My first Hummingbird of the season, but it must be passing...

[Grace]

I just got done checking a wild bird board I frequent. The lack of hummers could have something to do with the feeders that more people are putting out as the birds migrate north they may chose to stop & nest in those areas. I hope there is it not some disease affecting their population or lack of habitat where they winter. I had two ruby throated females getting territorial over Canna plant blooms today. Early this spring there were two male hummers around the feeders but there aren't any around now which is strange, just the two females.

Males are the first to arrive and the first to leave. I thought August would be a bit early, but then I found this.


Some adult males start migrating south as early as mid-July, but the peak of southward migration for this species is late August and early September.

[Bonny]

The golden rod plant started blooming the end of July & generally doesn't bloom till about now. We were two to three weeks ahead with our planting season this year so maybe that is why the males are no longer around & the females are maybe either feeding young or regaining their strength from raising their young before they migrate. That is a good article.