Hummingbird Spring Migration 2020
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
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Jeff Bush
4 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
4 years agoRelated Discussions
Spring 2010 Migration of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds
Comments (6)Spotted first one of the season this afternoon! Male ,ruby-throated, made a quick stop then about 10 minutes later on again on the other feeder, yaay!! But don't think they are same ones that were here as they ignored me, smile...home gems used to do happy dance with dips to greet me and express their joy of making it back, would do happy dance when their babies started flying....wish there was a way to track them, also wish they were banded, but main thing they are back. Weather to be around 40 on sat, as long as it doesn't freeze, but did think they'd wait a while. Now off to mark the date on the map. Bea in Belle Chasse La ( near New Orleans )...See MoreHummingbird Spring Migration 2012
Comments (137)Our First Ever Hummingbird. On the way to the Kitchen tonight I saw a tiny bird fly in and land on our hummingbird feeder. About the only detail I saw looked like a flash of yellow. As I crept closer to the French doors that open onto the deck, the tiny thing saw me and darted away. Wings were a blur but it could certainly move fast. I suspect that it will get used to us eventually. We had figured they hadn't found us yet but there it was. I should have changed the food two days ago so I got out there right away and change it out for some fresh food. At least the food is no longer just going to waste as we empty it out. But it was quite exciting to get our very first ever hummingbird. The feeder was a bit low on solution, too so I think that perhaps they have been working on it for a few days and we didn't realize it. It's cleaned out and fresh now so I'll be tracking it over the next few days to see if they drain it down. At some point I'll set up a film camera on a tripod with a remote release and try to get a close up photograph of one on the feeder....See MoreHummingbird Spring Migration 2009
Comments (75)My hummers disappeared for a while, presumably nesting and concentrating on insects for the babies, although they may also have been nectaring on the rhododendron mountains up the street. Now they're back, and I see them every day at the feeder. They don't stay at the feeder for long, they just take a few sips and zip off to the flowers. The meadow phlox are blooming now and the hummers love them. Re orioles: There are myriad ways of feeding oranges and jelly; you can buy fancy feeders but they're not necessary. One easy way is to hang an orange half from a hook, or impale it on a stick. The bird will eat out the orange flesh, then you can fill the empty rind with grape or other jelly. You can also put jelly in a bowl on a deck railing. I've put orange slices in a wire suet feeder and the orioles were happy. Catbirds like the oranges and jelly too. I have photos of different methods I've tried, but I'm hesitant to slow up this thread. Claire...See MoreHummingbird Spring Migration 2010
Comments (89)Claire is correct - it's the timing. Excerpt from hummingbirds.net "Where did my hummers go? You watched the migration maps and hung your feeder in time to attract the first migrants. You kept the feeder clean and the syrup fresh, and were rewarded by lots of visits from migrants, then the activity settled down to regular appearances by the resident birds. Pretty cool hobby, eh? Then, perhaps in early May (depending on your latitude)... NO MORE HUMMERS! Where'd they all go? This didn't happen last year! Or did it? Welcome to the nesting season, folks. I'll discuss Ruby-throats in particular, but similar principles probably apply to most other species. Shortly after arriving, the females establish a nesting territory. Ruby-throats prefer secluded wetlands for nesting, if available, and proximity to your feeder is not an issue; in fact, females don't like to build nests in a male's feeding territory, and your feeder is probably part of one. Visits to distant feeders take too much time away from the eggs. When the chicks hatch, they need protein to grow, not sugar, so their mother spends most of her time catching small insects and spiders for them. During this period, I personally still see a male or two at my feeders, but typically only early or late in the day. I suspect that once their breeding duties are over, males tend to abandon territories and forage more widely to fatten up for migration. After the chicks fledge (leave the nest), expect the number of hummers at your feeder to be double what it was before the "disappearance." As summer progresses, there will be fewer natural hummingbird food sources available in many parts of the continent; feeders can have a real positive impact on the number of birds that survive, especially in the dry Midwestern U.S., so please keep them clean and fresh. And keep notes on your tiny visitors, if you like, so you can verify for yourself that this is a normal, annual process." I checked my photo library and all of my backyard hummers were photographed in July, August, and Sept. Been a long spring. Thank you, Claire. Kindly, Jane Here is a link that might be useful: hummingbirds.net...See Moredeanna in ME Barely zone 6a, more like 5b
4 years agocorunum z6 CT
4 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
4 years agodeanna in ME Barely zone 6a, more like 5b
4 years agoSue Hughes Zone 6b in Pittsburgh
4 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA thanked Sue Hughes Zone 6b in Pittsburghclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
4 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoJeff Bush
4 years agocorunum z6 CT
4 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
4 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
4 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
4 years agoArlene Levin
4 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
4 years agonekobus
4 years agoSue W (CT zone 6a)
4 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
4 years agocorunum z6 CT
4 years agosuzabanana (6b Boston/N. Shore)
4 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agodeanna in ME Barely zone 6a, more like 5b
3 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
3 years agodeanna in ME Barely zone 6a, more like 5b
3 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
3 years agoSue Hughes Zone 6b in Pittsburgh
3 years agodeanna in ME Barely zone 6a, more like 5b
3 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
3 years agoSue Hughes Zone 6b in Pittsburgh
3 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoMrsM
3 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agocorunum z6 CT
3 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
3 years agoSue Hughes Zone 6b in Pittsburgh
3 years agocorunum z6 CT
3 years agodeanna in ME Barely zone 6a, more like 5b
3 years agoSue Hughes Zone 6b in Pittsburgh
3 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
3 years agoSue Hughes Zone 6b in Pittsburgh
3 years agoNHBabs z4b-5a NH
3 years agodeanna in ME Barely zone 6a, more like 5b
3 years agoArlene Levin
3 years agoSue Hughes Zone 6b in Pittsburgh
3 years agoArlene Levin
3 years agoNHBabs z4b-5a NH
3 years agoSue Hughes Zone 6b in Pittsburgh
3 years ago
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Jeff Bush