Thanks to everyone that responded to the call for help and donated to the Tennessee Wildlife Federation and, specifically, to the Purple Martin/Schermerhorn situation. What a great response from you! I have not located specific numbers on how much was donated but will pass that information along when known.
We are certainly now at the peak of hummingbird feeding activity. In another week or two we will begin to see a steady, sometimes abrupt, decline in numbers as hummingbirds continue to move southward. There is no reason to take your feeders down by a certain time. Hummingbirds instinctually know when to go, and will, whether there are feeders available or not. As I see hummingbird numbers decline I will offer less feeders but will continue to offer a couple of feeders until the end of October at which time I will leave one feeder available for late migrators, or in the event a western species, like a Rufous, Black-chinned, or Anna’s hummingbird shows up. Every fall/winter a few fortunate individuals will see one of these different hummingbirds appear at a feeder. In 30 years of feeding hummers I have never had a confirmed sighting of one of these birds but this just might be the year.
For the last couple of years we have proudly sponsored Hummingbird Happy Hour presented by Warner Park Nature Center, an event benefitting Warner Parks Bird Information Research and Data (B.I.R.D.) Program. Link to BIRD? Due to Covid 19 that event was cancelled; however, a virtual version took place this past weekend. We were asked by the wonderful staff of WPNC to participate in the event by producing a video regarding hummingbird feeding. Having never produced a video before, we said “of course”. So, if you are interested please follow the link provided to watch this finely crafted work by The Wood Thrush Shop staff. We hope there are no film critics reading this blog. Visit our youtube page.
Goldfinches have probably concluded nesting by this time and you may see increased activity at your finch feeders. You may see evidence of juveniles which look very much like the adult females. But don’t count on it. Goldfinches are VERY happy to feed in fields and meadows where there is an abundance of food becoming available. Goldfinches are exclusively seed eaters and always on the search for best seeds available. Often times what we put in our feeders, or the state of what’s in our feeders, is no match for “nature” food. This is why we recommend paying a little more attention to your finch feeders. Allowing wet seed to collect at the bottom, or leaving your feeder partially filled, is never a successful strategy to attract Goldfinches. Check your feeder regularly to ensure the seed is dry and not clogging up at the feed ports. Topping off your feeder is recommended because Goldfinches want to feed in a “flock”. A feeder with just enough food to accommodate two birds is far less appealing to a Goldfinch than a feeder that will accommodate six birds.
Adult male Goldfinch
Juvenile Goldfinch
Many of you have noticed and commented that your feeding stations have slowed down. Yes, with September and October comes less bird feeder activity. There are two primary reasons for this very predictable pattern. After the conclusion of the breeding season birds are in less need of quick and easy food sources. Raising young requires a huge amount of effort and energy. Bird feeders become a reliable and quick source of much needed food for adult birds as they busily gather food to feed 3 to 6 babies per clutch. All that “additional” feeding has come to an end. Birds have nothing to do now but feed on the bounty that nature provides this time of year. Fall is “harvest time” as every native plant and tree is producing seeds, nuts, and fruit. And insects are plentiful. So, don’t think there is something wrong because you are seeing fewer birds. It’s just the natural progression of seasons. Usually, by mid-November we begin to see feeding stations get busy again.