Hummers in IL.??

Have any of you in our area had Hummers yet? 10 days ago DH. saw one and nothing since. We usually get quite a few going through in spring and fall and a few that stay all summer. The weather has been pretty crazy jumping back and forth so don't know if that is the reason or not.
Lyn

Have you had a look at the Hummingbird migration site? http://www.hummingbirds.net/map.html

Maybe your hummingbirds are looking for insects in the woody areas. And then some may be sitting on nests?

It seems like the HBs come through here around April 7 and then we don't see them too frequently for a few weeks and then they come back. I see them flying around our trees now and again when I am out working in the garden these past few weeks, but not often at the feeders...

In July they are crazy for our feeders, though.

It may just be the wacky weather we've had, I'd bet they will show up next week with the warm-up.

Thanks for the replies. I didn't know about the map as I am new to all of this. According to the map they were here in April. Guess we missed seeing them if that is the case. Hopefully they come around later to then. Last year we had more than we have had in the past. Nothing like I have seen in pictures of magazines like Birds & Blooms etc. though. We sure enjoy them. We are north of Peoria so more or less in the middle of the state.
Hope they didn't forget us. The weather had been so crazy that we hadn't put feeders out until the one was spotted about 10 days ago. Nothing since!
Lyn

Do you have any blooms for the HBs?

They are said to love lilacs in the springtime. I just saw two checking one of my lilacs out today.

Yes, we have lilacs, flowering quince and other stuff in bloom. I am not giving up due to the crazy weather we have had. I just found 2 hostas just popping through and 2 hydrangeas with 1 tiny leave a while ago when weeding! I thought they were all dead because most of my hosta are full size now. Our lilacs are farther from the house but the (red)quince which is about done blooming is close enough to the sun porch where we watch all our action for feeders and stream and pond and we never have seen any except the 1 about a week and a half ago.
Guess we have to wait and see what happens next. That's half the fun of bird watching and gardening tho isn't it?
Lyn

When your visitor returns with his tiny family, don't forget to keep us posted on the Hummingbird and Butterfly GArdening forum, too!

I live in Decatur IL and I have had 2 at my feeders each about 3 wks apart. The first one arrived around the middle of April and I saw the second one last week. I am hoping for a swarm of them soon. With this crazy weather, who knows. I have also had one Blue Bunting and Baltimore Oriele this year. And there is a pair of Prairie hawks nesting in the neighbors yard. What fun to watch them each day. Seems so strange to see them in town.

Hope your hummers arrive soon.

Still no Hummers but we also had a Blue Bunting and one Baltimore Oriel both early last week. They each were only around 1 day each. We have only seen them a few times before and never had them stay. It is fun to see new birds. We seem to get a bigger variety every year.

I haven't seen any yet but last year they were around when my butterfly bush was in full bloom. That's at least a month away so I think they are still coming. I haven't seen any in the spring in Ottawa, IL

You know penquist, I really am thinking that it takes a while to establish them as regulars. My mom lives in Princeton, close to you and she has constant visitors, all summer, every summer, showing up May 1 on schedule. I am hoping that let's say 3 years my garden will be the same. I certainly am a regular stop on the fall migration and that's something at least.

I saw my first hummer yesterday. He was checking out the gallairdia (sp?). I guess I'll have to put out more spring interests for them instead of just waiting till summer when they flock to the butterfly bush. I think I'll put a feeder outside my office window so I can watch for them and then photograph them.

Thanks also for the info, Mrs Ed.