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Post by hazelrunmama on Jul 12, 2015 11:09:18 GMT -5
Just in the past week or two, we've gone from 50-60 hummers around the feeders at dusk and dawn to maybe 10. During the day, we went from 20-30 at any one time to 2-3. Nectar consumption is down from 15 cups two weeks ago to less than 5 yesterday. Needless to say, we're worried and maybe a little distraught. Normally July is our slowest month of the hummingbird season because flowers are finally in bloom everywhere, the fems are on their second broods and insects are abundant. But we've never had this precipitous a decline before. After a particularly busy spring, the lack of birds is....deafening...and makes me want to cry (but I'm trying to be brave LOL). Very disturbing. Is anyone else seeing anything similar? Or hearing rumors? Man, if traffic doesn't pick up for migration, I'm going to worry all winter till they come back next spring!  |
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Post by Calamity Creek Gal on Jul 12, 2015 18:02:35 GMT -5
How odd for you - but remember the exact same thing happened to me here in early spring. One day I had lots (for the desert) and the next day, gone. You were right at that time, they went off and feasted on all the desert flowers that were soooo abundant this year. I bet that is what is going on for you too. Now that the flowers have diminished mine have been back for the last month or so.
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Post by hazelrunmama on Jul 19, 2015 12:44:54 GMT -5
Glad to hear yours are coming back!! Our numbers are still lower than normal, but I have a hunch that it's the wildflowers pulling them away. Every time a storm system passes through and knocks some flowers down, our numbers at the feeders increase noticeably. Still only going through 4 to 5 cups of nectar a day, though...normally we'd be in the 7 to 8 cup range this time of year. There's a woman in Wausau who wants to drive over to see them--but I keep putting her off because it's a fairly long drive for just a handful of birds. I think we had maybe 20 birds at the feeders at dusk last night, though, so the birds seem to be coming back. By the end of July we should be seeing lots more (crosses fingers).  |
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Post by downylover on Jul 22, 2015 12:13:45 GMT -5
I hope they return soon hazel.
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Post by luv2bird on Jul 22, 2015 14:57:21 GMT -5
Glad to hear yours are coming back!! Our numbers are still lower than normal, but I have a hunch that it's the wildflowers pulling them away. Every time a storm system passes through and knocks some flowers down, our numbers at the feeders increase noticeably. Still only going through 4 to 5 cups of nectar a day, though...normally we'd be in the 7 to 8 cup range this time of year. There's a woman in Wausau who wants to drive over to see them--but I keep putting her off because it's a fairly long drive for just a handful of birds. I think we had maybe 20 birds at the feeders at dusk last night, though, so the birds seem to be coming back. By the end of July we should be seeing lots more (crosses fingers).
I'm hoping they return for you also.
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Post by hazelrunmama on Jul 24, 2015 9:12:48 GMT -5
We took a drive the other day and the fields are full of bergamot in full bloom. We saw some spotted jewelweed, too. I think that's probably what's been drawing them away. I sure hope they come back for migration!
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