We planted a small but lovely hummingbird/butterfly garden several months ago and the butterflies love it! We already have several monarch butterfly catapillars munching away and are excited to see the variety of butterflies that visit our garden. It's now mid-February here in the New Tampa, FL area, and I wonder when I should start filling my hummingbird feeders? Can anyone who lives in this area tell me when I can expect to see our first hummingbird? That is, should they decide to visit us. :)
When do I start filling my feeders?
Hang in there Sal LOL Larry (Hummernut), Arlene or one of our other knowledgable folks will stop by to answer your questions. I think Arlene, who lives near Gainesville, leaves her feeders up all year round and they are active.
Edited to add:
This is a great info thread (even though you have probably already read it) http://davesgarden.com/t/415462/#new
This message was edited Feb 17, 2004 10:19 AM
Good morning Floridian! time to put up feeders! i have been blessed to have winter hummers for the past two winters. i have one little girl rufous still here, she'll be leaving soon. the male RTs should be here soon and will be grateful for a feeder after their long trip.
OK, I'm psyched!! Now I want to quit my job and sit and watch the feeder for hummingbirds!!! :)
Arlene, can I ask a few questions (newbie here)? What time of day do they normally come to the feeders? How often? I filled my feeders last weekend and the garden is really filling in nicely. Right now I have a triple feeder on one side of the garden and will be getting a single feeder for the other. Am I overdoing it? Do I need to change the feeder each week or can I let it go a little longer.
Thanks for all your help. Any advise to help attract these little beauties would be greatly appreciated.
First, check in the area, i can't remember how far south the RTs go. feeders need to be changed more often when it is hot, they will start to grow mildew. if mine has mildew i use 10% bleach on it. most times i just rinse with hot water. probably 2X a week.
mine start right around dawn, quit about dark. they go thru periods where they will just go to the flowers. last fall for 4-6 weeks i kept seeing them on my flowers and never once at a feeder. sometimes they will be at the feeder ever 10-15 minutes. with all your flowers if there any around the area at all they will find you.
there have been two RT sitings this week, one in Belleview and in Ocala. hope you have lots of hummers.
I was just reading that the hummers will start feeding about one hour before dawn. Not that I am ever up that early unless I am going to work!
I came across a hummer in the dark in the rain the other morning on my way out to get the paper. I do not know who was more surprised. My hummers over winter here too so I always have one to keep me company while I have my coffee. I get up about 5:30 so the hummers and i can have coffee and read the paper in peace.
Here are some links that may be of interest about hummingbirds:
2004 Reported Hummingbird arrivals
http://www.hummingbirds.net/map.html
So many kinds of Hummers!
http://www.trochilids.com/winter.html
Hummingbird Banding:
http://www.rubythroat.org/RTHUBandingMain.html
Bird Web Cams
http://www.jamesreserve.edu/webcams.lasso
Laws:
http://migratorybirds.fws.gov/intrnltr/treatlaw.html
Information taken (mostly) from:
http://www.trochilids.com/links.html#Arrival
NOTE: U.S. Federal laws prohibit the "take" (which includes harrasing, killing, or even handling) of any non-game, native, wild bird, either dead or alive, or any part of such a bird, including feathers, bones, eggs, and nests, unless you have a bird banding permit from the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory, or salvage permit from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, or are working directly under the supervision of someone with such a license.
All the hummingbird banders mentioned on the web site meet these requirements and are devoted to the protection of the birds they study.
Many hummingbird banders, particularly those in the eastern USA, are VERY interested in documenting wintering hummingbirds -- and will drive for hours and hours one-way to do so. Nearly every eastern state is covered by a licensed bander, so just because you don't see a dot near your hometown on the map, don't think your bird isn't worthy of reporting for documentation!
Here's the sighting list as of this morning from Journey North.
Looks like I'll see them right on time...sometime around the 7th to 10th of April
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Date Town St/Pr Lat (N) Long (W)
03/23/04 Charlotte NC 35.19 -80.83
03/23/04 Mullins SC 34.19 -79.26
03/23/04 Remlap AL 33.85 -86.62
03/22/04 Buffalo Gap TX 32.20 -99.87
03/21/04 Little Rock AR 34.75 -92.28
03/21/04 Dale TX 29.87 -97.53
03/21/04 Austin TX 30.23 -97.71
03/21/04 Leona TX 31.13 -95.91
03/20/04 Greenville MS 33.28 -91.02
03/20/04 Cottageville SC 32.94 -80.48
03/20/04 Hot Springs AR 34.49 -93.05
03/20/04 Waynesboro MS 31.67 -88.73
03/20/04 Tallassee AL 32.56 -85.90
03/20/04 Gainesville FL 29.65 -82.33
03/20/04 Grenada MS 33.78 -89.81
03/20/04 Millport AL 33.55 -88.19
03/20/04 Harvey LA 29.87 -90.07
03/19/04 Statesboro GA 32.45 -81.74
03/19/04 Texarkana TX 33.36 -94.22
03/19/04 West Monroe LA 32.55 -92.20
03/19/04 Clanton AL 32.81 -86.68
03/19/04 Bremen GA 33.74 -85.12
03/18/04 Milledgeville GA 33.09 -83.24
03/18/04 Georgetown GA 31.90 -85.00
03/18/04 Milledgeville GA 33.08 -83.25
03/18/04 The Woodlands TX 30.16 -95.49
03/18/04 Hunt Texas TX 29.68 -98.57
03/18/04 Cedar Park TX 30.51 -97.81
03/18/04 Natchez MS 31.51 -91.36
03/18/04 Natchitoches LA 31.78 -93.07
03/18/04 Morgan LA 29.70 -91.19
03/18/04 Macon GA 32.86 -83.53
03/18/04 Ringgold LA 32.32 -93.30
03/18/04 Gatesville TX 31.43 -97.70
03/18/04 Wetumpka AL 32.54 -86.17
03/18/04 Alpharetta GA 34.13 -84.29
03/17/04 Keystone Heights FL 29.86 -81.93
03/17/04 Sumner GA 31.54 -83.72
03/17/04 Granita Shoals TX 30.57 -98.32
03/17/04 Horseshoe Bay TX 30.54 -98.35
03/17/04 Wrightsville GA 32.73 -82.74
03/17/04 Wrightsville GA 32.73 -82.74
03/17/04 Biloxi MS 30.40 -88.89
03/17/04 Monroe LA 32.53 -92.10
03/17/04 Lone Star TX 32.94 -94.72
03/04/04 Holden LA 30.59 -90.68