Here is my GUESS on whats going on. We too have had plenty of hummers and poof not coming to the feeders....temporarily.... We had some hang time yesterday on the porch where the feeders are and while noone is coming to th feed, the male(s) are still guarding the territory as aggressively as usual.
I think the birds are brooding AND I thinking there must be some serious blooming of a natural food source that warrants less or even no supplemental feeding. My prediction.......... they will be back soon, then the jewel weed bloom.
That is my shoot from the hip guess :o)
Dave Merker
Etna, New Hampshire
Cape May Raptor Banding Project Inc.
www.capemayraptors.org
Date: Mon, 9 Jun 2014 08:30:05 -0400
From:
[log in to unmask]Subject: [UVB] hummingbird numbers....
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I am also very concerned about my hummingbirds. I live on Hurricane Hill in WRJ. I have been feeding them for years and always have large numbers all spring and summer. I had more than the usual numbers this year . They arrived right on time on May 8th. But 2 weeks ago I saw a drastic decrease in the number of birds at my feeders. I am extremely fastidious with my feeder cleaning and regularly put out fresh nectar, that I make myself after boiling the water and adding the sugar. I always have a slight decrease every year, that I attribute to the nesting and mating period. But this seems so different. I now have a few males and females. I wish that some of the more knowledgeable birding experts would weigh in on this.....something is very different this year. I am so thankful that I at least still have a few. I would be so sad if they disappear completely.
Judy Lombardi
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