Post by Joe M on May 5, 2012 10:24:40 GMT -5
Just an observation I thought I would pass along with the hope that others may comment.
Usually the very late feeding hummers (barely light) are not birds in residence but birds that are storing up food to continue on their migratory journey. Can't find any literature to confirm this observation but it seems to make sense to me!
In my yard in the fall this is a very common occurrence and also in the spring when the birds are migrating.
In the winter and summer months with birds in residence the birds tend to "go to roost" for the night well before dusk, 1/2 to 1 hr prior.
The birds in residence know where the food source is and have no need to over feed or store energy while during migration they may not be sure of their next meal and exhibit a desire to take advantage of their current source and store it for the next leg of their journey.
- As an added note, another common feeder at dusk is the Sphinx moth which can easily be mistaken for a hummingbird-
Joe M.
Lakeland
Usually the very late feeding hummers (barely light) are not birds in residence but birds that are storing up food to continue on their migratory journey. Can't find any literature to confirm this observation but it seems to make sense to me!
In my yard in the fall this is a very common occurrence and also in the spring when the birds are migrating.
In the winter and summer months with birds in residence the birds tend to "go to roost" for the night well before dusk, 1/2 to 1 hr prior.
The birds in residence know where the food source is and have no need to over feed or store energy while during migration they may not be sure of their next meal and exhibit a desire to take advantage of their current source and store it for the next leg of their journey.
- As an added note, another common feeder at dusk is the Sphinx moth which can easily be mistaken for a hummingbird-
Joe M.
Lakeland
