The Last Hummer

All of my Hummers have gone for the season. They usually leave around the 10th. However, I have one female who is still at the feeders and the remaining annuals. My husband joked that we might as well "get a cage" for her. Has anyone else had experience with a straggler? Thanx. Susan

I don't have an answer for you, but I'm glad you asked the question because I've been wondering if there is a date or temperature when I should bring my feeders in to encourage my hummers to head south. This is my first time to have the feeders out, and I know there are hummers migrating through just now so the feeders may give them go-power for their trip, but I don't want to cause them to stay when they shouldn't. How does that work?

I don't really know how it works, but I leave the feeder until after they seem to be gone. They really seem to enjoy feeding mostly from the flowers now. My guess is that as the flowers in an area die off, that, along with the weather, tells them it's time to hit the road. And I've guessed that, in spring, their northern migration probably follows weather patterns and spring blooms northward, too.

Pure guessing on my part, though.

Karen

I don't think the feeders will make a difference in them staying or going from what I have read (not an expert) I leave mine up on through Oct/Nov. and then I clean and leave one or two out for winter just in case a straggler comes through looking for food. Keep hoping to sight a hummer besides the Ruby throats. Mine have been very active at the feeders and flowers this week.

Elaine

Guess I am not alone. Have kept records of their arrival and departure for many years and this is the first time I have ever had a straggler. From what I have read, the Hummers have their own built in migration system and the maintenance of feeders has nothing to do with their departure. Having said that, I see no harm in keeping the feeders up, clean and full until the Hummers leave. And Karen, same situation here in Medina, flowers must be tastier at this time of year. We call this little girl Lizzie. I'll keep you posted on her travels. Susan

Thanks for the good words. I really didn't want to bring the feeders in as I'm having so much fun watching. Mine seem to be at the feeders mostly in the early morning andthe evening. In between they're on the flowers. One little stinker who thinks the feeders are all hers though, hovers in a nearby tree a good part of the time so she can chase any one off who wants her food.

Willow

Smart little stinker, she is. I bet she survives and has more little hummers.

I'd love it if she'd come back here to do it!

Willow

I havent had a hummer in 2 days. I guess they packed up and left for warmer spots LOL... I will leave the feeder up for another 2 weeks just in case a straggler passes by.
My cat is going to miss them as much as I will, she loves to sit in the window and watch them :>)
Christine

After the home gang has left, I leave one feeder up through November, just in case anyone migrating needs a shot of energy. If the weather is cool, I change the solution about every 5 days. My feeder holds 1 cup, but I only put in a half cup and keep an eye on the level to make sure it never gets empty.

Recently, I either read or heard that the trigger for migration can be the shortness of the day, less sunlight. I also read that hummers like to start off when the wind currents are going in the right southerly direction. I guess they can ride currents and not have to expend energy beating their wings.

How interesting, I guess they're little enough to be very lightweight. Mine are still acting like they're happy to be here, but it's supposed to get much colder by Tues. so we'll see then.

Willow

Hi Everyone-

Lizzie packed and left yesterday. She spent a lot of time at the feeder on the 23rd, and said a personal good by to the annuals still in bloom on the deck. "All good things must come to an end" and that must include hummers. Am sure she will be back next year...Susan

It's hard when they leave the nest, so to speak. But I do believe they come back to the same feeding grounds the next year if nothing happens to the little darlings. Two years in a row I pot-planted Standing Cypress in the exact same place on my patio. This year the seeds were sowed late, so the blooms came late. But I had a hummer poking the tops of the plants probing for buds or flowers, even before there were buds. It's the same with feeder placement. Move a feeder and they know something isn't where it is supposed to be!

I still have 3 hummers, but heavy feeding is going on and a lot of twittering chatter at each other and me if I get in the way. I don't think they will be around much longer, and it just seems like yesterday I was anticipating my first sighting.

Group hug to everyone whose babies are moving out.

This message was edited Sep 25, 2009 1:11 PM

I'll feed them them on their way....
thanks for the hug. ( ) back to you

Hummer_Girl

Please tell me about Standing Cypress. It is a new one to me. Thanx. Susan

I thought ours were gone and then this morning a little one with a little round tummy came to feed. She looks like a little walnut. My neighbor had told me about her visiting her feeder and flowers last weekend and during this past week. She was skittish by my feeder and wouldn't land.

Then, we had another female this evening, one who has been here all summer - at least I think it's her. She was not fearful of us at all and landed to drink.

I can't believe these two are still here although our days are still in the upper 70's but nights downright chilly and damp.

I don't want to encourage them to stay either by leaving our feeders out but I too think their migration instinct will take over when it's time. Our annuals are still blooming so I think that's why they're staying too.

I have to make a note when they leave. It does seem late though.

Leaving feeders out will not stop hummers from migrating south when it is time. I leave one feeder out until the end of November in case any stragglers pass through and they need an energy drink.

Ipomopsis rubra, Gilia rubra, Standing Cypress, Texas Wildflower, Texas Plume: hardy in zones 6-10, but I haven't tried to overwinter in the ground, yet. Hardy in zone 5 with heavy mulch added for protection over winter. Full sun is best, plant blooms red trumpet flowers May or June through October and blooms first year when grown from seed. Plant is 36"-48" tall and is a narrow upright stalk, so I plant a lot of them close together for fullness and to help support each other. Average water needs. I use Miracle Gro Potting Mix with traction sand (gravel sized sand) added. I plant in a 14" terracotta container. I sow the seeds where I want the plant to grow, usually the first week of May. I heavily scatter the seeds on the surface, finger sift some potting mix over the seeds, water in, and water once each morning afterwards until they sprout, which doesn't take too long. You can start seeds indoors in March or April and transplant outside after danger of frost has passed. You'll have blooms earlier that way. I also put a 10" fence around the edge of the pot to keep the squirrels from jumping inside and digging in the soil. When the plants start to fade, collect seeds for the next year.

Last year I was able to sow seeds the first week of May and had blooms for the hummers in July. This year I didn't sow seeds until mid June so there weren't any buds until late August. My hummers couldn't understand why there weren't any flowers where there were supposed to be flowers.

This picture of a hummer at my Standing Cypress was taken on September 8th. I do not take very good pictures, and she is almost lost in the background foilage, but I enjoyed the moment anyway.

hummer_girl-Thanks so much for your info on Standing Cypress. Will look for seeds in the spring. By the way, Lizzie reappeared on Saturday. No sign of her today, but the poor little girl would be blown away if she dared to leave her roost. S.

We have a few hummingbirds that stay here year round in Portland Oregon. I know we are warmer than most of you during the winter but we still can get freezing temps. The Audubon Society told me some hummers won't migrate so it's ok to leave the feeder up; they also eat insects during the winter. When we get several days of freezing temps I wrap the feeder with heat tape (what you'd wrap around pipes to keep them from freezing). Last year was the worst winter we'd had here in at least 60 years and the hummingbirds never left. They roosted in the bushes nearest the feeder

Loreen,

That's amazing that your hummers stayed all winter. Guess they are hardier than I thought. I've got one who's still feeding from my feeder. We've had a week of cool and rainy weather, with a couple of nights in the high 40's. I'm surprised this one is still here!

I have one little female hummer who just keeps eating and eating. Lots of blooms here (she loves my Phyllis Fancey Salvia)
Will try to get a pic tomorrow.

Elaine

I had a couple of hummers visit the feeders this morning. But it's going down to 40 degrees tonight, so they'd better 'git going' or take cover!

One was nice and fat and had a dark spot on his chest (so I assume it was a boy?).

Last year we saw our last hummer on the 18th of October.