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Post by DonsNatureNotes on Aug 11, 2013 15:57:09 GMT -5
The southern migration of Ruby-throated hummingbirds in Florida has begun. The males started leaving their breeding grounds mid-month and the females and juveniles will follow over the next few weeks. In the days before they depart you may notice them eating more frequently and getting bigger as they store fat for the migration. They will almost double their body weight - to around 4 grams - that's just about the weight of 2 pennies! Pretty amazing to think something that size making a 20 hour/500 mile flight across the Gulf of Mexico to the Yucatan Peninsula. Some Ruby-throated hummingbirds will follow the Gulf Coast around Texas and Mexico to wintering grounds in Central America and a few rarely stay along the Gulf Coast or in Florida. So keep a feeder up and look out for others stopping over for some food and rest as they migrate over the next month. I keep a single-tube feeder up well into November for the strays that may pass-by like the photos of this female that stopped over for a few days by the Magic Kingdom and fed on Firespike ( Odontonema strictum). You may note she looks plump and healthy and ready for her journey south. Visit the Hummingbird page on DonsNatureNotes.com for more information. Happy Gardening with Nature! Don
Garden Designer & NaturalistDonsNatureNotes.com
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Post by lindaw777 on Aug 12, 2013 17:06:17 GMT -5
Thanks! I have 2 feeders up!
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Post by Joe M on Sept 7, 2013 17:18:29 GMT -5
As a FL resident but spending time in MA during the summer, I can report that most of the hummers have departed the NE for points south of here and their wintering areas.
It would be nice if they all spent the winters in FL but that's very unlikely.
Had my peak bird count on the 1st of Aug. with 75-100 hummers using my feeders. Making up 2 qts. of sugar solution a day for about a week kept me busy and totally different from the typical 1 cup I use a week, in FL during the winter months.
Numbers here have steadily declined with a slight uptick in mid Aug. with about 50 hummers.
As of today there are still 4-5 but the overnight temperatures are getting into the 40's which should encourage these birds to head south.
During the past 7 years we have had very few birds here after the 15th of Aug., with only 1 or none on Sep. 1st. In that respect I think this migration has been somewhat later than in the past.
But they are well on their way to points south including FL, so I hope you get one or two finding their way to you back yards!
My best to all and happy "humingbirding",
Joe M
Sturbridge, MA (Lakeland, FL)
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Post by lindaw777 on Sept 7, 2013 17:55:43 GMT -5
:)I live in Pensacola and have about 3 hummers now and hoping for more as they come through!  |
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Post by Mary Ann on Jan 2, 2014 19:58:19 GMT -5
HELP ! I live near Pensacola in Milton, FL. We are fairly new to FL. moved here from Maryland. When in Maryland we fed Hummingbirds all spring and into fall. Had 3 feeders and they were mostly full. Since moving here we put out feeders in the spring and summer and have not had any. Please tell me how to attract HB to our feeders. We have lots of songbirds to our regular bird feeders, some red headed woodpeckers, Carolina Wrens, and lots of the normal songbirds. BUT we really would love to have some HB's
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Post by Steve Backes on Jan 2, 2014 22:23:29 GMT -5
Mary Ann,
The first step to attracting hummingbirds is to landscape for them. Offer flowers for nectar as well as shrubs and trees for perches and protection. Feeders will bring the birds to your view and keep them as residents.
You're not currently in the "prime" season for hummingbirds in your area but it is an interesting one in that the few hummingbirds that will winter in Milton my be species other than Ruby-throateds. They will require feeders for nectar after flowers are lost to a freeze.
You're most likely to see them during migrations, between March and May and between August and October. If you're in an area where they nest, you'll likely see them during the summer months. They tend to prefer wooded areas around rivers for nesting. Like I said, the wintering birds are the most interesting but they are very local and not a lot are reported.
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Post by Joe M on Jan 5, 2014 10:42:49 GMT -5
HELP ! I live near Pensacola in Milton, FL. We are fairly new to FL. moved here from Maryland. When in Maryland we fed Hummingbirds all spring and into fall. Had 3 feeders and they were mostly full. Since moving here we put out feeders in the spring and summer and have not had any. Please tell me how to attract HB to our feeders. We have lots of songbirds to our regular bird feeders, some red headed woodpeckers, Carolina Wrens, and lots of the normal songbirds. BUT we really would love to have some HB's Mary Ann, Just got off the phone with Fred B. who bands hummers in the Winter months and he reports that between Pensacola and Pace he has banded 9 species over the years. Thats between Nov and Mar (his winter season). Although you will never have large numbers of hummers in your yard in Fl , the diversity of species you might have visiting makes the wait and patience worth while! I'm sure they will find your yard eventually and with this fridgid weather heading your way your chances will increase exponentially. Since the flowers will be pretty much lost as a food source for the hummers, they will forced to visit feeders exclusively! FYI: I don't even put feeders out after May here in Fl. Only from mid Sep thru May! Joe M. Lakeland, FL |
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gardengirl
New Member
Where's the baby Romaine?
