Hummingbirds

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FTP

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Nashvegas
Good morning, not exactly sure which forum to put this in. But here goes, usually at this time of the summer I have anywhere from 80-120 hummers at about a dozen feeders. It is one of the most impressive views of nature that I've seen, sometimes it looks like a beehive. I've been feeding these little guys since 2007 every year. Anyways this season I've seen 2-3 birds, something catastrophic must've occurred. I've contacted the TWRA, they were not much help, and I've left a couple of messages with other "professionals"
Is anyone else observing his drastic reduction in numbers?
 
Years ago I quit using feeders. I have flower plantings that bring them in. Can't imagine how much work you're putting into a dozen feeders. Concerning the numbers, I haven't noticed a reduction in my numbers this year.
 
WE are down to almost none. Maybe 3 at the most.They have declined over the last 3 or 4 years for us. Sure miss the little ones
 
Unlike most of your comments, I had no reduction in numbers until this Spring. I did notify the TWRA, their guy said their counts this Spring have been normal. He had no idea why I was seeing so few birds.
 
Middle TN.....3 feeders.... normally we will have 10 to 15 hummingbirds.....this year 1 or 2.....the most we've seen at the same time is 3.....so yes, for us it's a significant drop.
 
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I've noticed it too. I've only had 3 or 4. I generally have at least a dozen. I fear they might go the way of the quail and grouse have went in my area the Southern Cumberland plateau .
 
I'm wondering if after they left here last Fall, was there a late season Hurricane or such that affected Central America and maybe killed a large number of them... just speculating.
 
We had 3-4 early then that cold snap came and they left. Now we see1 but he only comes on rare occasions
 
I typically don't see any until later in the year but haven't seen a single one yet.
 
Probably have about half of normal visitors to our feeders this year near Knoxville. Others have noticed a reduction as well in our area.
 
I've had 2 or 3 here in chattanooga for the past several years.
I haven't seen a single bird this year.
My feeders have not been touched.
 
I'm in NW Al and actually have more than normal this year but they were later than normal showing up.
 
I am thankful that you all have responded with your sightings, I have reported this to the fellow in charge of this stuff with the TWRA, he was very perplexed to say the least. Keep us updated out there good folks!
 
After your thread, I started watching mine more closely & have seen a reduction in numbers. I remembered reading somewhere that this was common while taking care of the young & once that was over you'd see more. Went & found this article. Think it explains what I'm seeing but maybe not your situation.

Where did they go?
 
Jag1...
Thanks for commenting. I've been feeding the birds where I live since 2008
The reduction ive seen is catastrophic. I would normally be filling up 10 feeders everyday at this point of the season
I'm seeing 2-3 birds and that is it.
I am baffled....
 
FTP said:
Good morning, not exactly sure which forum to put this in. But here goes, usually at this time of the summer I have anywhere from 80-120 hummers at about a dozen feeders. It is one of the most impressive views of nature that I've seen, sometimes it looks like a beehive. I've been feeding these little guys since 2007 every year. Anyways this season I've seen 2-3 birds, something catastrophic must've occurred. I've contacted the TWRA, they were not much help, and I've left a couple of messages with other "professionals"
Is anyone else observing his drastic reduction in numbers?
Click to expand...
Did your Hummingbirds ever show up. I only had one or two around until about mid July. Probably have 8-10 now. Ive got two feeders up and only put 2.5 cups of sugar water in them at a time. Clean and refilling probably every 4-5 days. If I get close to them the ruby throated bully tries to run me off. Was sitting on the patio this morning and one probably passed by at maybe 12 inches. I think he was doing about 300 miles per hour. Where is my old football helmet?
 
their range has expanded for several years and now everybody and their mommas are feeding them now, so they have a lot of food choices.

put the same amount of birds spread out over greater distance and youll naturally see less. Cornell Ornithology hasnt seen a reduction in numbers.
 
WTM said:
their range has expanded for several years and now everybody and their mommas are feeding them now, so they have a lot of food choices.

put the same amount of birds spread out over greater distance and youll naturally see less. Cornell Ornithology hasnt seen a reduction in numbers.
Click to expand...
I'm not buying that one, I am not convinced that my neighbors who are few and far in between have all of the sudden began putting out feeders all at the same time this year and never fed them in the past 13 years I've lived out here. Hummingbirds are migratory and habitual, they come back to the same location to mate, nest and eat. Something else has happened, just not sure yet what it is.
 
Here in East Tennessee they were late and seemed to be a little late nesting but they've been very active the last few weeks.
 
Big Pop said:
Here in East Tennessee they were late and seemed to be a little late nesting but they've been very active the last few weeks.
Click to expand...
Big Pop, I am really baffled about them being late. They are instinctive, the good LORD tells when to go North or South, that time does not change greatly by a few months each year. It is very very consistent by just a few days. I know the first bird or two will show up at my place around April 10th give or take 3-4 either side of that, no matter the weather. As that was the cas this year. My observation is that the number of them has declined by 80-90% of what is normal over the last 13 years.
 
Big Pop said:
They still seem to be about the same number here. They are amazing to watch!
Click to expand...
Shoot I appreciate the job they do of catching house flies
I live in between row large horse farms
And so with a lot of manure comes a lot of flies.
With much fewer hummingbirds, we have had way too many flies in our house compared to normal
 
FTP said:
I'm not buying that one, I am not convinced that my neighbors who are few and far in between have all of the sudden began putting out feeders all at the same time this year and never fed them in the past 13 years I've lived out here. Hummingbirds are migratory and habitual, they come back to the same location to mate, nest and eat. Something else has happened, just not sure yet what it is.
Click to expand...
i really could care less. the info is on the orinthology site.
 
WTM said:
i really could care less. the info is on the orinthology site.
Click to expand...
Interestingly, by not caring, you may not have noticed several other comments from folks all across the state who've reported much lower numbers as well ....
 
They're all at my place this year. I've got 5 feeders spread over an acre yard and they are constantly fighting at all 5 of them. I've had to start buying the big bag of sugar. I normally only have a few of them, but this year is different.
 

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