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!

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I read a very touching story today about a young Grosbeak who was born with no beak. Author and birding enthusiast, Diane Miller recently wrote in Bird Watcher's Digest about the young Grosbeak "Billie" who frequents her backyard and the hurdles this bird overcame living without a beak to grow into a happy, healthy bird. This Grosbeak is one tough cookie!

Click here for the issue of Bird Watcher's Digest and click "A Beakless Grosbeak" on the magazine cover. And maybe have some tissues handy!

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Spring is all about rebirth, and that includes baby birds cracking through their shells and entering the wide world. 

When you are outside this spring, you might run across what appears to be an abandoned baby bird.   But in reality, most times the bird is not abandoned at all, and his parents are probably close by keeping a watchful, parental eye on their little one.

Take a closer look at the baby bird.  Does he appear to be injured?  If he does, it’s best to take the bird to a local veterinarian or wildlife center.  If the baby does not appear to be injured, look around nearby trees or bushes for a nest.  If you can find it, simply place the baby back into the nest.    If you cannot find a nest, the most important thing is to get the bird up off the ground.  You can place him in a shrub or tree.  It is a myth that if a baby is touched by human hands the parents will no longer care for it.  Birds have a weak sense of smell, so do not worry about handling a baby bird.

More than likely, this is all the help the baby needs and his parents will appear soon.  You can watch for the parents’ return from a safe distance.  Parents should return to their baby within 2 hours.

If you’re considering trying to raise a truly abandoned bird on your own, you might want to reconsider.  These babies sure are high maintenance…

-baby birds must be fed every 14­20 minutes from sunrise to sunset

-an adult robin makes about 400 trips every day to feed its young

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