Hello Suzanne –
What you are seeing (or not seeing!) is quite typical for this time of year. As hummingbirds find their natural sources of food (insects, nectar from flowering trees, shrubs, etc), they do not need to visit hummingbird feeders to survive. So it appears that there is something wrong, but in fact it is quite natural.
You may sometimes notice more hummers on very hot days or after periods without rain, but this time of year hummers visit feeders much less often than in early Spring. And you will likely see them more often again late in Summer or early Fall when they begin fueling up for their journeys south.
I hope this helps!
Chuck Imbergamo
CT Birds Moderator
Madison
From: Susanne Shrader via CTBirds
Sent: Wednesday, June 1, 2022 4:02 PM
To: ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
Subject: [CT Birds] RT hummingbirds
We have fewer than normal hummingbirds since early May in the West Hartford area. But for the last 10 days we have had none at either of our sugar feeders. That has never happened before. Has anyone been seeing a difference this year in their numbers?
Susanne Shrader
Hartford area
CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/
CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/
Hello Suzanne –
What you are seeing (or not seeing!) is quite typical for this time of year. As hummingbirds find their natural sources of food (insects, nectar from flowering trees, shrubs, etc), they do not need to visit hummingbird feeders to survive. So it appears that there is something wrong, but in fact it is quite natural.
You may sometimes notice more hummers on very hot days or after periods without rain, but this time of year hummers visit feeders much less often than in early Spring. And you will likely see them more often again late in Summer or early Fall when they begin fueling up for their journeys south.
I hope this helps!
Chuck Imbergamo
CT Birds Moderator
Madison
From: Susanne Shrader via CTBirds
Sent: Wednesday, June 1, 2022 4:02 PM
To: ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
Subject: [CT Birds] RT hummingbirds
We have fewer than normal hummingbirds since early May in the West Hartford area. But for the last 10 days we have had none at either of our sugar feeders. That has never happened before. Has anyone been seeing a difference this year in their numbers?
Susanne Shrader
Hartford area
CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/
CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/
