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

[jyoutz]

The drought is back with a vengeance. It hasn't rained over 0.2" since the first week of January, and this is supposed to be the middle of the rainy season. Temps have been incredibly mild, 60 degrees here yesterday, with a low of about 33. The Annas are zooming around like it's mating season. I don't know how many we have, but we're going through about a pint of hummer juice a week.

You have hummingbirds in February????

 

[jyoutz]

I always thought it got colder out there. Fortunately we've got a couple of months to go. We usually have about 20 huumers between 6 feeders. It did make it above freezing the last couple of days.

We don’t get hummingbirds where I live until nearly Memorial Day. And they leave after the first frost in October. But we have a lot in summer.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

You have hummingbirds in February????

The pleasures of a Mediterranean climate. It's supposed to get down to 18 degrees, which is the coldest here in 5 years. We're inside the Annas winter range. Before we fed we had one or two wintering over, now that we keep feeders out we have more.

 

[jyoutz]

The pleasures of a Mediterranean climate. It's supposed to get down to 18 degrees, which is the coldest here in 5 years. We're inside the Annas winter range. Before we fed we had one or two wintering over, now that we keep feeders out we have more.

Wow. Sounds nice about this time of year.

 

[oosik]

Hmm - Myrtle Creek, OR. About 500 miles SW of me. But a completely different climate. It's +5 F here this morning. The saving grace - no wind.

 

[jyoutz]

Hmm - Myrtle Creek, OR. About 500 miles SW of me. But a completely different climate. It's +5 F here this morning. The saving grace - no wind.

Yeah. Eastside vs westside Cascades. Two different worlds.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

I got buzzed at dawn replacing the frozen feeders.

 

[jyoutz]

I got buzzed at dawn replacing the frozen feeders.

That’s interesting to me because our hummingbirds only show up when all frost is over for the year and leave after the first freeze. We use them as an indicator of when it’s safe to plant frost sensitive garden plants.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

That’s interesting to me because our hummingbirds only show up when all frost is over for the year and leave after the first freeze. We use them as an indicator of when it’s safe to plant frost sensitive garden plants.

I wonder if altitude has anything to do with it? My house is at about 800 ft. Isn't NM pretty high altitude?

 

[jyoutz]

I wonder if altitude has anything to do with it? My house is at about 800 ft. Isn't NM pretty high altitude?

Our house is at 6950’ elevation. Probably has something to do with the bird migration. We’ve always considered them to be fair weather friends and a great indicator of the start and end of the growing season.

 

[goeduck]

You have hummingbirds in February????

In the Pacific Northwest along the coast we have 2 main species. Annas and Rufous. Annas are year-round here, Rufous migrate south in the winter. So basically we have more in the summer. What I never heard of before is what is shown on the Annas map, they go to Larry's area to breed. Must be something in the water down there.

Annas

Rufous

 

[Larry Caldwell]

In the Pacific Northwest along the coast we have 2 main species. Annas and Rufous. Annas are year-round here, Rufous migrate south in the winter. So basically we have more in the summer. What I never heard of before is what is shown on the Annas map, they go to Larry's area to breed. Must be something in the water down there.

Annas
View attachment 734777

Rufous
View attachment 734778

The rufous are prolific little suckers. We end up with dozens by the end of the breeding season. They apparently migrate in flocks, because one day the feeders will be packed and the next day they are all gone. They are small and aggressive little suckers, and attack any other species at the feeder. The annas are sweet little birds who hang out year round, but are not so prolific.

 

[Wakey]

I saw my first hummer on Sunday and he left as fast as he arrived. I'm guessing he's an advance scout.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

75 degrees here today. The migrating hummers are coming back to the feeders.

 

[sixdogs]

I saw my first hummer on Sunday and he left as fast as he arrived. I'm guessing he's an advance scout.

Nothing in Ohio yet but I see lots of little bugs flying around that apparently make up most of their diet. We're looking forward to a good year.

 

[psvfd]

We had one female show for the last four days, only she her a couple times each day.

 

[sixdogs]

We had one female show for the last four days, only she her a couple times each day.

We've always had a slow start at the feeders in the spring. I figure there are so many bugs for food and chores like nest building that they just don't need the food source that much until things warm up . That's just my guess.

 

[jyoutz]

Nothing in Ohio yet but I see lots of little bugs flying around that apparently make up most of their diet. We're looking forward to a good year.

I think that hummingbirds exist on nectar from plants, not insects.

 

[psvfd]

https://www.thespruce.com/what-do-hummingbirds-eat-386568

​

Hummingbird Diet​

In addition to nectar, hummingbirds eat a variety of other items to get adequate nutrition.

Insects​

Small insects, larvae, insect eggs, and spiders are critical food sources for hummingbirds. Insects provide the fat, protein, and salts the birds cannot derive from nectar, and these are crucial nutritional components, especially for rapidly growing hatchlings.


Hummingbirds may hunt insects in several ways, including gleaning or picking them from bark, flowers, or leaves; hawking them in midair; or plucking them from spider webs or sticky sap.


To get the required amount of protein for a healthy diet, an adult hummingbird must eat several dozen insects each day. They will eat many more, however, if they need to regurgitate this nutritious food to hungry hatchlings, or if they are in the midst of a long migration.

Sap​

When nectar is scarce, hummingbirds will sip tree sap from wells drilled by woodpeckers. While the tree sap is not as sweet as floral nectar, it still provides an adequate source of sucrose for a hummingbird’s energy needs. Sap that has dripped down and hardened on the tree trunk cannot be drunk, but the birds may pick insects from the sticky residue.

Pollen​

Hummingbirds do not directly consume pollen, but a great deal of pollen can be stuck to their tongues and bills when they sip nectar from flowers. Some of that pollen is ingested, and it can be a minor source of protein even though it wasn't directly eaten. However, less than 10 percent of the ingested pollen is actually digested. This shows that, while viable, this is not a common food source for hummingbirds.

Ashes and Sand​

Some hummingbirds have been observed eating ashes and sand in small quantities. These foods can be a good source of vital minerals and salts, but not much is needed to fulfill a hummingbird’s dietary needs.


It is also possible that the birds were picking insects from the material, rather than actually eating the ashes or sand. More close observation and study are needed to determine how critical this food source may be for hummingbirds.

Fruit​

Certain ripe or juicy fruits may attract hummingbirds. Hummingbirds have been known to discreetly sip the juices from berries, apples, pears, and oranges if they are peeled, cut open, or if the flesh is otherwise exposed.

 

[jyoutz]

In our country in the southern Rockies, I have always regarded the arrival of hummingbirds as the sure sign that I can plant frost sensitive garden plants and flowers. And when they leave in the fall, the growing season is over.