post it on this site: http://www.hummingbirds.net/map-migration.html This is the 2006 Migration Map. Here in southeast Alabama I saw my first hummingbird of the season March 15 last year. Am so excited about the little bird's pending arrival along with all those beautiful butterflies.
This message was edited Feb 23, 2006 12:20 PM
If You See a Hummingbird, Please....
I saw one two weeks ago and another one today. They should start hitting our coast any day. Haven't heard when fall out is expected this year.
I need to fill my feeders, they're always starved when they hit land.
Bump .... they are on the move !!!
Waiting....waiting..... Karen
interesting...
please explain-- what is 'fall out'-- do the hummers all show up on one day in your area? they dont' fall out of the sky, do they?
And does the date vary quite a bit from year to year? I guess I assumed it was just about the same time period every year...?
Thanks. t.
I'm not sure if this is what Calalily was referring to but there is a bird event known as "fall-out" which occurs when rain and wind causes massive numbers of migrating birds to land at once. When this occurs their life can be threatened for a number of reasons especially insect eating species. On the other hand, fall-out can be particularly exciting for birders because they may see a lot of species they otherwise would not have seen.
It's not always caused by wind and rain. This is the normal landing of neo-tropical birds. They leave the coast of their southern home and fly across the Gulf of Mexico. Lots of them don't make it, but lots more do survive the trip. When they hit land, either South Padre Island or the coast of Cameron county, they literally fall out of the sky exhausted. The little hummers will just lie there, like they're hurt. All the people try to have hummingbird and other bird feeders full as well as birdbaths full of water. The local bird groups try to predict when it will happen and birders flock to our area to see rare birds. For a few days, we see birds that aren't normally seen here, then they leave on their normal migratory route north.
Oh how fascinating. I wonder if we get anything like that here in Florida.
Fascinating, cala. I knew they made landfall, but I didn't know it was in such a precise location and so dramatic. You must have a festival or something to celebrate?!
Where is Bayview?
Fall-out is big news here. They try to predict it, and when it starts friends call each other and say "they're here!" and people flock to the Island.
Bayview is north of Brownsville, west of Port Isabel. As a crow flies, I am 4 or 5 miles from the Laguna Madre(the bay that runs between the Island and the Gulf of Mexico). Bayview is an incorporated city/town but we have no postoffice, so we don't always show up on maps.I was going to post a map, but it's on the other computer. I need to find the little disk dohickie thingie to move files.
Nursetherapies, I bet Florida has the same thing, but probably only on the west side or the panhandle.
Bump again. They are so close, but none here yet. I put all my feeders out over the weekend. Now its gotten so cold again. ARGH! Becky
I am in southeast Alabama and have had hummers since March 13. Two days earlier than last year. I have had three males playing king of the hill with my homemade perch. don't have a clue as to how they can stand the cold weather we are having. I am just making sure my feeders are full so they will have plenty to eat. Becky they have already been sited in Tennessee.
You and other hummer lovers might check out this site for hummer information in your area.
http://www.network54.com/Forum/439743/
Thanks for the link. I see that they have recently made it back to my area. I have the feeders out but haven't seen my guys yet. BTW, one way they survive cold temps is torpor - controlled hypothermia - a sort of comatose state which allows them to conserve energy for short periods of time. This makes it all the MORE important to keep the feeders stocked as they must have food ASAP when coming out of torpor or they will die.
I can't wait to see my hummers again!
YEAAAHHH! Hooray! Just saw a male ruby at the feeder. He was probably here sooner; I just wasn't looking hard enough because I didn't think they were back yet. They are such a treasure. Thanks again for letting us know they're back! I'll post the siting to the link provided.
I heard a talk yesterday by our local bird expert.He said that he has had one report of hummers in our area but most off them should be here any day now.Last year I saw the first one at about this time sniffing the blooms on my saucer magnolia.I'll keep looking at the feeders.
At least one is coming to the garden every day. Can't wait until more arrive. Penstemons should start blooming soon. They're mostly hitting the salvias right now.
Just saw one at the feeder outside my office window. HOORAY!!!! A beautiful male. He may just be passing through, but thats OK. I don't usually see any until 2nd week in April. Becky
I have my feeders out, but haven't seem any yet. We only had 3 or 4 last year, and chalked that up to all the bad storms. Hope we do better this year.
I have at least 2 males (I see them fighting at the feeder). They spend most of the day in my garden. I have a bench under the tree that currently holds the feeder - need to move the feeder or the bench. I can't sit on the bench for even a few minutes before one "buzzes" by, sees me, and zooms off.
