St. Augustine - NW St. John's County Sightings

[Patricia H.]

This is the 2nd year I have had my feeders up and I am getting much more birds than last year. I get mainly BROAD-TAILED and CALIOPE hummingbirds. I notice only one species at a time will be at the 2 feeders and if a bird from the other species comes around there is a little aerial battle until one flies away. The broad tails seem to live in a neighbor's tree across the street and are more aggressive, while the caliopes live in the woods behind my house and are more timid. The feeders are in my front yard near my bushes and the birds hide in the bushes if a car passes by, then they resume feeding. I have a tiered fountain about 20 feet from the feeders that other birds use as a bird bath, and the hummers don't seem to mind them at all. Maybe the hummers feel safer with other birds there, signifying it is a safe area. All the birds accept me and don't panic or move if I am around, but if a neighbor comes by they flee. I live in a World Golf Village neighborhood in northwest St. John's County about 2 miles west of I-95 at exit 323. My property is against a wetlands preserve along Six Mile Creek and I have all kinds of wildlife back there. I put the feeders up in mid-April this year, later than usual as I had been ill. I think I should put them up in mid-February or should I keep them up all year? The feeders hold 27 ounces each and I need to fill them up about every 2 weeks, which is 3 times as often as I filled them last summer. I am really enjoying the little guys!  

[Joe M]

Jul 3, 2016 20:21:35 GMT -5 Patricia H. said:

This is the 2nd year I have had my feeders up and I am getting much more birds than last year. I get mainly BROAD-TAILED and CALIOPE hummingbirds. I notice only one species at a time will be at the 2 feeders and if a bird from the other species comes around there is a little aerial battle until one flies away. The broad tails seem to live in a neighbor's tree across the street and are more aggressive, while the caliopes live in the woods behind my house and are more timid. The feeders are in my front yard near my bushes and the birds hide in the bushes if a car passes by, then they resume feeding. I have a tiered fountain about 20 feet from the feeders that other birds use as a bird bath, and the hummers don't seem to mind them at all. Maybe the hummers feel safer with other birds there, signifying it is a safe area. All the birds accept me and don't panic or move if I am around, but if a neighbor comes by they flee. I live in a World Golf Village neighborhood in northwest St. John's County about 2 miles west of I-95 at exit 323. My property is against a wetlands preserve along Six Mile Creek and I have all kinds of wildlife back there. I put the feeders up in mid-April this year, later than usual as I had been ill. I think I should put them up in mid-February or should I keep them up all year? The feeders hold 27 ounces each and I need to fill them up about every 2 weeks, which is 3 times as often as I filled them last summer. I am really enjoying the little guys!  

Patricia, It is very unlikely that you are seeing either Broad-tailed or Calliope Hummingbirds in your area. The "only" species in FL during the summer months is the Ruby-throated. Occasionally we do see the species you mentioned in the winter months (Dec.-Mar.) but even then it is very, very rare. If you can take some photos of your hummers it would be helpful in positively identifying them.