HOW SHOULD HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS BE POSITIONED?

Finally, after weeks of only occasionally seeing hummingbirds at my backyard hummingbird feeder, during the past few days five or more are now vying for the opportunity to drink sugar water from the feeder. When this happens, what do you do? Some say you should scatter a number of small feeders each equipped for a small number of feeding portals across your yard. Others opt for replacing a single small feeder with one that has eight to more than a dozen spots to feed. Which is best?

As a rule, since hummingbirds are so territorial, it seems to make sense that a number of small feeders equipped with places to feed placed at different locations positioned at different locations would cut down territorial disputes among the birds and allow more hummers to feed without expending a lot of time and energy trying to compete for food at a single feeder. Consequently, employing this strategy might attract more hummers to your yard than a single huge feeder.

Since every yard is different, the best way to find what works best for you is to experiment. Try feeding the birds with a large feeder for a few days and then replace it with multiple feeders.

I would be interested in learning what works best for you.

BACKYARD SECRET – GEORGIA IS HOME TO A DIVERSE POPULATION OF NATIVE BEES

When we think of native pollinators, it is only natural to think about moths, butterflies and hummingbirds. However, some of our most important native pollinators are bees. There are some 4,500 species of native bees in the United States; 500 of these species live in Georgia.

BACKYARD SECRET – THERE IS A CONNECTION BETWEEN RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS AND DANDELIONS

We are familiar with the dandelion. In fact, each year homeowners spend millions of dollars to eradicate them in an effort to make their lawns perfect. However, it is a little-known fact that dandelions provide nesting material for ruby-throated hummingbirds.

Dandelions produce spherical seed heads. Many people call them blowballs for the simple reason children and adults alike enjoy blowing on them and watching the seeds blow away in the wind.

Well, as it turns out ruby-throated hummingbirds take a fancy to these delicate seed heads too. Instead of watching the seeds drift through the spring sky, they use the fine fibers that enable the seeds to drift to points unknown as building material for their tiny, delicate nests.

BLOGGER HAS BEEN HOSTING A CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD ALL WINTER

Each winter, dedicated hummingbird enthusiasts maintain hummingbird feeders throughout the winter in hopes they will attract a wintering hummingbird. Very few of us are successful in this pursuit. However, since November a blogger that lives in the Atlanta area has been hosting one of the rarest hummingbirds ever seen in Georgia. This bird is a female calliope.

Here is what hummingbird’s host has to say about this experience, “I have been hosting a calliope in my backyard since November 11 although she may have arrived earlier. At the time, I had an abundance of late blooming nectar sources but immediately fired up my sugar water and put out a feeder for her. During the artic blast we had a few weeks ago, I was able to keep the sugar water from freezing with rotations and hand warmers but have now purchased a heated hummingbird feeder should she somehow come back next year.”

As late as a couple of days ago, the bird was still patrolling her backyard.

The calliope is the smallest breeding bird in the United States and Canada. In addition, it is also one of the smallest birds in the entire world. It weighs about as much as a ping-pong ball (1/10 of an ounce) and is only three inches long.

The calliope hummingbird nests in the western United States and the southwestern corner of Canada. The tiny migrant winters in southern Mexico. Each year the calliope travels some 5,000 miles from its breeding grounds to its winter home and back again. Occasionally some birds will winter in Georgia and other states.

I think it is safe to say, the lucky blogger that has been hosting this fascinating hummingbird is one of the BIG winners in the annual Georgia Wintering Hummingbird Lottery. Congratulations!

BACKYARD SECRET – RUBYTHROATS MIGRATE MOSTLY DURING THE DAYLIGHT HOURS

Now that we know the ruby-throated hummingbirds are winging their way back to Georgia, it is hard not to ponder how these amazing little birds are capable of making this arduous journey from its wintering grounds that extend from southern Mexico southward to Panama.

We do, however, know ruby-throated hummingbirds migrate during the light of day. The only hummers that fly at night are those that fly across the Gulf of Mexico to reach their winter home. It is impossible them to make such a flight without flying during the night.

However, some ruby-throated hummingbirds do not cross the gulf to and from their summer home. Instead, they follow the coastline extending from Florida, to Texas to Mexico. This eliminates the need to traverse vast stretches of the Gulf of Mexico.

