I just looked at the hummingbird migration map on Hummingbirds.net and there were two sitings of hummingbirds here in MN the last couple of days. What are they doing here so early? There is absolutely nothing for them to eat as far as I can tell-most folks I know don't even put feeders out until May 1 or so. (Luckily, we were at our cabin last weekend and I did put mine up there-but haven't at home yet. Guess today is the day!) How do these guys survive? The only blooming thing I've seen are pansies. I feel like I'm letting the little guys down-does this seem early to anyone besides me? Does anyone have any suggestions beyond putting my feeders out, of course?
Hummingbird Questions-do they seem early this year?
There is a theory that they find the holes that the Sapsuckers drill, and drink the tree sap there. Also, they do eat small insects, so even if there's not much blooming, they can find food.
The ones sighted may be the "scouts". Maybe someone who knows more about that will contribute to this thread.
Well, I'm ready if they come to my yard-I put my feeders up yesterday just in case.
Well, I don't know about the rest of the south, but our spring came very early this year, does have an effect on their migration?
Yes, something like 85% of their diet is protein from insects (so I've read) so perhaps there are some insects out and about in the trees up there.
(I've also read that they follow the lilac and red buckeye bloom up north. And also the sapsucker sap hole theory too. And that they can go into a kind of stupor or hibernation that lowers their metabolism so that they can stand cold temps.)
They do seem like early reports for MN this year, but two years ago we saw 2 of them on April 9 and 10 here in Cincinnati....
I like to read 'Birds by Bent' for lots of details about the species--an old book, but still informative--
http://birdsbybent.com/ch11-20/hummingb.html#Spring
They do seem to be early this year as first HB was sighted on April 2 in our yard. Last year first HB sighted was on April 13th.