My hummingbirds are missing :(

I live just a bit north of Houston. I did have about 7 regulars, mostly ruby throats but a couple of little gray/green ones I think are Annas.

After this last big storm they've vanished, except for one of the Annas who still comes in the evening. It used to be a regular flying circus out there all day long.

Do they move on about this time? I miss them :(

I had a swarm in the past two weeks and now only see an occasional hummer. The feeders have not been emptied as quickly. The front may have had something to do with it but here, we received no bad weather and only a light shower or two.

Possibly they are nesting and only slip out to eat in the evening?

My hummers have come and gone too. They did this last year: they show up in April, about 6 or 7 Black-chinned males and a Ruby or two, stay for a couple of weeks, and then they disappeared for most of May and some of June and then they came back. I hope they show up soon. I have so many plants in bloom for them and they're not even around to enjoy it. At least the bees are having a time.

Well, one or two are making an appearance sporadically.

We moved here in very late August last year so I haven't had quite a full year's experience with the wildlife yet. I hope they're just nesting or found a big patch of flowers or something. I'm encouraged that they may come back :)

Mexican sunflower (tinthonium, I think) are great hummingbird plants.

Our hummers migrate. Last spring, until it got too hot we had
up to 15 at a time at the feeders and flowers. They move on their
way til fall. Some will take up residence if the food is plentiful. Some
wildlife folks say not to provide food late into the summer or winter,
so they will continue on their way as nature intended. Don't worry,
they will be back.

We're not in your area, but we have lots of hummers on our deck. We have four feeders, and your excellent descriptive term applies - flying circus! Our house is up on stilts, since we're 2 blocks from the bay. People several streets west were complaining about the lack of hummers. A friend in Aransas Pass says she's got lots.

We're in far eastern Tx, mid state and are seeing migration birds... They are at the feeders early am and pm ~ swarms of them. During daytime, few to none.

I have heard the myth about taking in feeders to make them go south is not true. Nature tells them when to go. I have only heard of two in years past that didn't go. Both had gotten trapped in greenhouses. Both successfully overwintered and were released in springtime. One of them was in Mn.

I have only seen two as well and live south of Houston. Maybe they are just arriving late this year, but at our place in the west, there were swarms when we left. I am wondering where or what part of the country do they nest? Have seen the tiny pictures but never up-close.

My hummingbirds did come back :)

I read on a hummingbird website that they do migrate further north about the time they dissapeared from my house.

Two or three of the die hards stuck around (apparently there are a few who stay year round in this area) and now recently they've been thick as bees, I guess they're on the way back south.

From what I understand the males go north, mate then head right back down...they don't stick around to do any of the work :P

The females head back down a little later after the babies are on their own.

This message was edited Sep 22, 2007 11:03 PM

That's interesting. I've had lots of hummers the last couple of weeks...not a circus but a decent number....they really buzz the turks cap.

This is an article that was in lat Sunday's paper about hmmingbirds

http://www.tylerpaper.com/article/20070916/FEATURES01/709140359

Neat article Mibus2 ~ thanks!

Although many go north there are resident birds that stay and nest and raise young here.

Like you Flowerette, I have not seen a nest, only photos. I understand the nest is so tiny that we don't recognize it for what it is...

Thanks, Phyllis. emailed the article to a couple of my friends that have feeders out.

LouC,

Beautiful picture. I planted one in the spring and thought it was suppose to be deer-resistant, but they didn't realize it. At first I thought butterfly larvae ate most of the leaves, but the ends of the plant had been snipped off, so there were only about 3 ft. branches that remained. It has been encased now with wire. Deer/butterfly larvae are a love/hate relationship.

Of course I don't have deer, thank heavens. I do have lots of butterfly. Have never noticed the leaves being bothered but they also buzz the nectar. That is small crepe myrtle (dynamite) started in the middle. Think it will be beautiful when it is a little taller than the turks cap. I have found it grows equally well in sun or shade. Depending on the weather...sometimes has mildew but not enough to cause a problem with the appearance.
It dies totally to the ground after the first freeze. We just cut it even and the next spring it is right back up. I love it.

I love the turks cap although it isn't prolific in ground for me. I have moved it many times trying to find a location. Ended up potting it back up. It never starts blooming till this time of year for some reason. Very pretty mass of plants LouC.

I have noticed the hummers love the blooms, the bees shred them as they can't get into the tightly wrapped flowers. LOL

Gee, pod. In my neighborhood it can almost become invasive. Couple of other people have it and can't get rid of it. I have to work to keep it in bounds or it would take over half the lot.

Are the flowers completely open in the 2nd pic.?

Yes. Sorry the closest is blurry. The one in the lower left corner is clearer. They are about the size of the end of my thumb from the joint. No aroma to my sensories but sure pulls in the hummers and butterflies. Am presently collecting seed.

Am also a seed collector. If this one doesn't survive, may have to swap with you though I rarely have time for such enjoyment :)
Thanks.

Your welcome I thought you might find it interesting DH read it as he sits in the kitchen in the morning and watches the feeder we have to see how many show up or which one is chasing which to keep the away.

I wasn't sure if they went further south or hung around Texas for the winter like so many northerners do ...hehehehe...(thinking of my folks that go down to mission area the month of Jan) never thought that they would go north instead of south

Thanks, Podster. Me too.

Saw only one hummer this morning. Their arrival and departure depends totally on nature.

Milbus2, I enjoyed the link as well. Great info.

Thanks everyone.