ADVICE FROM A HUMMINGBIRD FANCIER

One of my responsibilities is to evaluate the applications for various categories in the Community Wildlife Project, sponsored by the Garden Club of Georgia, Georgia Wildlife Resources Division, and TERN (the division’s friends’ group). Recently, one of the applications was seeking certification for a yard. The homeowner wanted to register as a Hummingbird Haven. This applicant went well beyond simply meeting the standards for certification. In addition, to meeting the criteria with regards to providing hummingbirds with nectar-rich plants, cover, and feeders, she listed four additional actions that she employs to promote hummingbirds. Below you will find a list of four simple things that each of us can do to promote hummingbirds in our yards too. Perhaps they will give some to putting into practice some of these actions in your yard. If you would like to receive an application for the certification for certifying your yard as a Hummingbird Haven, contact Melissa Hayes at Melissa.Hayes@dnr.ga.gov.

WITH MARCH JUST DAYS AWAY, ITS TIME TO BEGIN THINKING ABOUT HUMMINGBIRDS

Within a few days, March will be here, and Georgia backyard wildlife watchers will begin looking for the first ruby-throated hummingbird of the year.

Consequently, if you have not maintained a hummingbird feeder throughout the winter, it is time to hang one up in your backyard and wait. The first Georgians that are apt to see one are those folks that live in extreme South Georgia. Birds sometimes arrive there during the first week of the month. Those of us living in middle and north Georgia will have to wait longer to see our first hummingbirds.

The first to arrive are the males, they are followed in anywhere from 10 to twelve days by the females. However, sometimes the first hummingbird we see is a female. This simply means we did not see one of the first males that reached our neck of the woods, or one simply bypassed our yards.

I would appreciate it if you would report the arrival dates of the first male and female rubythroats that appear in your yard this spring. If you do, include the date they were first seen along with the city and county where you live. If enough people do so, we can tract the movements of the bird northward. At the end of the migration season, I will compile the data and report when and how quickly the birds dispersed across the state this year.

I hope you have a spectacular hummingbird season!

BACKYARD SECRET – THE RUFOUS IS THE MOST COMMON HUMMINGBIRD DURING THE WINTER IN GEORGIA

The most common hummingbird in Georgia during the winter months is the rufous. The rufous also has the distinction of breeding farther north than any other hummingbird. This feisty hummingbird nests as far north as southeastern Alaska.

BLOGGER COMMENTS ON HUMMINGBIRD EXIT DATES AND A SOURCE OF NATIVE PLANTS

Since I posted the results of the survey concerning the departure dates for ruby-throated hummingbirds, a blogger from Lawrenceville wrote to say that they spotted a rubythroat flitting about their Mexican sunflowers October 31. This sighting pushes back the latest departure date for a ruby-throated hummingbird this year from October 25 to the 31^st.

Another blogger took the time say that the Georgia Native Plant Society web page is helpful in locating local nurseries that deal in native plants. The blogger went on the say that the GNPS holds native plant sales during the year.

BLACK-EYED SUSAN

This is great information since anyone that tries to find sources of native plants knows nurseries deal with native plants is often hard to find.

WHEN DID RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS LEAVE THIS FALL?

A few weeks ago, I asked if you would be kind enough to report when you saw the last ruby-throated hummingbird in your yard this year. Responses to my request came from throughout the entire state. Here is a brief summary of what they responses revealed.

Departure days spread over 21 days extending from October 5 through October 25.

A Monroe homeowner last saw a hummingbird October 25.

Unfortunately, I do not have the name of the location where the earliest departure date took place.

Interestingly, most of the departures (47%) took place during a four-day period extending from October 11-14.

Most hummingbird watchers indicated that only one bird was the last to leave their yards. However, one blogger saw two (an immature male and a female) the last time they sighted hummers this year. One blogger even spotted three hummingbirds on the last day of their hummingbird season. My wife saw the last ruby-throated hummingbird in our Monroe County backyard October 12. This bird was nectaring at Turk’s cap blossoms.

While practically all of the rubythroats have now left Georgia, don’t forget we are in our second hummingbird season. If you maintain at least one feeder throughout the winter, you just might attract a rare western migrant this winter.

