8 replies to this topic

[harlgr8dane]

Hello everyone, I was wondering if anyone can comment on this - those of you farther south... are you seeing Ruby throated hummingbirds earlier than usual this spring. Since we are seeing return of migratory birds earlier this year I wonder if I will need to put my hummer feeders out earlier? (I am in southern Ontario)
Thanks!

[JimBob]

I don't put my hummingbird feeders up until I see them. That is just me though.

[dklucius]

here anyway the hummingbirds don't show up till after it quits freezing at night. we live at 7000 foot elevation and don't usually expect to see hummers until may

[hbvol]

last year my first ruby-throat showed up (SE TN) on 4/4/11. This year's first was 4/7/12.

[momof4]

I put mine up the first week of May. This year I saw one the day after I put it out so I'm wondering had I put it out sooner if I would have seen it sooner.

[threeofhardts]

I live in western Michigan. I've always put my hummingbird feeders out on the 1st of May, as I did this year. But yesterday (04-15-12) was the first sighting I've seen of a hummer. We were still getting freezing temps overnight this past weekend.

Strange thing, the only hummer I've seen so far is yellow! I've tried to find one like it online but have had no luck. We only get Ruby-throated hummers here. He's fast but I want to try to get a pic of him.

[Totah Sam]

Hello everyone, I was wondering if anyone can comment on this - those of you farther south... are you seeing Ruby throated hummingbirds earlier than usual this spring. Since we are seeing return of migratory birds earlier this year I wonder if I will need to put my hummer feeders out earlier? (I am in southern Ontario)
Thanks!

I live out west and we had to put up our hummingbird feeders early. We had several broadwings and blackchins buzzing our windows where we keep the feeders. We even had some snow after they appeared. We usually don't have to put our feeders out until around Memorial Day. I've had ours up since mid-April.

[spyonabird]

We usually put our feeders up at the beginning of May. This year we were a little late. A nice male Ruby-Throat came and sat on the hook where the feeder usually resides. He then came to the window and "flaired" at us while we were having dinner. We made nectar for dessert.

[eskimo]

If you go to hummingbirds.net there's a migration map under the "Science" tab. It allows people to log their Ruby-throated Hummingbird sightings. This year's map shows southern Ontario sightings from Mar 23rd (and Mar 21st near Cornwall!!)