I have never seen such few hummingbirds in all the 20 years or so that I have been putting out feeders. Has anyone else noticed this? Sent by Susanne Shrader

Yes I am seeing the same thing. For the last few years I had daily visitors once they arrived. I put out fresh homemade nectar water and keep the feeders clean. I had one male a few days ago visiting native flowers awaiting installation in the garden and nobody since. Sightings have been very sporadic. Is it on account of native flowers being in bloom or lower numbers of birds? Donna Lorello Branford

Yes, me too. I have been blaming some cats roaming my neighborhood. How long does it take for the eggs to invubate? Carolyn Guilford Sent from Mail for Windows 10 From: Comcast via CTBirds Sent: Sunday, June 9, 2019 1:05 PM To: ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org Subject: [CT Birds] Hummingbirds I have never seen such few hummingbirds in all the 20 years or so that I have been putting out feeders. Has anyone else noticed this? Sent by Susanne Shrader _______________________________________________ This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For subscription information visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org

I just read an article about hummers dying from pesticide usage. Chinese mantis also preys on hummers. Not sure about incubation period. Of course right after I replied I saw a hummer at the feeder! After a quick drink it proceeded to the flowers. Maybe they are there and we just are not seeing them as often at the feeders? Donna Lorello

I usually find that during nesting season, hummers decrease their visits to feeders and look for protein for chicks. I think you’ll see an increase in activity once the chicks fledge. Michael DiGiorgio 154 Princess Drive Madison, CT 06443 203 421 5848 Website- mdigiorgio.com > On Jun 9, 2019, at 2:13 PM, Donna Lorello via CTBirds <ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org> wrote: > > I just read an article about hummers dying from pesticide usage. Chinese > mantis also preys on hummers. Not sure about incubation period. > > Of course right after I replied I saw a hummer at the feeder! After a quick > drink it proceeded to the flowers. Maybe they are there and we just are not > seeing them as often at the feeders? > > Donna Lorello > _______________________________________________ > This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. > For subscription information visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org

In the past, despite the fact that males have no role in rearing, once the young hummers fledge my feeders are full of adults and young birds for the rest of the summer. Wonder if the territorial males only allow their mate and offspring near their guarded feeders? I know there is quite a bit of fighting going on- Michael DiGiorgio 154 Princess Drive Madison, CT 06443 203-421 5848 website: mdigiorgio.com > On Jun 9, 2019, at 5:46 PM, C Wood <cwood022@gmail.com> wrote: > > that’s correct of course, Mike, but male hummers have nothing to do with tending to offspring. they will continue to visit feeders but range farther and take advantage of bountiful flowers this time of year. Nonetheless, I too have noticed that we have only one female in the yard this year compared to the usual two or three. > > Chris Wood > Woodbury, CT > 203 558-0654 > > Flickr: C.S.Wood-Photos <https://www.flickr.com/photos/cswood-photos/> > Blog: WoodWarbling <http://cswood022.blogspot.com/?m=0> > > >> On Jun 9, 2019, at 2:49 PM, mdigiorgio via CTBirds <ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org <mailto:ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org>> wrote: >> >> I usually find that during nesting season, hummers decrease their visits to feeders and look for protein for chicks. I think you’ll see an increase in activity once the chicks fledge. >> >> Michael DiGiorgio >> 154 Princess Drive >> Madison, CT 06443 >> 203 421 5848 >> Website- mdigiorgio.com <http://mdigiorgio.com/> >> >>> On Jun 9, 2019, at 2:13 PM, Donna Lorello via CTBirds <ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org <mailto:ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org>> wrote: >>> >>> I just read an article about hummers dying from pesticide usage. Chinese >>> mantis also preys on hummers. Not sure about incubation period. >>> >>> Of course right after I replied I saw a hummer at the feeder! After a quick >>> drink it proceeded to the flowers. Maybe they are there and we just are not >>> seeing them as often at the feeders? >>> >>> Donna Lorello >>> _______________________________________________ >>> This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. >>> For subscription information visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org <http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. >> For subscription information visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org <http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org> >

