Ann, The males head out first because they're done first. They do not help with the young at all. Their sole job in the summer is to fertilize eggs and chase off all who aren't in that picture. Once the females are on the nest with eggs, the males begin fattening up for migration. The females are left to incubate the eggs and then raise them to fledge on their own. With all of the time and effort going into creating the eggs and protecting them until the young fledge, they don't have to time to build their own reserves up for migration. Often times, a female will raise more then one brood of eggs. The young from the first brood will be ready to migrate when the adult males begin migration and the final brood should be ready to migrate by the time the females migrate. The females are likely to be at a deficit in body fat by the time they've created eggs and then cared for the young, so it will take a while to build enough fat to begin migration. They will nearly double their weight before departing. Banding data shows that they will go from between 2.5 and 3 grams to almost 6 grams. This also accounts for why sometimes there is quite a difference in size of two birds of the same species. Hope this answers your question. The hummer activity in my yard has picked up over the past couple of weeks. The banded female Rufous arrived for her 6th year on August 15th. I'm seeing at least 3 adult males and one young male Ruby-throat who appear to be claiming territories for the winter. We're going to attempt to trap the Rufous on Saturday to verify the number on her band. Click on the link below to visit my webpage. Follow the links to view a blog on the activity in my yard, and various photos of my yard and past balcony, birds, and a hummingbird banding session. Steve in Valrico, FL Here is a link that might be useful: Blog of Hummingbird Activity in my Yard

Gosh, this seems too early to me! I better get DH on the ball, he is the bird feeder man.....Orioles don't stay long for me either. I just saw my cheap brand of grape jelly in the frig and DH started to use it....I told him get the blackberry jelly....that was for the birds. I have the red flowering quince but it needs to be cut down and let grow back. There is so much dead in it that it doesn't have much color. The resident Blue Birds are back in the West yard. I think they nest in a hole in the tree over there and I think one may be building in a house on the East side...hope so. I scared it yesterday when I mowed that area.

Thanks. For the first time I did watch a hummingbird dive bombing in the shape of the letter U. I thought it was maybe protecting a nest but then I remembered that they do some type of diving to claim territory or displaying? Anyway I didn't see any nest or some time of predator. It must be difficult to get still photos unless you have a motion sensor. I don't think I know what a Penstemon is. I just recently planted those trumpet vines and they really like the red bee balm Monarda. I have red hot poker and really never see them interested in it.

I saw the first Hummingbird at the feeder today while I was in the garden.