I haven't seen a hummingbird today. From the nectar levels, I think I most likely got a few visitors today, but I didn't actually see one. They had been very numerous throughout the summer, and until very recently they had been draining 2-3 50 mL feeders every couple days or so. Now there's almost nothing. I had them until late September last year, and I'm hoping maybe this is just a temporary lull. I had hoped they would be here into at least mid September, but maybe last year was an aberration when they stayed late into September. I think they left much earlier in 2007.

Perhaps the cold weather is affecting them. I always thought the timing of their movements was mostly due to hormones and day length, so not sure what could account for this huge difference from last year. It's been a very good year, at least as good as last, and maybe better, so I shouldn't complain. I'm hoping I'll still be seeing some more in September, but beginning to feel sad and a little concerned.

Oh, and for those who don't remember, I'm in southwestern PA, near Pittsburgh.

Kristen,

I had at least 5 just the other day, yesterday I saw some very PLUMP hummers and today saw only 2. Those were juvies and maybe a migrator or 2. I hope to see some more migrators soon. With only 2 hummers, its very slow out in the yard.

Pam NJ 6B

Kristin you might get my male who I have not seen in over a week. Today I have seen two, saw three on Sunday.



- Andrew - Southern Ontario, Canada - Zone 6
- Won't Get Fooled Again ~ The Who.

Hi Kristin,

We struggled to see one hummingbird today. We were up in Minnesota this past weekend and saw legions of them at Donald's house (his garden and setting are truly wonderful!) My Dad, who hangs feeders only, also has very good action too. We are hoping that things will improve soon for our upcoming garden tour and PBS special.



Kathi and Michael Rock
Madison, Wisconsin
Zone 4/5

My adult males and female left about ten days back. I had three juvies that would war in the A.M hours and today I saw only one. I guess things are winding down and it's time for me to find a hobby to sustain me through winter. I am contemplating watercolour painting.

Suchie

My yard is still full of hummingbirds, especially in the early morning. Two mornings ago there were about 10 at once out in the nectar-vegetable garden. Back in the old days when the vegetable garden was mostly vegetables I never saw so many hummingbirds in September. I attribute the change to the sheer over-the-top abundance of hummingbird plants and flowers and to the gardens visibility at great distance. Then again it could just be the luck of the draw.

I've seen just 2 this morning. There has been a drop off in numbers in the last few days for us.

BTW Does anyone know approximately how far a hummingbird will travel in one days' migration??



Judy in Zone 6a
Cincinnati (Anderson Twp.)
Southwest Ohio

Judy, re-encounters of banded birds indicate that hummers can travel more than 100 miles in a day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nancy L Newfield
Casa Colibrí
Metairie, Louisiana USA
USDA Zone 9

Glad (I guess, if misery loves company) to hear that I'm not alone in the recent decrease in numbers. It's also comforting to hear that there are still some to my north in Canada. Perhaps I'll have a surge again, or maybe it will just peter out to nothing from this point forward.

Each year seems to have its surprises, as you can never count on them coming or going on a given day or even a given week. As always, it's so sad to see them go, and they will be gone for about 2/3 of the year for me. I suppose I should think of these little Ruby-throated Hummingbirds as birds of the tropics and the subtropics, spending only a lesser portion of their lives in the cold north to breed. We can lure them away, but only briefly, before they return to their southern homes.

Kristin

Definately a decrease in numbers although I still have a few here. Im also thinking it is just a lull as Im still seeing males epecially at late evening peak feeding time. This all could swing one way or the other. I was gone all day yestereday on a fishing trip so its really hard to judge . Looking for a warmup next week and that should really tell the tale about my area.

Steve
Martinsville, In
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 35

Up here the sands are running out of the hourglass. Most years by mid September hummingbirds are no longer daily in my garden. Last year was the best October I have ever had so there is little likelyhood of a repeat. Even though I have never had a stray western hummingbird in September this is when the watch for them begins in earnest. Any rarity is likely to be a one day only since birds are in fast migration mode. Boy could I use a Calliope!

Ward,

You had your Selasphorus last year, boy are we getting greedy! Actually I'm hoping my enlarged gardens can draw a few more migrators my way, we will see. Purple Majesty has bloomed and my Cardinal Flower vine wall has just started to bloom, so there should be some new plants for those passing through.

Pam NJ 6B

Pam, by dumb luck I have had 3, one of which didn't stay long enough to be caught and measured. And one August an immature male Black-chinned appeared for a day. That one didn't become official because I couldn't get a look at the outer primary and by the time help arrived it had departed. What it did have was a half dozen purple gorget feathers. I hated to have to dump the record because it would have been a new species for the county. You know me Pam and should have noticed that greed was written all over my face. And there is the larger question of Rufous migration timing in the east which has been discussed many times in other threads. What is really happening from August to late October. It is best to keep ones eyes open just in case.