Posts: 17
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Post by gardengirl on Jan 13, 2014 11:50:53 GMT -5
I live in Cocoa, FL and I see a female RT in my yard multiple times a day. Is it safe to assume she's a wintering bird?
Thank you,
Annette
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Post by Joe M on Jan 13, 2014 13:03:47 GMT -5
I live in Cocoa, FL and I see a female RT in my yard multiple times a day. Is it safe to assume she's a wintering bird? Thank you, Annette Yes! Very little documentation of any "resident" year round population of hummers in Central or South Fl.. Just about any hummers in FL during the winter months are "Over" wintering birds. Hope this helps, Joe M. Lakeland |
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gardengirl
New Member
Where's the baby Romaine?
Posts: 17
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Post by gardengirl on Jan 13, 2014 13:55:51 GMT -5
Thank you, Joe. Do you know if she'll move farther south when or if my plants suffer from a freeze or do I need to put up a feeder? I've never had any luck with them so I gave them all away when I moved :-(
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Post by Joe M on Jan 13, 2014 17:50:31 GMT -5
Thank you, Joe. Do you know if she'll move farther south when or if my plants suffer from a freeze or do I need to put up a feeder? I've never had any luck with them so I gave them all away when I moved :-( If you don't have a feeder in place then you should, especially during the winter momths. But only if you are "dedicated" to keeping them clean and with "fresh" sugar solution. Most people associate hummingbirds with the summer months but here in Fl we should think of them as winter birds since many may find the FL environment life sustaining and allow them to forego a long migratory trip across the gulf or around the gulf coast to Central America. Many do spend the winter here but the majority continue their migration to Central America. All I can attest to is having more hummers here during the winter months than the summer months, and enough western rarities that have visited my yard, to concentrate my efforts on attracting them in the winter months. Joe M. Lakeland . |
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gardengirl
New Member
Where's the baby Romaine?
Posts: 17
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Post by gardengirl on Jan 19, 2014 19:03:26 GMT -5
Joe,
Thank you so much for the suggestion. I put a feeder out earlier this week before the cold weather wiped out all my nectar plants. I was worried that she moved farther south because I didn't see her since last Monday. By the time I get home from work it's almost dark so I was hoping that was why I missed her. Well anyway, yesterday, as I was watering my potted plants, she did a fly by. She took a look at my feeder, but didn't stay. I figured it was because I was too close. I was so excited about it that I went to the store this morning and purchased two more feeders!
I moved the first feeder over a couple of feet and refreshed the solution and it wasn't 30 minutes later that she was buzzing around! I was so excited, I've NEVER had or seen a hummer at a feeder before! She fed every 35 minutes today!
I ended up placing one of the new feeders in the front/side of my yard because while she was feeding another hummingbird flew in for a taste. Of course, the first one chased the 2nd one away.
Is there a way I can post a picture or send you one? I got a couple of good snapshots of her this afternoon and I don't think she's a girl now. I think maybe she/he's a male that's starting to get his gorget feathers.
Thanks again - the feeders made my weekend!
Annette
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gardengirl
New Member
Where's the baby Romaine?
Posts: 17
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Post by gardengirl on Jan 19, 2014 19:46:06 GMT -5
Joe, I figured out how to attach the photos - it helps if you read the instructions ;-)    Is it a male RTH? Thanks again, Annette |
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Post by Steve Backes on Jan 19, 2014 19:49:22 GMT -5
Gardengirl, I'm glad to hear that you have hummingbirds that are feeding at your feeders. You can embed photos if they are on a photo Website or you can attach up to three photos (max 1 MB per attachment) by clicking the "Add Attachment" in the upper right of the Create Post. Then click "add files" and select them from your computer.I've attached a photo of a young male Rufous Hummingbird that was in my yard as a test of this process. Attachments:
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Post by Steve Backes on Jan 19, 2014 19:52:29 GMT -5
It looks like I was a little late explaining how to attach a photo. You bird looks like a young male Ruby-throated Hummingbird. He was fledged last summer making him a second year bird.
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gardengirl
New Member
Where's the baby Romaine?
Posts: 17
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Post by gardengirl on Jan 19, 2014 21:35:40 GMT -5
Thank you, Steve. It's weird how my camera picked up on the the colors on his throat as I didn't see it with my naked-eye. Your photo is very nice. I hope I get to see something like that in my garden one day.
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