Post by suzz on Jun 11, 2015 15:29:25 GMT -5
Hi,
This is Suzanne in Winter Park, Fl. zone 9b. I had written in March regarding 2 hummingbirds I had in my yard that stayed though the Winter months, which is unusual for where I live. We mostly get hummingbirds here from mid March through late September.
It took me 9 YEARS OF TRYING TO GET MY first hummingbirds and I was on CLOUD NINE!
The one was a juvenille male rubythroat. He took a long time to develop his full colors (red gorget?) He stayed in my yard, pretty much all day, every day perched in a tree above the feeders and many hummingbird plant varities. He would feed about every 5 or 10 mins. He made it his business to chase off any other hummer in sight, no matter how many feeders and plants were available for sharing. I referred him as my my" resident hummer"! There was also a female that would try to visit early in the morning every day or two. He seldom allowed this , so I put plants and feeders in the front yard for her. She came around , but only in the moring for a few mins almost every day. Occasionally in mid afternoon.
I was surprised and delighted when they both stayed in my yard after September, which is when I was told they typically fly to South America for the Winter month's. I watched the male juvenille develop his colors , little by little, over many months. By mid March he had about 75% of his colors and then within a 4 day period , March 19th, that boy was in FULL BLOOM! I never dreamed that would be the last time I would see him. The next morning. March 20th, he was gone...had FLOWN the COOP!! The female left as well, I believe the same morning? I was so very disappointed.They have not returned. I've had a few pass thru for a day or two since then in Late March- early April, but none have stuck around. I am hopeful that my "Resident Hummer " might return again ? Maybe in the fall ? Anyway , I continue to maintain all feeders and plants ( plus new one's) in hopes that I will have more Hummingbirds in the near future.
Has anyone else had a similar experience or have any idea which direction they flew to? STEVE BACUS are you reading ? Thanks for listening... Suzanne Pope Zone 9B Winter PARK, fL.
This is Suzanne in Winter Park, Fl. zone 9b. I had written in March regarding 2 hummingbirds I had in my yard that stayed though the Winter months, which is unusual for where I live. We mostly get hummingbirds here from mid March through late September.
It took me 9 YEARS OF TRYING TO GET MY first hummingbirds and I was on CLOUD NINE!
The one was a juvenille male rubythroat. He took a long time to develop his full colors (red gorget?) He stayed in my yard, pretty much all day, every day perched in a tree above the feeders and many hummingbird plant varities. He would feed about every 5 or 10 mins. He made it his business to chase off any other hummer in sight, no matter how many feeders and plants were available for sharing. I referred him as my my" resident hummer"! There was also a female that would try to visit early in the morning every day or two. He seldom allowed this , so I put plants and feeders in the front yard for her. She came around , but only in the moring for a few mins almost every day. Occasionally in mid afternoon.
I was surprised and delighted when they both stayed in my yard after September, which is when I was told they typically fly to South America for the Winter month's. I watched the male juvenille develop his colors , little by little, over many months. By mid March he had about 75% of his colors and then within a 4 day period , March 19th, that boy was in FULL BLOOM! I never dreamed that would be the last time I would see him. The next morning. March 20th, he was gone...had FLOWN the COOP!! The female left as well, I believe the same morning? I was so very disappointed.They have not returned. I've had a few pass thru for a day or two since then in Late March- early April, but none have stuck around. I am hopeful that my "Resident Hummer " might return again ? Maybe in the fall ? Anyway , I continue to maintain all feeders and plants ( plus new one's) in hopes that I will have more Hummingbirds in the near future.
Has anyone else had a similar experience or have any idea which direction they flew to? STEVE BACUS are you reading ? Thanks for listening... Suzanne Pope Zone 9B Winter PARK, fL.