We've got 3 migrators here. This evening we observed a juvenile male and two others we couldn't get a good look at to identify...appeared to be either females or juvies. We last observed an adult male on Tuesday, Sept 1. I expect to see more migrators coming through in the coming weeks as we normally see them up until the first week of October. I hope there will be more coming your way yet Kristen. It does make for a long winter when we don't see our flying jewels doesn't it?

Roxy
West Niagara,
Southern Ontario
Canadian Hardiness Zone 6b

I've noticed a drop in numbers lately too. And it reminded me that I haven't tried to photograph many this year. I need to take some photos this weekend.

I think I am mainly getting new juveniles because they are exploring every plant now and not going right to the feeders, like my regulars did. Still, we could have another good month of hummers passing through so no need to get depressed just yet!

p.s. I've just been watching 2 hummers chase each other around my garden - show's not over yet - hooray!

Wilmington, Delaware
USDA zone 7a
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 32

At one time this morning I saw 3 in my front yard and two in back feeding and fighting at the same time but they are not constant in the yard.

Steve
Martinsville, In
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 35

Ditto here in Iowa. I'm not getting any evening activity, while morning activity is very light with just a couple inexperienced juvies who look like they've never seen a feeder. This was my first year feeding hummers so I'm hoping to get an increase next year.

Zone 5a
East-central Iowa

I saw two visits this afternoon, so they're not entirely gone for the season. The first visit was from one that appeared to be a female because she had a very clear, white throat. She went to the Salvia coccinea feeder, and then zipped off to who knows where. The other one came to my Canna patens feeder. I'm not sure on sex or age, except that it definitely was not an adult male. I think it was a different bird than the first because it went to a different feeder, and also seemed smaller. I'm relieved that there are still a few around!

Around here(Middle Tennessee)the males are getting scarce but pleanty of females and "young birds" are still around.It wont be long now though till all get scarce.

Down from about 20, I only have one male left, one or two adult females and what appears to be two juvies. Have consolidated feeders, down to 7 now .... it's sad to see them go, but they are so nice and fat I hope they will make it all the way. Plus, this stretch of cool but clear weather may mean less trouble on their migratory path.

The summer was very rainy, with few good days for foraging flowers, I hope they won't decide to pass next year. I had planted mostly petunias because they are hardy, but they get ruined in the heavy rains.

Unlike last year, I got to say "goodbye" to some of them, as I saw a couple feed and then soar high into the sky out of their usual path around the yards and fields. It was in the morning, so I guess they tanked up before heading out. That evening, there were fewer (sigh). My life is beginning to be marked by hummingbird seasons....they are a source of such endless joy and wonder.

I was seeing 5 hummers at the same time the past 3 weeks, now some of the juvies have gone south and it alot quieter. My male that was here all season left last week also.

On the up side I have a female here now, haven't seen much of those since early spring so that makes me happy. And just now there were 2 hummers playing on the deck.

Quieter yes, but the "fat lady hasn't sung" just yet!!

Pam NJ 6B

We really struggle to see any hummingbirds at all, despite the improved weather and sunshine. They ignore all of our plants except for Trumpet Creeper---strange, as they hardly looked at this last year.

We are getting very worried about our hummingbird garden tour and Public Television special.



Kathi and Michael Rock
Madison, Wisconsin
Zone 4/5

The last couple days I was down to one juvie that only uses the lady in red salvia and dollar princess fuchsia while ignoring the feeder. This morning two new females flew into the yard. They both quickly found the feeder and used it.

Zone 5a
East-central Iowa

I had one on my 'Thalia' Fuchsia today. Very cute the way she would stick her bill into the downward hanging flowers and then lift the floppy blossom to horizontal and continue sipping. I'm surprised she was as strong as that, but I guess those blossoms aren't very heavy.

My sightings these days are sporadic, so I'm sure glad I don't have to give a televised garden tour. I'm assuming that you agreed to do it now because you normally have lots of hummingbirds at this time? Or did some TV station exec talk you into it because it fit their schedule better than yours? On the bright side, I suppose that even if there are no hummingbirds, you will still have plenty of flowers to show and talk about, but it would sure be nice to have some photogenic hummingbirds buzzing around.

You should let us all know how it goes. Sounds exciting, and flattering that they are profiling you and your garden. My garden is not nearly nice enough to do a television show.

I still have several hummingbirds buzzing around my garden and going to my feeders. I know they can disappear at any time but my show isn't over, just yet.

