Anyone else have an unusually large number of hummingbirds this year?

[sixdogs]

That's my post above and let me add that today we have seen 10-15 or more birds--and it's only noon-- after only seeing one or two a day. In fact, it's a food and buzz fest with competition for the feeders. Birds buzz in, eat like crazy and buzz out. Very interesting

We probably had 30-40 birds yesterday and ours left 10 days ago. Two days ago we thought we were done and now these pass through. Entirely different birds from what we saw all summer and proof that keeping the feeders up a week or two after they're gone helps the birds. Some showed up after dusk and some showed up before dawn.

We struggled for several years with almost no birds per year and then all of a sudden they must have passed the word where the good food was. For once, I'm glad my wife was so stubborn.

 

[Diggin It]

I think my regulars are still here. One or more usually sit on the clothesline on my deck just a few feet from my back door. It/they seem to be guarding their food from the others, divebombing when another approaches. Freaking hilarious at times.

 

[charlton289]

All of mine have disappeared just before Florence came a shore I am in South Central VA. I haven't seen any in about 3 weeks I had 1 hanging around then it was gone just before Florence so I guess they wanted to go before the storm hit. Well I will try to be ready next spring on their trip back north.

 

[Diggin It]

I think they may be gone. I've thought that for the last few days and then one would show up. But I haven't seen any today. Feeders will stay out for a week or so yet though.

 

[jfh28]

last monday was the last one I saw.......will have to wait until mid december to put any feeders out for the winter birds now........Jack

 

[Diggin It]

I keep then other feeders out all year, but only fill them occasionally, just enough to remind them where they are. Saw a cool yellow bird today; one I'm not sure I've seen before. Just a little smaller than a Cardinal.

 

[sixdogs]

We got our last traveler yesterday. Normally, we would have taken the feeders in when the local birds left in early September. This year we left the feeders up and probably got another 75 birds on their way south. We can't figure out how they know we have the food since the birds that are here have gone south and the new ones arriving are coming from the north.

 

[charlton289]

I have at least one straggler still around I haven't seen any others since before Florence but it's still in the 70's-80's here in South Central VA.

 

[deserteagle71]

The swarms of hummingbirds are gone now in north central Nevada. Last week I saw only one on the feeder but the last couple days...zero. Of course, Tropical Storm Rosa is about to affect us and I'm sure the hummingbirds knew it was time to leave! Temps are forecast to drop into the 60s in the next couple days.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I still have the four that have been around for a good part of September. Being that the number has remained stable, I would think that they may be some of this year's young rather than southbound migrants. I need to keep the binoculars close by to look for possible leg bandings.