Early birds to watch in 2012
18.05.12
One of my favorite websites, www.hummingbirds.net (maintained by Lanny Chambers), follows hummers’ northward journey on the map that’s updated daily. Anyone can report their first hummers, and then all can monitor the north bound migration. Initial sighting
The first report this year came from coastal Alabama on Feb. 25. That date is not unusual. Last year the first migratory ruby-throats arrived on the Mississippi coast on Feb. 23. Since 1998, as many as 13 ruby-throats have been reported from the Gulf coast in February.
What is remarkable year is how quickly the hummers are moving north. As of March 22, ruby-throats had been recorded in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and central Wisconsin. By the time you read this, there may be hummingbirds in your backyard.
I never look for hummingbirds before mid April, but I put up one nectar feeder this week. Just in case. But also remember that just because a hummingbird appears, that doesn’t mean it will stay through late summer. It may just be stopping for a rest before heading further north.
Source: Farm and Dairy