Hope you see yours soon. (Make the brew stronger.That really works for me.)
We have seen them in the area but not yet at our feeders. Maybe today. I saw that someone reported HBs in Cincinnati on April 1, which is really early for us, I think.
First one sited on our feeder just one minute ago!! Wyoming neighborhood , Cincinnati, Ohio so fun to have them back, and plan to add more feeders,,, now to find deer resistant flowers for the little guys!
TABASCO,, any sitings yet your way??
Flowerlou, aka Mary Lou
not one teensy little bird! and I have been watching relentlessly! We have seen them in our neighborhood flying around but not at a feeder.
TAbasco,,, I didn't see them around the neighborhood,, they are still so new to me,,, I think I miss them with all the other things flying around,,,, geesh! I refilled it just this afternoon, and we were all in the sunroom, and my husband cried out: LOOK! A HUMMINGBIRD!!
Probably scared the little one to go fly back home,, LOL!!
I am crazy about these things, now that I have experienced them for the first time late last summer.... I want to get more feeders...
Oh,,, money is tight,, old house not sold yet... I am not sure if we can take off work for the RU... I am hoping.... another problem.. I have nothing to trade because of this move. :( I have beautiful greenhouse at the old place.....just dont know what to do..
Used to make some money selling my artwork: Pressed flower works, and wedding bouquets..... I still get so many requests...
Flowerlou, Mary Lou
Scutler:
when you say "(Make the brew stronger.That really works for me.)" I assume you are referring to your sugar solution. how much more do you sweeten it up? Does this really induce more hummers? I always thought it was the local natural food supply which enticed them, but if not, I'll be glad to add more sugar to the pot.
thanks
flowerlou-- good to hear you are having fun with the HBs. If you want to get more feeders, sometimes you can find really inexpensive feeders at the Dollar stores, too. I like to have several spaced around the yard because the hummingbirds sometimes don't like to share. And you will enjoy the RU -- don't worry about the trading. I didn't have anythign to trade last year because my garden was new and everyone was so nice and gave me plants to get the garden started.
It sounds like all the southerners and southwesterners have regular HB visitors now, but not much word from the Midwesterners and New Englanders. Perhaps still too early in these parts? I wonder?
My hummers are here, I have been feeding them for two weeks now! Love hearing them and seeing them!
Just had my first sighting ever in my own backyard, I reported it to the map site right away.
first hummer spotted today.....gotta warm up the camera!
Grr..none at mine yet! I am so jealous!! lol
However, the downy woodpeckers seem to enjoy the nectar..and I had problems with them chasing off the hummers last year..so I am afraid that might be part of my problem..
I saw one about two days ago, rushed out to get the feeders up and haven't seen one since :-) I'm sure they will be here though, I think he was just taunting me lol
Lea
I just saw my first one here today!
Finally I got one at my feeders yesterday!
And of all the feeders to choose, this little bugger came up to the plastic nectar feeder stuck onto my dining room window (with suction cups, a neat little thing), and our cat was sitting underneath it (two feet away) and I was right there, too..
The onlly thing I can think, is that this little bird knows our cat from last year and knows she'll never get up and that I'm the source of all the sugar water..
I'm looking forward to a good HB year!
Congratulations to eveyone seeing their hummers for the first time this year.
I have four that seem to be calling my yard home this year. It won't be too long before there will be some little one flying around testing the feeders and trying the flowers.
Yay!! Finally saw one this morning at the feeder!
Sorry, I don't know what I did wrong but I meant to be on this thread. A Senior moment I guess. Like I said my DH and I saw the first hummer of the season this cold and rainy afternoon. I will try to get a pic soon. Again, so sorry.
Takes a little longer for the Hummers to make it up here, but I finally saw my first one yesterday. Scrambled to put out the feeders, and the little fella actually buzzed me when I was hanging one. Ü Pretty hungry after the long journey, I guess.
Don
Hi, buckimom-- Great to hear you have some HBs already.
and so great to hear from you! Have missed your posts around DG--we must be on different threads, now that the site is so big!
Let's see how your garden in growing too?!
We missed you at the ORV RU last week! t.
Has anyone seen any mid central in Ohio? I put mine up, but I haven't seen any around yet.
Saw my first hummer at the feeder on Wednesday - yeah! Hope they make a home nearby again - loved watching the tiny ones grow up. Guess I have a different type here, not ruby throat that link is for Eastern States only;..+(