The hummingbirds have arrived!
For most feeder watchers in North America, the southward migration of the hummingbird is not so exciting as the northward migration. The numbers slowly dwindle until it becomes apparent that there are no more hummers taking advantage of the feeder and it is taken down. The migration can begin as early as July and last until November, making many unsure as to when they have indeed seen the last hummer of the season until it is already gone.
Here in Eastern Nebraska, however, this is an exciting time. Hummers do not generally nest in this area, but they do pass through while migrating. We get two chances a year to attract these sassy little birds to our yards: during the spring migration and during the fall migration.
And the hummingbird migration is upon us. Ruby throated hummingbirds have been sighted down at Pioneers Park, on the outskirts of the capitol. I have written previously about how to attract hummingbirds. I guess it is time to dust off my feeder and set it out with the others!
backyard birding, birding, birdwatching, hummingbird, migration
September 13th, 2007 at 10:53 am
Here (between Omaha and Lincoln) we have had Rubythroats at the feeders all summer.
(Three, maybe four, it is hard to tell for sure. I am sorry to report that the cat got one, although I wonder if it might have been sick or ill.)
I have not actually seen them nesting, but behaviour at the feeders suggests that it might be a breeding pair. Until recently, we never saw both male and female at the feeders at the same time.
September 13th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
That is great! I had heard that they do sometimes nest in this area (we are a quite a bit south of you, though). Here, they arrive quite conspicuously in the spring, disappear and then are back for a short time in the fall.
There may well be some hanging around, but not right here!
They are another species that have experienced some range expansion due to the popularity of bird feeding and bird and butterfly gardens.