Are hummingbirds running late?

[jcummins]

We've been here for the three summers now....and last two years we have been covered up with hummingbirds. So far this year, we definitely have some but not the numbers as in past. I commented to the wife yesterday that I recall more around the previous years by this time.

Just now got an email asking about hummers. Friend says he has a few but not the numbers, and he has a friend saying the same thing.

Are we just getting anxious for all of them to show, or are the numbers down for some reason?

 

[kenmac]

I saw 1 around here a couple of weeks ago... I don't even see that 1 anymore. The feeder is out and full waiting for them

 

[RoyJackson]

I've got a few around...probably about the same numbers I had last year at this time.

 

[om21braz]

Got a few here - have not seen the variety yet though.

 

[kco]

The numbers are more than average at our place (north Okanagan BC) this year. The first showed up April 14 and we had several by April 17. They seem to show up with in a day or two of April 15 no matter what. It was a later than usual spring and weather was cooler than normal so we thought there might not be many.

I posted these photos before but I'll post a few again:





The last two photos show three of five feeders on what I think was the busiest evening in 2008. I estimated there were 52 birds at the feeders, including multiples at the holes and those hovering to get their turn.

 

[oosik]

Our first two showed up about two weeks ago. I think there are 4-5 now. That's fairly normal for around here.

 

[Toyboy]

I've got about 7-8 here with more arriving each day. What we're missing this year is Bluebirds. Haven't seen one yet.

 

[timster2]

We had a some a few weeks ago but they must have been stopping buy on their way north. Still have not seen the resident few that hang out all summer.

 

[flusher]

Saw one two weeks ago. Put out the feeder. The bird sniffed around it several times then disappeared. Haven't seen one since.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I had one show up about a month ago but I didn't have a feeder (glass broke somehow during winter storage). Finally got a new one and the one is feeding all day long. Last year there was at least 2 fighting over the one feeder but so far this year, only the one.

 

[triptester]

The hummers showed up in early may at my cottage in what appears to be normal numbers. This year for the first time the hummers are having to compete with orioles at the feeders.

 

[nikdfish]

Slow arriving this year. Only one for a couple of weeks, currently two maybe three so far.

Nick

 

[jerrybob]

We've got quite a few. Interesting....this past winter.....we had three or four stick around....never left. My wife kept feeding......a couple of times.....the feeder was frozen.....birds kept looking in the window wondering why they had popcycles. Right now......we have a dozen at two different feeders.

 

[KretZ]

It might be their nesting season, depending on where you live/which breeds are native to your area. The males will be making a few appearances at the feeders, but the females are keeping a close watch on the nest (which they won't make near a regular feeding zone) and since the newly hatched young need more protein than sugar, the mama's are busy catching bugs. Once the chicks leave the nest, you''ll see a large uptick of hummers.

 

[DennisArrow]

OK......here is the theory from a person in this country and east of the Mississippi. We also have FEW if none, bluebirds when usually they are fighting over the 8 houses. Lightning bugs/fireflys are totally non-existent where normally the grandkids are catching them by the jar full. The flight and flock characteristics are totally different for the west coast and yes even from the midwest.....not even giving any credence from our Euro "experts".................VERY VERY few hummers here in the southeast.......Have been tracking and keeping these birds for more than 15 years here in the same location. By this time we should have at least 20 or 25 resident birds present and nesting with 30 or so more by the middle of august before they begin to leave.................

For me, it was this oh so cold winter that we just had. As an indicator, I burned 15 cords of wood to my usual 8. I really don't know what that had to do with wherever our birds migrated to; but it surely did something.............Watch and see and watch the comeback..........God bless......Dennis.....

 

[jcummins]

Dennis...how could that be with all the global warming?

But I as you think....something is different. We have a lot of bluebirds though...and a few hummers..just not the numbers?

 

[whistlepig]

I saw a couple looking for the feeder last weekend. They always come looking for the feeder in the spring. That's when we know to put it out. We put the feeder out Friday. Had a pretty good Hummingbird show tonight. Best we have seen in a few years. I do love watching them.

 

[PILOON]

I am near Montreal and the humming birds went from window to window asking where the feeder was.
They are for sure back and I believe more than a few generations of the little guys.
Cool as to how the tiny brains can actually remember which window to come to.

 

[Redneck in training]

They showed up at our house about a week ago.

 

[doxford jim]

Our hummingbirds arrived around the start of May and appear to be reduced in number over previous years. They are presently making new hummingbirds so the numbers are even less around the feeders. If previous years are anything to go by, the birds will be swarming the feeders once they are big enough to leave their nests.