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Post by Cynthia on Aug 20, 2014 9:22:54 GMT -5
Hello! I am new to this forum. My husband and I will be retiring to Spring Hill, Florida in a couple of years. Can anyone tell me if hummingbirds are in Spring Hill, Florida? If so, what type of hummingbirds and what time of year should I expect to see them? Do they stay year round? Do they leave in the Fall? When do they arrive? Another question or concern is the heat and humidity of Spring Hill, Florida, how does that affect the home made nectar in feeders? Does it spoil quickly due to the heat and humidity? Would it be better for the hummingbirds if I just used flowers due to this? I know hummingbirds can get sick from bad home made nectar so if the heat and humidity are too much in this area maybe I should not use feeders? I don't know and need some answers. Thank you to anyone that responds.  |
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Post by Joe M on Aug 20, 2014 16:02:26 GMT -5
Hello! I am new to this forum. My husband and I will be retiring to Spring Hill, Florida in a couple of years. Can anyone tell me if hummingbirds are in Spring Hill, Florida? If so, what type of hummingbirds and what time of year should I expect to see them? Do they stay year round? Do they leave in the Fall? When do they arrive? Another question or concern is the heat and humidity of Spring Hill, Florida, how does that affect the home made nectar in feeders? Does it spoil quickly due to the heat and humidity? Would it be better for the hummingbirds if I just used flowers due to this? I know hummingbirds can get sick from bad home made nectar so if the heat and humidity are too much in this area maybe I should not use feeders? I don't know and need some answers. Thank you to anyone that responds. Not sure where you may be moving from but FL is quite different than other areas further north in the east. Sugar solution in FL is no different than other areas of the country, it all depends on ambient temperatures. Normally we are changing out solution about every 3 days! In the cooler winter months maybe every 5-6 days. If your location in Spring Hills allows plantings then, please do, it is essential in attracting hummers, and a feeder or two are also part of the mix, especially in the winter months. We have year round hummers but they are few in numbers compared to the hoards that may be found during the summer in northern areas. During the summer months count yourself lucky if you have more than 2 or 3. However our winter population in some back yards will have as many as a dozen hummers in residence. In other words we can expect more hummers in the winter here than in the summer! The interesting aspect of hummers in FL is that the winter months are marked with "western hummers" that overwinter here. Not many, but not uncommon. We have along with Ruby-throated a few Rufous, Black-chinned, an occasional Calliope, Allen's, and Buff-bellied. There are several other but they have only been reported in the Pan handle Gulf Coast. Don't expect large numbers in FL it just doesn't happen, but we have hummers year round! Joe M. |
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Post by Cynthia on Aug 21, 2014 7:27:06 GMT -5
Thank you Joe for taking the time to give me this most valuable information! We presently are in Augusta, Georgia. We plan on moving to Spring Hill, Florida to retire in 25 months! While living here for the past 22 years I have been treated to hummingbirds arriving every May!
From what you describe I am looking forward to our move because where we live we only have one type of hummingbird! It sounds really wonderful to anticipate the ability to witness and see Rufous, Black-chinned, Calliope, Allen's, and Buff-bellied!!! I have only seen Ruby-throated here in Augusta.
The humidity and temperatures in Augusta, Georgia soar well to over 100 degrees in the summer in the shade!!! Still Spring Hill, Florida is hotter than Augusta, Georgia so I was concerned the food in the feeders would spoil daily. Here in Augusta I had to change the feeders daily sometimes due to this!
From what you describe I now look forward to moving to Spring Hill, Fl as I was wrong ins thinking I was going to miss the hummingbirds! Thank you again!
I also subscribe to Birds and Blooms magazine and have learned so much as they devote quite a bit of information on hummingbirds, just nothing was ever mentioned about Florida.
The prospect of seeing beautiful hummingbirds in the winter or year round is something I did not have the pleasure of in Augusta.
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