 |
| This little hummingbird had been working hard to "enrich" his fat cells for his mighty trip south! Hummingbirds need to double their weight to make the arduous trip safely. |
Our "house-hummers" flew the coop on Thursday, September 17 (it was a sad day). Hummingbirds migrate during the day, and ours must have taken off late in the morning, because we didn't see any the rest of the day, Friday or Saturday, but by Sunday afternoon, a new visitor had moved in (jubilation). He was a small and skittish juvenile Ruby-throated Hummingbird from the north, dropping in to fuel up for the next leg of his journey. We were used to our house-hummers who didn't mind our comings and goings and would hover inches from my face and hands as I changed the nectar in the feeders, but with our new visitor, if I even blinked, he would fly away. I texted my friend, Cheri, who lives a few houses up, and told her to watch her feeder. Maybe he was on his way to her. Within minutes, Cheri texted back that he was there! Then she would "blink," and he would take off in a huff for our house. Cheri and I texted back and forth that day while he ping-ponged between our feeders (and the huge trumpet honeysuckle vine that grows near our feeders). It was fun being able to predict his arrival. The next day, two more hummers dropped in, then another, then another. We appear to be a refueling and weight-gaining station for hummingbirds from the north as they wing their way south. I will keep my feeders stocked for a while, hoping to wring out the season as along as I can. The chatter of hummingbird-speak makes me happy, and getting to watch (and help out) hummingbirds migrating south is fun.
 |
| ...yes, you're such a sweet little ping pong ball with wings! |
 |
| If it were cold and he was fluffing up to stay warm, this fellow would look normal, but it was warm, and he was not fluffing up at all. He had gained the weight he needed to help him on his way south. I will watch for him today, but I bet he took off with the sun this morning. |
Hummingbird migration...
I've had three or four friends in the past couple of weeks as me how long they should keep their hummingbird feeders up. They don't want to impede their hummers' departure during fall migration. I always tell them, don't worry, a stocked feeder will not entice a hummingbird to stay longer than it should, but it might help a northern hummer on its flight south. Hummingbirds get itchy and jumpy when its time for them to migrate. They have an inner urge that drives them to leave triggered by the "intensity of daylight." As the days get shorter, hormones are released to increase their appetites so they can gain enough weight for their incredible journey south (from Mexico to Central America, as far south as Panama).
Hummers do not migrate in a flock, but they do fly out on favorable winds, so if there are many on the move, you might see several in a day. They usually fly during the day and sleep at night, except when they cross over the Gulf of Mexico. Hummingbirds fly low over the water, and it can take them 18-22 hours to cross. They can't sleep during this dangerous part of their journey and must have adequate fat reserves to fuel them across. Every time I think of these tiny little power houses winging low over the water my heart melts. Hummers are mighty birds! When hummers stop to rest along their journey, they may stay as short as one day, or as long as two weeks. I didn't know this, but I recently read when hummingbirds migrate, they fly low to the ground, just over treetops, so they can easily find nectar sources.
References
Click here for hummingbird migration details on the "World of Hummingbirds" website.
Click here for hummingbird FAQs on the "Hummingbird Journey North" website.
Click here for hummingbird migration basics on the "Hummingbirds.net" website.
A nice reference book is "Hummingbirds and Butterflies," by Bill Thompson III and Connie Toops.
Great story and photos - thanks for posting!
ReplyDeleteSuch amazing little birds. While reading this post, I thought of the Shakespeare line, "And though she be but little, she is fierce." Could be describing a hummingbird!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the information, Kelly. I have have heard pros and cons about providimg hummers with the feeders (essentially just colored sugar water). Is this good nutrition for them?
ReplyDelete@ Ed - thank you, Ed! The photos aren't the best because it was evening, and I wasn't that close, but they show his round little belly! :-)
ReplyDelete@ Kathy - wow...that is a perfect quote! Thank you! It certainly describes a hummingbird. :-)
@ Mary Ann - thanks, Mary Ann! Plain sugar water is fine for hummingbirds. Sucrose is the most common sugar in the nectar of flowers hummers frequently pollinate, so it works. Flower nectar and sugar water are remarkably close as an energy source. Plus, sugar water is only a supplement to the birds' natural diet. They get most of what they need from the flower nectar and insects they eat. My yard is filled with hummer food (all sorts of flowers they love). Sometimes I'll put out fruit so it produces fruit flies as it rots. Hummers love fruit flies. (Problems arise when people buy the red store-made nectar. They red dye isn't great for them. Make your own with one part sugar to 4 parts water.)
Fantastic.... sincerely ...
ReplyDelete...thanks, Ana! :-)
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that having the hummers stop by is a real treat. I'm lucky. We have rufous hummers in the summer. They migrate south, but then Anna's move in for the winter! Come spring the Anna's go back to the coast to breed.
ReplyDeleteHi Elva! You are so lucky you have summer and winter hummers! Plus you get to see two species regularly. You're in a great spot. :-)
ReplyDeletelovely that you got to enjoy this little critter.
ReplyDeleteseems ours have been gone a month now. I love hearing them as well. thank you for sharing this information about them.
...thanks, Tammie. Yesterday we had three at the feeders. This afternoon I only saw one, so maybe the other two have gone. Hummers really mark the season transition for me. :-)
ReplyDelete