Missing Hummingbirds?????

[Dave H]

So three or four weeks ago I put out a feeder and soon had a couple of Hummers visiting regularly, enough so that a week later I put out two feeders in anticipation of more birds arriving.
Then we had that cold and miserable few days and since then I've seen no Hummers at all in the backyard.
I'm wondering if those early arrivals got whacked by that cold spell or just what the heck happened???

Anyone else on the Island or elsewhere experiencing the same?

Curious.

Take care.

 

[Labman2]

Found them!!!!!!!!
They are over at a friend of mines, playing with the kids.

 

[Labman2]

Nah, it's easy, first you need a good supply of Valium to put in the feeder!

Kidding!

 

[Derby]

The numbers at our house this year is way down.... was just wondering the same thing about the humming birds this year.

 

[MILLERTIME]

They all moved to Gods country here in Victoria.

Great pics. Did you raise them as chicks or something.

 

[Hookin'up]

I have the same issue here every year, they show up for a day or so then just dissapear for a couple weeks then they are back with a vengeance,
been like that for quite a few years now just always thought they were off nesting

 

[Labman2]

They all moved to Gods country here in Victoria.

Great pics. Did you raise them as chicks or something.

no, these are wild, the pictures are from a friend who lives up at Terrace.

 

[spring time]

I have noticed the same problem dave I live in delta and was thinking the where did the humming birds go

 

[drhook]

Same here in Chemainus. Hardly a hummer to be seen and the first arrived about 3 weeks late. My brother reports the same on the other side of huge hamlet of Chemainus as well. Something happened to them this year somewhere.

 

[Little Hawk]

Here in Victoria we are blessed with 2 species, the Rufus and the Anna's. The Anna's winter over here while the Rufus head south. Always amazed me how these little buggers survive through a cold snap here. Wonderful critters.

Was under the impression they only fed on nectar then was blown away many years ago to learn they also eat bugs on the wing. Watched one picking off a flock of knats one by one.

 

[Whole in the Water]

I live in Langford and we put a feeder out every spring for the last 5 years. I have noticed less numbers at the feeder this year though. Don't know why.

 

[Lipripper]

We had to refill the feeder last night.... They were something peed cause it was empty. Almost got clipped a couple times




PS Those are some pretty sweet pics your bud got Labman

 

[Fish Assassin]

I have not put out a feeder in years. As I couldn't get them feeding here anymore. But this year there seems to be more then ever. I was thinking about puting the feeder out.

 

[Dave H]

Thanks for your replies. Does seem strange here, specially after a dozen years of having them around.

Had another weird thing here insofar as one of my big turtles (wild Painted) has vanished after living in the pond for 10 years or so. The friendly Red Eared Slider is still there and last week I saw another much smaller Red Eared in the pond as well, one I've never seen before. Yesterday I put on my waders and spent a good half hour carefully poking and prodding the entire pond and only found the friendly turtle, about three times. No Painted turtle, no smaller Red Eared and no surviving goldfish either. Lots of Herons hanging about this past winter wiped them out it appears.
Strange times indeed.


Take care.

 

[adrianna3]

We were fishing out at Swiftsure Bank one time a few years back and a hummingbird came up to my little Canadian flag sticker on my window. He hoverd there for a second and then took off somewhere. We all seemed surprised to see one out that far.

 

[Dave H]

When I lived at Jordan River during the huge runs of 1985 I fished a lot way out in Juan de Fuca and was often surprised to have a Bee or some other flying insect land in the boat, even when eight or ten miles out.

Still no Hummers here as of today.

Take care.

 

[Englishman]

Here in Sooke had the feeders out all winter. As stated by Little Hawk the Annas hummer hangs around all winter and they showed up at the feeder once or twice per day through to March. Now have both that species and members of the Rufus tribe visiting quite frequently....

 

[spring time]

I wonder if they are prone to phemonia with all this cold damp weather it would be prime to catch

 

[directmule]

We have fed the hummers for over 30 years here in Chilliwack. They came back in the middle of March, and as of now I have made & they have gone through about 3 1/2 liters of mix so far, which is down from years past. I have two plastic bottles that I fill and keep in the fridge, one a 1lt and a 2lt so I kinda keep track of the amount I go through. A few years ago we went through over 24 liters of mix, that's more than a 5 gal bucket full of water & sugar. We have a 10 kg of sugar ready for when the peak season arrives as I have always mixed it rather heavy on the sugar side. Bird Store in Abbotsford tells us the hummers have 2 batches
of young each year. We have the ones that come up and stay in this area and also the ones that are passing through on their way north that know our place is a feed source on their trip up and down. Abbotsford has the "Anna's" and for the last few years have stayed in the area, none at our place. Have 4 feeders out now and will add a couple more bigger ones when there numbers increase. I can't tell you how many hours of pleasure at watching them over the last 30 years but it has been MANY, especially when the sliding doors have been open and they get into the house, sometimes two at a time.

Dennis

 

[Fish Assassin]

Strange is I have NO BEE'S but I have Butterflies and Hummingbirds. Lots of Wasp's though. I hope they go away.