I'd like to report that the last day I saw a hummingbird at my feeder was September 25th. The feeder looks so lonely out there....lol..
Hummingbirds leave
i still have mine but the cold did make it seem slow
I haven't seen one since Sept. 23rd.
Since the second week of sept. I'd only seen one or two every 2 or 3 days (mostly just morning visits). So I was surprised to see that last one so late, and she was only here in the morning, like the others.
Mine are here. It'll break my heart when they leave!
I had 2 here still today. But it was cooooooold this morning! I only get the fall migration.
Mine are still here, should stay till late Oct. if weather holds.
I still have several but I had dozens at a time all summer. Most of mine have moved on :-( Still have a few butterflies but most of them are gone now too.
We still have three regulars that are actively guarding the feeders - from each other! One of them we nicknamed "Pudgy" because she is nearly round. It will be sad when they leave for the winter.
Barb
Here is a nice hummingbird site with lots of good info.
http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek080715.html
Edited to say that one site (that I now can't find) says they leave when they get to a certain weight and when the days become shorter.
This message was edited Oct 2, 2008 12:45 PM
that's a good site. those are the people that go to Costa Rica in the winter and tag the ruby-throats. i would LOVE to do that.
I saw my first hummer of the fall season today.
This message was edited Oct 5, 2008 8:03 PM
I just came from our house that sits at the top of Lake Huron in Michigan's upper peninsula. It has been in the 40's for several weeks, (nights mostly) and most of my flowers are done. I still have one hummingbird. Do you think it will make it south? If they are too old, do they just stay put and die of cold? I realize there is nothing I can do, but I am curious if anyone has any info about them staying so late, and apparently alone. Saw her today, Oct. 5.
It's possible that the hummingbird you saw just stopped to feed while migrating south.
Hummingbirds can lower their body temperatures as much as 30 degrees and go into torpor during cool nights. (Info gotten from the site I posted above.)
The following info is from this wesite.
http://www.birds-n-garden.com/hummingbirds_facts.html
HUMMINGBIRD LIFESPAN
In captivity, hummingbirds can survive for more than 10 years.
In the wild 3 to 5 years is more likely.
I still have some, but not nearly the normal summer numbers. Those still here are FAT. Our recent nights have gotten down to the 40s. I'm still keeping the feeder clean and full, and I still have a lot of flowers that they are visiting and feeding from.
Karen
I just got back from a conference in Wyoming with several folks from NY. They still saw hummers before leaving there on Oct. 1 as you all have. I "see" hummers usually until mid October, but think there are plenty still here. I'll keep feeders cleaned and up through mid Nov. at my house out north of Houston. In central Houston, I've had hummers stay through the winter on winter flowering shrubs - temps are low 20's to low 30's here. I miss them when they are gone!
Would you believe I spotted a hummer this morning!
It was a pleasant surprise, I refreshed all the feeders as soon as I saw it visiting our coral nymph salvias :)
Well, my hummers have been back for about a week and a half now (I live in zone 6).....can't tell how many; there seems to be only 2 of them but someone said there are about 4 for every one you see.
This message was edited May 15, 2009 3:41 AM
I just started seeing them this week.
Karen
DH said he saw a couple of HBs this week on his deck plants, them Penta I think. I know they are in the area but I have so many flowers they can nectar from right now, I haven't put out my feeders again. I did put them out before the yard busted out.
Saw 1 hummer May 1, then NOTHING! I keep trying, tho.
I have had several different hummers since April...their activity has slacked off, but I believe it's due to the fact that they are nesting now. I could be wrong, but I think that's it.
"eyes"
I have seen single hummers here in the Adirondacks once or twice a day in the early evening for the past week or so. The pic is from last year and we are in a new house so i cant wait to see how many come
