Here we are at the beginning of August and the time has come for Ruby-throated hummingbirds to ramp up their interest in feeders and the action will be fast and furious through the end of September until as late as mid-October. Hummingbird migration is triggered by the days getting shorter, not necessarily temperatures or weather. As October approaches and numbers of hummingbirds have decreased significantly it is good to keep at least one feeder out to provide late migraters a “fueling” station. It is not true that leaving a feeder out will cause hummingbirds to stay and ultimately not migrate.
Cornell Lab offers lots of great live video streams of all different types of birds and locations. Watch more at www.allaboutbirds.org
For many of you, the spring and early summer months produce little if any activity at your feeders. Why? Let’s not forget Ruby-throated hummingbirds DO NOT make the long journey here from Central and South America for the sugar water in feeders. They DO NOT NEED the feeders but will take full advantage of them when they are through nesting and fattening up for migration becomes their primary goal. Hummingbirds have been migrating here for thousands of years to breed and to take advantage of the abundance of insects, which is their primary food source. They would be here even if hummingbird feeders did not exist.
It is thought by many the reason for this sudden surge is they have just "come back" from where they've been. Actually, it is because summer resident hummingbirds have concluded raising one to three broods of offspring and are ready to begin taking advantage of nectar in feeders.
Ruby-throated hummers usually raise two chicks at a time so when the nesting phase concludes you may be seeing at least 6 young hummers coming to feeders. Then as hummingbirds from more northern locations begin funneling through TN in late August and into September the fun really begins. Wave after wave of hummingbirds begin passing through TN on their way to the Gulf of Mexico where they will eventually find their path across.
The best nectar you can offer hummingbirds is a simple 1 part sugar to 4 parts water solution. It is not necessary for the water to be brought to a boil before adding sugar. The nectar is ready after the sugar has been stirred in and fully dissolved. Do not add color. Color is absolutely unnecessary and potentially harmful. Also it is not good to use natural raw sugar, the kind that is slightly brown in color. Regular white table sugar is best.
Most of us hummingbird enthusiasts are also gardeners, as my wife and I are, and I wanted to share a couple of plant choices that we see the hummingbirds going to frequently in our yard.
Salvia Guaranitica “black and blue”
Lobelia Cardinalis “Cardinal flower”
Salvia Guaranitica “black and blue” and Lobelia Cardinalis “Cardinal flower”. These two plants have a prominent place in our yard and the hummingbirds adore it. The Cardinal flower is a perennial that produces intense red flowers and has been blooming for a couple of weeks now. The hummers busily visit every little flower up and down the long stalk before zipping away. The Blue and Black salvia blooms most of the summer and into the fall even after a frost. It has a dark intensely blue/purple flower that is perfectly shaped for hummingbird feeding.