Where are my hummingbirds?
I’ve heard comments from a lot of hummingbird lovers out there, asking “Where are my hummingbirds?” Loyalists, who are used to seeing swarms of hummingbirds at their feeders, feel like they are coming up empty this season. So I talked to a few expert resources, too see what their opinion was on the lack of hummingbirds. Their answers led me to believe there is nothing to worry about!
Cornell Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University is a terrific reference on all things birding, and they had this to say about the hummingbirds, “As you know, bird populations can fluctuate considerably from year to year. Only if this trend were to persist on a much wider scale for multiple years would it likely indicate a larger problem for the species. It is also true that what is happening in one location isn't necessarily indicative for the species overall.” This is a great sign!
They further say, “When birds migrate, where they stop is highly dependent on weather patterns. Because they're in such a hurry to get to their nesting area, if they don't need to stop, they won't. And that means that sometimes they're not in a particular area.”
We also took this question to Scott Weidensaul, who is an expert of bird migration. He gave us the following explanation, “Most of the emails I get in June and early July about ‘where are my hummingbirds?’ stem from the females being tied up with incubation and chick-rearing, the usual early summer lull that always makes people panic. They remember the hordes of hummers they had last year (not realizing it was in late summer, after the chicks had fledged and the migration was underway) and compare that with the normal, low-intensity activity at their feeders in early summer and assume the worst.”
So in the end, we’ve concluded that all hope is not lost. Keep those hummingbird feeders full of the good stuff and your much anticipated visitors will show up. Feed them… and they will come!
Wild Wednesday Giveaway!
Congratulations to our winner, Loralea! We will contact the winner through email. As always, thanks to everyone for posting your comments.
This week's Wild Wednesday Giveaway features our Deluxe Upside Down Finch Feeder. An amazing way to watch the goldfinches feed.
Baltimore Oriole and Bullock’s Oriole
US east-coasters know all about the Baltimore Oriole. But you might not be as familiar with the Bullock's Oriole, which inhabits the left-half of the United States.
Like our previous post on the Rufous-capped Warbler and its relative the Chestnut-capped Warbler, it can be tough to tell the two species apart. East of the Great Plains you'll see Baltimore Orioles exclusively, likewise with the Bullock's Oriole West of the Rockies. Their territories overlap in the Midwest though.
Here's a primer on how to tell the species apart:
Male eye colorings: This one is easy. Baltimore Orioles have an all-black head, Bullock's Orioles' heads feature a mixture of black and orange with a black eye line along each eye.
Female wing bar: The Baltimore Oriole female has a smooth upper wing bar as opposed to the serrated kind found on the Bullock's Oriole.
These two species' territories overlap in the Great Plains, so if you see a bird that resembles both you might have found a hybrid!