Wilmington, Delaware
USDA zone 7a
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 32

I had plenty of hummingbirds this time last year...had at least one around till Oct. 7th. The last few weeks have really shown a drastic decrease in solution consumption at my feeders.

My purple martins really beat feet early this year too..usually they come back and circle the colony to say hi for a couple of weeks in August...not this year.

I'm expecting a bad winter this year...I think the birds know something.

I haven't seen one in 3 days, and the level of the nectar in my feeders hasn't gone down. I miss 'em!

Nancy
Chazy,NY zone 4

I wasn't out early this morning as usual to see them come to the feeder first thing but so far today I have only seen one and that was just before 9am

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

This weekend I saw two and usually the one chased the other one away but they stayed around all day. Yesterday there were only a few visits in the morning and afternoon. Today only one visit from a female - looks like my latest immature male has left. Am very curious as to what the rest of this Sept. will bring. I'm thinking there was an early matinee and the show is almost over...

Carol
Milford, CT
Zone 6

Well I did see two this evening. One appears to be bulking up but the other one seems to have a way to go yet. It sure is winding down much earlier this year than in past years.

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

Saw two at a time today

Pam NJ 6B

Here in western PA, I saw two yesterday and today--sparring with each other over the Ipomoea arch. Mine, mine, mine, all 1000 flowers--ALL MINE!!! Nice to see they're still around, even if they can't get along.

Here's the victor...

http://flickr.com/gp/akersjc2000/84Z7g4 Boy they are getting scarce and WILD-"WAR BIRDS".September seems to bring the attitude out in these birds but i love to watch them.The ones left are young and very,very territorial.Really fun to watch,i love it!I have a link listed with a few recent pictures and their favorite delight(passionflowers)at least they act like it is!

No hummers today. yesterday had 1, the day before 2...........

Pam NJ 6B

Well I didn't see any hummers after about 7 am on Saturday and I didn't see any Sunday morning as usual but I did see one for an instant at the honeysuckle around 11:30 and just saw the young one from next door at the feeder. I am pretty sure it is the same one that has been coming by because of his behavior pattern but I could be wrong. He zips in straight to the test tube feeder. He sips a little, flicks his tongue in and out several time, sips a little more, looks all around and then heads back to the red maple tree. I am referring to my soon to be gone youngen as "he" as I am not seeing any white tips on the tail and he seems a little smaller than the females and the head and neck seem a bit darker but no start of a red gorget.

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

I'm in western PA.

I thought for sure they were gone for the season, as I hadn't seen any these past couple of days. I had just about given up hope, but then I spotted one this afternoon. I thought for a second that he/she was going to visit my towering Tithonias, but it was not to be. She hovered for a moment, above them, seemingly considering them, but then dropped out of sight in the direction of the nearby zinnias, and possibly the Ipomoeas. I was holding my breath, hoping to see my first Tithonia use, but it wasn't to be.

I don't think either of my feeders were used at all over the weekend. My hummingbird days are definitely numbered. They seem to be leaving earlier this year than last.

No wonder the little birds sip so much nectar if they can travel up to 100 per day! I'd be hungry too!

Just wanted to give our weekend report that the dogwood tree was buzzing with hummers (about 6 HBs) over the weekend.

I don't know if the passing overhead HBs were attracted to the dogwood by the red berries (not that they were eating them) or liked its bugs or were just using it for cover since it's near a nice feeder and several containers of zinnias, tithonias, verbenas, and the Cypress Climber vine.

Quite a pick up in numbers from past week's visitor numbers. I was wondering if a weather front was coming in, but no rain has blown in.

We are attracting a nice array of butterfly species also.

Weather has been beautiful.

Judy in Zone 6a
Cincinnati (Anderson Twp.)
Southwest Ohio

I got at least one left,maybe more.9-24-09 about 11:00 a.m.I hate to see them go...http://www.flickr.com/photos/akersjc2000

Being fairly new to all this- could someone tell me why there are so few males around and why they seem to leave so much earlier than the females and juvies?
I really only know how to tell the males cuz the females and juvies look the same to me.

Could someone answer Lana's question,please?

-
Cheers,Bob
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a
Lexington,Ky.

Hi Lana and welcome to the forum. The adult males leave before the femailes because they have finished their proreation duties and they head head south to establish their territories on their wintering grounds. I believe there are more males than females because they do not create pairs (1 male and 1 female) as some birds do. The male mates with as many females as he can once he can once the females arrive on after spring migration so not as many males are needed. Now this isn't a scientific explanation but what I believe is the reason for fewer males than females.

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39