Ohio Birding Forum
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#1 2012-11-21 09:04:29
I still have a hummingbird at my feeder!
Today is November 21st. I've had 2 hummingbird feeders up all summer/fall and had regular traffic at both of them. Most recently, I had a female ruby throated at the front one, last sighted her at the end of October. I had taken the back one down a couple of weeks prior to that.
Also at the end of October, I put up my finch, platform, and suet feeders on the back porch and was watching the traffic there when I saw an immature male hummer buzzing around the finch feeder (which was in the same location where the hummer feeder had been). I went ahead and filled the 2nd hummer feeder and put it out in back and he continued to visit. I didn't see him at the front feeder until last week. We have gotten a few frosts since then, and one morning the feeders were nearly frozen. I decided to take the back feeder down, and have been bringing the front one in each night and putting it out before light each morning. He continues to visit and I saw him again this morning. I took a few pictures but they don't show much detail - the feeder is on the north side of the house, in a shaded area and there is just not enough light to get a clear photo.
NOTE: I work full time, so my observation time is limited.
Does anyone know what the latest date is for a sighting for hummers here in southern Ohio? (I'm in Ross County). What would the chance be that it is not a ruby-throated? Any info you have on hummers and hummer behavior is appreciated.
thanks,
Denise
#2 2012-11-23 12:45:36
Re: I still have a hummingbird at my feeder!
Hi Denise,
Thanks for sharing! At this date, a rare species of hummingbird is actually more likely than Ruby-throated Hummingbird believe it or not! Over the past few weeks, there have been several selasphorus hummingbirds in Ohio. I say selasphorus (genus) because there are two species nearly identical (Rufous and Allen's) that can show up in Ohio. Although the majority are Rufous Hummingbirds, there's a record in Ohio for Allen's as well...as well as records for even more rare species! You mentioned you got some photos but they don't show much detail, is there a way I could see a photo?
Thanks!
Ethan Kistler
Director-at-large
Ohio Ornithological Society
#3 2012-11-24 20:17:33
Re: I still have a hummingbird at my feeder!
Ethan,
Hopefully the photos I emailed to you went through. The light was not good at all - but looking at the bird through my binoculars, I now realize it is indeed NOT a Ruby Throated. Probably is a Rufous.
I was out of town for a couple of days, so when I came home at 4:00 pm today I immediately started looking for the hummer. It visited at 4:08 and 4:26 pm, for a couple of minutes each time. It would fly off to a large evergreen in between feedings, then at 4:46 it landed on a bush in front of the feeder and sat for about 11 minutes. So cute, sitting there all puffed up! It finally flew back to the feeder for about 7 minutes then flew off - it was getting dark at that time so I shut the blinds.
Allen Chartier will be down in my area tomorrow and hopefully we can positively identify it.
Denise
#4 2012-11-27 09:59:28
Re: I still have a hummingbird at my feeder!
Allen Chartier and his wife stopped by and were able to band and identify the bird on 11/25/12 around noon - she flew into the cage over the feeder within 10 minutes of setup! She is an immature female Rufous. She is roosting in a large spruce tree not far from the feeder. She flew back to the tree after her release, none the worse for the encounter. She is still here as of this morning. It will be interesting to see how long she stays.
#5 2012-12-05 21:25:37
Re: I still have a hummingbird at my feeder!
The hummer continues to visit the feeder regularly, every 15-20 minutes or so.