Where have all the hummingbirds gone?

Jeanzb1 · 09-03-2010, 11:30 AM

All of a sudden this past week they have all but left! It seems rather early, doesn't it?

Slickcraft · 09-03-2010, 11:42 AM

The migration south starts late August to early September.

http://www.hummingbirds.net/migration.html

We had some at the feeder on Welch yesterday but they are packing their bags and checking Google Maps.

Newbiesaukee · 09-03-2010, 12:43 PM

Slickcraft....that is a terrific website. Thank you.

Jonas Pilot · 09-03-2010, 05:27 PM

I still have a bunch I'm seeing but if I was a betting man I'd put my money on them hitching a ride south with the more northerly winds we'll be seeing in the next couple of days.

Merrymeeting · 09-07-2010, 07:54 AM

A week ago my feeders were being emptied every 2-3 days. Constant activity around them.

We didn't see any all Labor Day weekend and the feeders are as full today as they were on Thursday.

School for the hummingbird crowd must have started before Labor Day too.

donnamatrix · 09-07-2010, 08:38 AM

We still have quite a few in Moultonboro. On Saturday, I made fresh nectar, and went out onto our front farmer's porch to rehang the feeder. As I was standing there, with arm outstretched and feeder in hand, a female hummer "buzzed" me. She inspected me head to toe, from close up and closer up, it was quite a treat.

Lakesrider · 09-17-2010, 10:09 AM

Yep still around....

And just like donnamatrix we had a couple buzz us while I was watering the last of what is left of my Petunias. Fun to watch them looking right at you like you are some type of an alien being....

Tough to see in this pic but the darn thing kept moving....

donnamatrix · 09-20-2010, 08:32 AM

I haven't seen any in about 10 days ... last night I forgot to bring the feeder in, and this morning once again, it was tipped and sugar water all over the deck mingled with little raccoon footprints!

Lakesrider · 09-20-2010, 09:42 AM

HA! I know what you mean I would look out at 5 am and the feeder would be full. 6am not a drop left. Didn't figure it out until I set my game camera up on the feeder. Raccoon....darn thing was drinking it dry. I got a longer hanger and no more problems after that.

Steveo · 09-20-2010, 12:14 PM

I never saw this before but I was watering the garden this weekend and a hummingbird came by to taste the flowers. All of a sudden he/she took off to an overhead tree and started harassing a bird. Kept chasing it all around and flying into it and pecking it. Couldn't tell what kind of bird it was but I thought it was strange behavior for a hummingbird, especially since it couldn't have a nest it was protecting this time of year. Anyone have an idea?

Pineedles · 09-20-2010, 02:44 PM

I believe it was noted on another thread concerning humingbird behavior, that they are extremely territorial around their feeding area.

Lakesrider · 09-20-2010, 06:57 PM

Oh yeah I have seen some fighting at our feeders...nasty to each other. reminds me of some humans.....

http://www.rubythroat.org/RTHUTerritorialityMain.html

Steveo · 09-21-2010, 11:56 AM

I could understand hummingbirds attacking other hummingbirds but this was a regular bird that doesn't feed on the nectar, just seemed strange

09-03-2010, 11:30 AM	#1
Jeanzb1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Gilford Posts: 546 Thanks: 614 Thanked 173 Times in 94 Posts	Where have all the hummingbirds gone? All of a sudden this past week they have all but left! It seems rather early, doesn't it?

09-03-2010, 12:43 PM	#3
Newbiesaukee Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Coral Gables, winter; Long Island, summer Posts: 1,349 Thanks: 922 Thanked 569 Times in 295 Posts	Slickcraft....that is a terrific website. Thank you. __________________ "You're only young once, but you can be immature forever."

09-07-2010, 08:38 AM	#6
donnamatrix Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonboro Posts: 833 Thanks: 24 Thanked 258 Times in 120 Posts	we still have hummers We still have quite a few in Moultonboro. On Saturday, I made fresh nectar, and went out onto our front farmer's porch to rehang the feeder. As I was standing there, with arm outstretched and feeder in hand, a female hummer "buzzed" me. She inspected me head to toe, from close up and closer up, it was quite a treat.

