Valrico Ruby-throated Hummingbird

[Steve Backes]

I finally saw my first hummingbird since early May, a young male. This is typical for me. I usually begin regularly seeing young birds by late June or early July but I don't see adult birds until August. What wasn't typical was how early they left me last winter. I was surprised to read in my last post to my Yardhummers site on February 14th that I was only seeing one or two hummingbirds. The lack of birds in my yard combined with a very busy schedule for the past few months have resulted in my limited activity here.

I just scheduled a field trip to my yard with the Hernando Audubon Society for mid-January so hopefully this January follows suit with the past three or four and I'll have 15 to 20 birds putting on a show. And hopefully, unlike last year, many of them stay around through March and some into May.

[moboston]

Are you seeing hummers now?

[Steve Backes]

Unfortunately, I haven't had a lot of time to look for them. I have had at least two birds in the yard for the past month. While talking to a neighbor this morning, I observed two passes of a hummingbird in a short time which may have been two different birds. We were later buzzed by two birds while talking in another part of the yard.

I've got hummingbirds. I've just not been able to observe them close enough to identify individuals.

Steve

[magicallilly]

I am new to the site.. not sure how to make a new post.. but.. yesterday.. August 22, 2011.. I saw a female (I think) ruby throated Hummingbird.. enjoying my firecracker plant.. in Venice, Florida !!! Last year.. after spending three months with them in Arizona.. I came home.. and planted all kinds of things to lure them here.. the only thing blooming right now.. is the firecracker.. it was a feeling of total joy!!!
The plant is right outside my window.. where I sit at the computer.. so I had a 'birds eye' view!! I quickly found my feeder.. and created the nectar.. so I am ready this morning.. hoping.. and hoping.. it comes back!!!

So.. can anyone tell me.. what to do from here???

[kano296]

I am new to this forum and also new to hummingbirds. I live north of Dade City and have enjoyed having several hummingbirds for the last two months and now all of a sudden there are none! Are they migrating south? I have a friend in Nobleton, which is about 25 minutes north of here and he says that they are there all year

[mboston]

Hummers are strange little creatures! I live in Lakeland and I usually start seeing migrants in Sept. Some stay a few days, others a couple weeks then they move on. My wintering birds come in Dec. and stay till late March or April. After that I don't see any till Sept. again

But I have a friend who lives about a mile and a half from me and she has had a female stay most of the summer. She might not see her for a few days but she shows back up again. She knows its the same one cause of her preference for a certain feeder and how she reacts among all the other kinds of birds like doves, wrens, etc that she has in her yard.

Another friend who lives just a half mile further has had 4 all summer and she suspects that she has had babies in her yard. It has been thought that they don't breed in this area but if you see them in May then you can pretty much guess they have bred in your area.

We suspect that maybe the female my one friend sees is one of the four in the other friends yard.

So.... who knows when you will see them and when you won't. Just enjoy them when you do!

[Steve Backes]

I've received a number of emails recently similar to kano296's post. The following is a reply that I sent to an individual requesting some specific information but also a general summery of when to expect migration.


"It is believed that they migrate individually but more than one may show up on a given day. They are very territorial and will defend feeding areas even during migration. Don't expect the see swarms of hummingbirds around feeders like you see out west or even during migration north of here. We will not typically see more than one bird at a feeder. You can usually hear the disputes when there are more than one bird present. Eventually, if birds stay in an area long enough, some birds will reduce territory size and may share a location but they will still defend their food source. My 1/3rd acre yard has supported at least 13 territories during winter after a freeze but I've landscaped for that purpose.

Hummingbirds may be found anywhere in the state throughout the year although they may be very local. I don't see them in the summer but a friend who lives two miles away does. I attract them in the winter but he doesn't. They are more common to the north in the summer and to the south in winter.

Spring migration typically starts early March although some early dispersion of wintering birds prior to March may be confused with actual migration. It will last into May but breeding may begin in March so there is some confusion as to what's a migrant and what's a breeding bird. With migration lasting into May and breeding beginning in March, early fledglings may mix with late migration. Post breeding dispersers can be seen in June and July. By late July migration may be starting. Again, there is some confusion between local dispersers and actual migration. By August, it's safe to say that fall migration is occurring. Fall migration of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds lasts into October but may appear to end by late September.

The winter season includes Ruby-throateds as well as a number of other species. Rufous first show up in August but most don't get here until November - January. Buff-bellieds may show up anytime in the fall or winter. We had one in Hillsbourough County in October a year ago. Black-chinneds typically don't get here until November. Other species have typically been reported in December. Freezes, and the resulting loss of food sources, typically push birds that were surviving in the wild to seek out feeders. This is one likely reason some of these birds are not reported until this late in the year."

Steve

[Steve Backes]

magicallilly,

It sounds like you're doing what you need to do. Landscape, hang a feeder (keep it clean), and make time to enjoy them.

Steve

[palmtreetodd]

Steve- This is my first post/reply to post on your site. I was referred by Rich of Fishhawk Backyard Birds. I live in Brandon...off Bryan Rd. I will post more about my yard, landscaping, etc in some other post.... Just wanted to note that I have had a female RT feeding in my yard all day long...for about a month... and today...I noticed that I have a second HB... this one was clearly a Male (Bright Red Throat).... I have Firecracker, Firebush, Red Ixora, Red Hibiscus and a Nectar Feeder... I am new to Birding...but have quickly become addicted to it. I have the luxury of working from a home office...a bungalow that I constructed in my gardens...so I sit in front of a large picture window most days... Anyway...great site...and I look forward to getting more involved... I need to get one of those tube feeders for my window...which is at the end of my bread crumb trail of plants that they always follow.

[Steve Backes]

Fred Bassett banded three Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in my yard this morning, two young males and one female. There were also at least two adult males who avoided the traps.