Keep those feeders up

19 years ago

We are in Southern Ontario, Canada and we just had a few hummies here this week, which is late for them.

One in particular was feeding heavily, both the bottled nectar and from the flowers.

Now, our nights have been awful cool so we were worried why she hung around so long, but I guess she was just trying to get stronger. Thankfully, she is not here today and we hope she is finally heading south.

So, keep those feeders up for awhile yet. They're still coming.

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Comments (9)

penny1947
19 years ago
Judy
You are so right. There are still quite a few in Ont. from people I have heard from on other lists and there are also still quite a few in Michigan, Wisconsin and New Jersey. It is best to keep the feeders up as long as you can maintain them for late migrators or western vagrants.

Penny
tracey_nj6
19 years ago
I keep my feeders up until November, but I'll keep them up later if possible. Right now, the migrators coming through are completely ignoring the feeders and hitting the plants. It's funny how much my regulars prefer the feeders and how the migrators prefer the plants!
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penny1947
19 years ago
This year I added test tube feeders to my host of feeders and the juveniles loved them. The used those little test tubes right up until the day they left. I think they were easier to accept and learn to use for the juveniles.

Penny
User
Original Author
19 years ago
tracey,

They like to hit the plants and the feeders here.

They go to the salvia's, I think, for the spiders inside.
hummersteve
19 years ago
Yes, ditto here. I plan on keeping my feeders up thru dec. and still have hopes I might see a rufous. Judy , what brand of hummer do you have up there?
User
Original Author
19 years ago
We have the Ruby Throated Hummingbird here.
We live in the city, so we only see them as they migrate through.
Too bad but that's the way it is with a lot of birds.
penny1947
19 years ago
Judy,
I visited a hummergardener right in Niagara Falls, Ont. last November. All her regular rubythroats were gone but she did have a migrant female rufus that came to be known as Hannah. Unfortunately Hannah didn't move southward and didn't survive.

Penny
hummersteve
19 years ago
Penny and Judy--Sorry to hear about that rufous not making it. I know they can withstand some cold temps , guess it just got too cold. Ive heard of people building an area of warmth for similar situations, if the birds would use it. Im sure if I had a resident rufous I would try to make a comfort area for it. Then again thats the way of nature , only the fittest survive---Steve
lisa11310
19 years ago
I have not seen any hummers for 3 days now here in West Michigan, They must have known we were to get frost. I will keep my feeders up for quite some time yet, would'nt want any weary late travelers to go hungry!