09-20-2010, 08:32 AM	#8
donnamatrix Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonboro Posts: 833 Thanks: 24 Thanked 258 Times in 120 Posts	Haven't seen the little hummers! I haven't seen any in about 10 days ... last night I forgot to bring the feeder in, and this morning once again, it was tipped and sugar water all over the deck mingled with little raccoon footprints!

09-20-2010, 12:14 PM	#10
Steveo Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 523 Thanks: 47 Thanked 123 Times in 63 Posts	Unusual activity for hummingbird I never saw this before but I was watering the garden this weekend and a hummingbird came by to taste the flowers. All of a sudden he/she took off to an overhead tree and started harassing a bird. Kept chasing it all around and flying into it and pecking it. Couldn't tell what kind of bird it was but I thought it was strange behavior for a hummingbird, especially since it couldn't have a nest it was protecting this time of year. Anyone have an idea?

09-03-2010, 11:42 AM	#2
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and West Alton Posts: 3,216 Thanks: 1,172 Thanked 2,000 Times in 914 Posts	The migration south starts late August to early September. http://www.hummingbirds.net/migration.html We had some at the feeder on Welch yesterday but they are packing their bags and checking Google Maps.

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Slickcraft For This Useful Post:
Jeanzb1 (09-03-2010), sky_nh (09-03-2010)

09-03-2010, 05:27 PM	#4
Jonas Pilot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wolfeboro, New Hampshire is my home, 24-7-365 Posts: 1,686 Thanks: 1,047 Thanked 336 Times in 189 Posts	I still have a bunch I'm seeing but if I was a betting man I'd put my money on them hitching a ride south with the more northerly winds we'll be seeing in the next couple of days.

09-07-2010, 07:54 AM	#5
Merrymeeting Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham Posts: 2,217 Thanks: 299 Thanked 795 Times in 365 Posts	A week ago my feeders were being emptied every 2-3 days. Constant activity around them. We didn't see any all Labor Day weekend and the feeders are as full today as they were on Thursday. School for the hummingbird crowd must have started before Labor Day too.

09-17-2010, 10:09 AM	#7
Lakesrider Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,129 Thanks: 380 Thanked 1,016 Times in 345 Posts	Yep still around.... And just like donnamatrix we had a couple buzz us while I was watering the last of what is left of my Petunias. Fun to watch them looking right at you like you are some type of an alien being.... Tough to see in this pic but the darn thing kept moving....

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to donnamatrix For This Useful Post:
Lakesrider (09-21-2010), Newbiesaukee (09-20-2010)

09-20-2010, 09:42 AM	#9
Lakesrider Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,129 Thanks: 380 Thanked 1,016 Times in 345 Posts	HA! I know what you mean I would look out at 5 am and the feeder would be full. 6am not a drop left. Didn't figure it out until I set my game camera up on the feeder. Raccoon....darn thing was drinking it dry. I got a longer hanger and no more problems after that.

09-20-2010, 02:44 PM	#11
Pineedles Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Moultonborough & CT Posts: 2,535 Thanks: 1,058 Thanked 652 Times in 363 Posts	I believe it was noted on another thread concerning humingbird behavior, that they are extremely territorial around their feeding area.

09-20-2010, 06:57 PM	#12
Lakesrider Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,129 Thanks: 380 Thanked 1,016 Times in 345 Posts	Oh yeah I have seen some fighting at our feeders...nasty to each other. reminds me of some humans..... http://www.rubythroat.org/RTHUTerritorialityMain.html

09-21-2010, 11:56 AM	#13
Steveo Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 523 Thanks: 47 Thanked 123 Times in 63 Posts	I could understand hummingbirds attacking other hummingbirds but this was a regular bird that doesn't feed on the nectar, just seemed strange