet most of them were seen around feeders.
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Comments (7)
Totally depends on your location. I live in Lakeland and generally speaking, we get the most birds in the winter months from Dec to April, those are the ones that migrate and find a location and spend the winter. Fall migration starts in Aug with the adult male birds coming through first, then adult females, followed by the immature birds. Migrants coming through might spend a day to a week, then will move on either further south or across the Gulf. All that being said, there are pockets in many places where hummers stay all summer. I have two friends within a 3 mile radius of me who both have had the same birds all summer. I, on the other hand have seen a single bird on 4 different days over the last week and a half. Not sure if its the same one or not, but appears to be an immature male Ruby. Don't give up- they are hard to find when nectaring and they don't usually use feeders at this time of the year here. Once you see your first one, be assured, there will be more.
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Comments (29)
This isn't about h-birds, and it's more about buzzers than hummers, but it seems like a reasonable follow up anyway. There's a narrow path along one of my borders, between a mixed bed and a small pool - about 25' long and only 3' wide (the path; the mixed bed is about 10' deep) and for over a month now the racket from the mixed bed has been astounding. This border is backed by old spruce trees and has a long row of evergreen euonymous (not one of the invasives, this is 'Manhattan' or a similar large-leaved variety) between the trees and a row of tree peonies, mountain laurel and azaleas, underplanted with gingers, geraniums, and various other perennials. Closer inspection revealed that the racket was coming from the euonymous, which has been blooming for weeks. After an even closer look, I realized that the buzzers were not bees at all, but flies. I can't detect any odor from these flowers, but there must be one, and it must not be anything that would appeal to people. Are there other plants that attract flies by the millions? These bugs (or are they insects?) don't seem to congregate anywhere else in the yard, and don't seem to be doing any harm. And, they don't scare anyone the way the bees that are swarming the clethra do.
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Comments (13)
Hi All! Left Friday morning on a fishing trip and came back early yesterday morning. Had my feeder up and saw my first Ruby on Thursday before I left. Changed and added a little more of that good brew before I left and now have 3 coming to the feeder. I must have a new addition because he or she won't lite and always has the back or side view to me. Drinks for about 15 to 20 seconds in flight and then lites in the backard tree. Comes back and has done the same thing last night and this morning was the first one at the feeder with the same inflight feeding. Penny your the expert (not to offend anyone else) does it sound as though I have a newbee that might stay? I sugared up a little heavier to make it sweeter. It's great to see 'em back!!!!!!!!!!!! Jim
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JoanMN
18 years ago
Patti, we've had one for about 5 days now.
JoanMN
phyllis__mn
18 years ago
I saw my first ones earlier this week.....I don't know if they are at the feeders yet, as they were buzzing around some blossoms just starting to show on the flowering crab.
alisande
18 years ago
Lilliepad, is that one of those magical invisible links? :-)
liz
18 years ago
I had ONE about two weeks ago...hit me in the head as I was sitting on my deck...so I immediately hung the feeders...now I haven't seen any since...it's still pretty chilly here...but I love watchin the hummers!!
Toni S
18 years ago
Patti, this site has maps and several other fun things to read about. It will get you to the migration link if you click on the hummer picture.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hummers and more
Toni S
18 years ago
lillie was sleep typing!
FlamingO in AR
18 years ago
Looks like they're everywhere!

Here is a link that might be useful: Map
grammahony
18 years ago
They're already here Patti.
Leslie
maryanntx
18 years ago
They get to my area early. We've had a couple here for several months. I have had as many as 12 in past years. The most I've ever seen was when we were at FlamingO's house. They were everywhere! Of course she has lots of feeders out, many flowering baskets and a beautiful flowering tree (can't remember what kind it was). So the little hummers were in Paradise!
lydia1959
18 years ago
I already have a lot here in MO. I counted 12 at the front feeder yesterday. The feeder in the back looks like it was taken over by a agressive male, it's the one the Orioles and woodpeckers eat out of too so it's okay with me for now. I'll put out at least 1 more hummingbird feeder at a later date.
irishdancersgram
18 years ago
We haven't seen our's yet, but noticed the feeder is going down...We also have 3 stray cats and they don't bother the hummers....I think you're safe, Minnie....
lilliepad
18 years ago
Oh my goodness! I guess I was sleep typing.LOL Sorry bout that.Here's the map I found

Here is a link that might be useful: Hummingbird migration map
donna_oh
18 years ago
Mine came back 5/10 Yippie!!

Donna (^_^)
kayjones
18 years ago
I had my first one, here in KCMO, today - he was a lone bird - a site for tired eyes!

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