One female hummer so far and recently none. We have had as many as 5 - all females and young. On Sun, Jun 9, 2019 at 7:28 PM Michael DiGiorgio via CTBirds < ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org> wrote: > In the past, despite the fact that males have no role in rearing, once the > young hummers fledge my feeders are full of adults and young birds for the > rest of the summer. Wonder if the territorial males only allow their mate > and offspring near their guarded feeders? I know there is quite a bit of > fighting going on- > > Michael DiGiorgio > 154 Princess Drive > Madison, CT 06443 > 203-421 5848 > website: mdigiorgio.com > > > On Jun 9, 2019, at 5:46 PM, C Wood <cwood022@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > that’s correct of course, Mike, but male hummers have nothing to do with > tending to offspring. they will continue to visit feeders but range > farther and take advantage of bountiful flowers this time of year. > Nonetheless, I too have noticed that we have only one female in the yard > this year compared to the usual two or three. > > > > Chris Wood > > Woodbury, CT > > 203 558-0654 > > > > Flickr: C.S.Wood-Photos <https://www.flickr.com/photos/cswood-photos/> > > Blog: WoodWarbling <http://cswood022.blogspot.com/?m=0> > > > > > >> On Jun 9, 2019, at 2:49 PM, mdigiorgio via CTBirds < > ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org <mailto:ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org>> wrote: > >> > >> I usually find that during nesting season, hummers decrease their > visits to feeders and look for protein for chicks. I think you’ll see an > increase in activity once the chicks fledge. > >> > >> Michael DiGiorgio > >> 154 Princess Drive > >> Madison, CT 06443 > >> 203 421 5848 > >> Website- mdigiorgio.com <http://mdigiorgio.com/> > >> > >>> On Jun 9, 2019, at 2:13 PM, Donna Lorello via CTBirds < > ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org <mailto:ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org>> wrote: > >>> > >>> I just read an article about hummers dying from pesticide usage. > Chinese > >>> mantis also preys on hummers. Not sure about incubation period. > >>> > >>> Of course right after I replied I saw a hummer at the feeder! After a > quick > >>> drink it proceeded to the flowers. Maybe they are there and we just > are not > >>> seeing them as often at the feeders? > >>> > >>> Donna Lorello > >>> _______________________________________________ > >>> This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association > (COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. > >>> For subscription information visit > http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org < > http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org> > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association > (COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. > >> For subscription information visit > http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org < > http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org> > > > > _______________________________________________ > This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) > for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. > For subscription information visit > http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org >

i'm thinking that maybe because of the wet spring we've had and the fact that flowers/[plants are just starting to come into full bloom, the hummers have not been around as much. my bee balm and honeysuckle are just starting to bloom here in west hartford ct. that being said - i usually get more hummers in August when the young ones are starting to migrate. Mona Cavallero > On June 9, 2019 at 7:38 PM Paul Plotnick via CTBirds <ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org> wrote: > > > One female hummer so far and recently none. We have had as many as 5 - all > females and young. > > On Sun, Jun 9, 2019 at 7:28 PM Michael DiGiorgio via CTBirds < > ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org> wrote: > > > In the past, despite the fact that males have no role in rearing, once the > > young hummers fledge my feeders are full of adults and young birds for the > > rest of the summer. Wonder if the territorial males only allow their mate > > and offspring near their guarded feeders? I know there is quite a bit of > > fighting going on- > > > > Michael DiGiorgio > > 154 Princess Drive > > Madison, CT 06443 > > 203-421 5848 > > website: mdigiorgio.com > > > > > On Jun 9, 2019, at 5:46 PM, C Wood <cwood022@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > > > that’s correct of course, Mike, but male hummers have nothing to do with > > tending to offspring. they will continue to visit feeders but range > > farther and take advantage of bountiful flowers this time of year. > > Nonetheless, I too have noticed that we have only one female in the yard > > this year compared to the usual two or three. > > > > > > Chris Wood > > > Woodbury, CT > > > 203 558-0654 > > > > > > Flickr: C.S.Wood-Photos <https://www.flickr.com/photos/cswood-photos/> > > > Blog: WoodWarbling <http://cswood022.blogspot.com/?m=0> > > > > > > > > >> On Jun 9, 2019, at 2:49 PM, mdigiorgio via CTBirds < > > ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org <mailto:ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org>> wrote: > > >> > > >> I usually find that during nesting season, hummers decrease their > > visits to feeders and look for protein for chicks. I think you’ll see an > > increase in activity once the chicks fledge. > > >> > > >> Michael DiGiorgio > > >> 154 Princess Drive > > >> Madison, CT 06443 > > >> 203 421 5848 > > >> Website- mdigiorgio.com <http://mdigiorgio.com/> > > >> > > >>> On Jun 9, 2019, at 2:13 PM, Donna Lorello via CTBirds < > > ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org <mailto:ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org>> wrote: > > >>> > > >>> I just read an article about hummers dying from pesticide usage. > > Chinese > > >>> mantis also preys on hummers. Not sure about incubation period. > > >>> > > >>> Of course right after I replied I saw a hummer at the feeder! After a > > quick > > >>> drink it proceeded to the flowers. Maybe they are there and we just > > are not > > >>> seeing them as often at the feeders? > > >>> > > >>> Donna Lorello > > >>> _______________________________________________ > > >>> This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association > > (COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. > > >>> For subscription information visit > > http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org < > > http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org> > > >> > > >> > > >> _______________________________________________ > > >> This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association > > (COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. > > >> For subscription information visit > > http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org < > > http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org> > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) > > for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. > > For subscription information visit > > http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org > > > _______________________________________________ > This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. > For subscription information visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org