One of the bloggers responding to the survey wrote that during recent winters, two wintering hummingbirds have shown up in their backyard. One of them was an Anna’s hummingbird.

Since every yard is different, the best way to find what works best for you is to experiment. Try feeding the birds with a large feeder for a few days and then replace it with multiple feeders.

I would be interested in learning what works best for you.

When we think of native pollinators, it is only natural to think about moths, butterflies and hummingbirds. However, some of our most important native pollinators are bees. There are some 4,500 species of native bees in the United States; 500 of these species live in Georgia.

We are familiar with the dandelion. In fact, each year homeowners spend millions of dollars to eradicate them in an effort to make their lawns perfect. However, it is a little-known fact that dandelions provide nesting material for ruby-throated hummingbirds.

Dandelions produce spherical seed heads. Many people call them blowballs for the simple reason children and adults alike enjoy blowing on them and watching the seeds blow away in the wind.

Well, as it turns out ruby-throated hummingbirds take a fancy to these delicate seed heads too. Instead of watching the seeds drift through the spring sky, they use the fine fibers that enable the seeds to drift to points unknown as building material for their tiny, delicate nests.

As late as a couple of days ago, the bird was still patrolling her backyard.

The calliope is the smallest breeding bird in the United States and Canada. In addition, it is also one of the smallest birds in the entire world. It weighs about as much as a ping-pong ball (1/10 of an ounce) and is only three inches long.

I think it is safe to say, the lucky blogger that has been hosting this fascinating hummingbird is one of the BIG winners in the annual Georgia Wintering Hummingbird Lottery. Congratulations!

Now that we know the ruby-throated hummingbirds are winging their way back to Georgia, it is hard not to ponder how these amazing little birds are capable of making this arduous journey from its wintering grounds that extend from southern Mexico southward to Panama.

We do, however, know ruby-throated hummingbirds migrate during the light of day. The only hummers that fly at night are those that fly across the Gulf of Mexico to reach their winter home. It is impossible them to make such a flight without flying during the night.

However, some ruby-throated hummingbirds do not cross the gulf to and from their summer home. Instead, they follow the coastline extending from Florida, to Texas to Mexico. This eliminates the need to traverse vast stretches of the Gulf of Mexico.

We are sure to leave spider webs on plants and flowers so hummingbirds can use them for nests.

We deadhead blooms to keep flowers blooming.

We plant annuals at different times to assure constant blooms.

We encourage friends and family to put out hummingbird feeders.

Within a few days, March will be here, and Georgia backyard wildlife watchers will begin looking for the first ruby-throated hummingbird of the year.

The first to arrive are the males, they are followed in anywhere from 10 to twelve days by the females. However, sometimes the first hummingbird we see is a female. This simply means we did not see one of the first males that reached our neck of the woods, or one simply bypassed our yards.

I hope you have a spectacular hummingbird season!

The most common hummingbird in Georgia during the winter months is the rufous. The rufous also has the distinction of breeding farther north than any other hummingbird. This feisty hummingbird nests as far north as southeastern Alaska.

Another blogger took the time say that the Georgia Native Plant Society web page is helpful in locating local nurseries that deal in native plants. The blogger went on the say that the GNPS holds native plant sales during the year.

This is great information since anyone that tries to find sources of native plants knows nurseries deal with native plants is often hard to find.

A few weeks ago, I asked if you would be kind enough to report when you saw the last ruby-throated hummingbird in your yard this year. Responses to my request came from throughout the entire state. Here is a brief summary of what they responses revealed.

Departure days spread over 21 days extending from October 5 through October 25.

A Monroe homeowner last saw a hummingbird October 25.

Unfortunately, I do not have the name of the location where the earliest departure date took place.

Interestingly, most of the departures (47%) took place during a four-day period extending from October 11-14.

While practically all of the rubythroats have now left Georgia, don’t forget we are in our second hummingbird season. If you maintain at least one feeder throughout the winter, you just might attract a rare western migrant this winter.

One of the bloggers responding to the survey wrote that during recent winters, two wintering hummingbirds have shown up in their backyard. One of them was an Anna’s hummingbird.

I want to thank everyone that took the time to participate in this survey. I hope you found the results of this survey fascinating. I know I sure did.