This link plus the links from this link should answer most of your hummer questions : http://www.hummingbirdsplus.org/index.html
If you have any questions not answered by these links, I will be more than happy to find an answer for you if I do not already know the answer. Happy gardening and birding.
Larry
Be sure to check out this site in the link section : http://www.birdsofna.org/excerpts/rth.html
This message was edited Wednesday, Jan 8th 10:03 AM
All about hummers! Facts, gardening tips, general info.
Larry, i heard from fred. he is supposed to be here next monday to band my little birds. there might be more than 2. i think i saw one chase another while the third slipped up to a feeder. i'm wondering if they might be calliopes.
arlene, glad fred is coming, he is a retired air force pilot, a really nice guy. I have felt all along that you probably had more than 2 hummers, but did not want to say so. The one thing I know for certain about hummers is that the more I learn the more I know I do not know much. It will be nice to know what species you have. Be sure to get a pic of you holding them.
Great link hummer_nut. We only get the Ruby-Throat up my way but it sure does make my day when I see them at the feeders & the flowers. I have a big patch of Salvia coccinea 'Lady-in-Red' not far from my sunroom & I could spend my entire day just sitting & watching them. They are so fascinating. It's too bad that we only have them for such a short time. Thanks again for that link.
Larry, talked with Fred, he wondered how we met, lol. i've also heard from the county birding society, they want a report after fred comes for their records. looks like i have a new hobby. i am so excited that he's coming! and there's a lady maybe 10 miles or less from me that also has them. will be interesting to see if we have the same kind or do you think they might be beating a path between our places?
arlene, not the same birds. Does Fred know about the other hummers? Can't wait to find out what species. If you have a calliope, I will be jealous, as I have been trying to get one in my yard for years.
broots, glad you enjoy the hummers. In Canada, you stand a really good chance of detecting RTs building nest and raising their young.
RTs arrive at the Gulf Coast the last of Feb. The northward migration last about 1 & 1/2 months and covers the eastern US and 2/3 of Canada. I would expect that you would see your 1st RT in early to mid April.
Approximately 35% of RTs captured are hummers that were captured in previous yrs and most are captured within the same 2 week period, in the same general area that they were captured the previous yr(s). They are beautiful and fun to watch.
Its getting close to their return north and those who have wintering western species in the east and southeast, it want be long before they return to their summer grounds.
Larry, he is the one who told me about them. will send you mail later, he might be willing to take a couple of cuttihgs back to you if you want them, lol. i realy think having about 40 brugs with tons of blooms, and all the different sages, and other plants blooming at the same time brought them here. how could them have missed it? lol.
You think RT's will be in my area late February? I can't wait, got another feeder today. Still have some blooms for them too.
Connie, according to maps at one site, last week of february. but these winter birds could still be traveling, and might stop for a day or two also. i am so excited that fred is coming to band! Larry, might be wishful thinking caliope. i have gotten really good looks at the chests/bellies. hopefully will know monday! and thanks for the above link larry!
OH, please keep us posted. I am not home much during the week so I don't know if they are here or not...shoot.
Thanks for the great sites Larry...
I feed hummingbirds all summer, but they usually leave this vicinity in late Sept. Haven't seen any since then. I have Caliopes, Black Throated, and Roufus here. Love them and wish they could stay year around. We had 1" snow Sunday night, and about 1/2" last night, but the temp. is quite warm, 38 degrees today so the snow is mostly gone. rutholive, (Donna)