Outdoor Ontario

Birding Reports => Migration Movements => Topic started by: mr.sharp-photo on April 06, 2015, 10:26:49 AM

Title: Hummingbird migration 2015 - please read
Post by: mr.sharp-photo on April 06, 2015, 10:26:49 AM
http://www.hummingbirds.net/map.html (http://www.hummingbirds.net/map.html)

i'm no expert, but there's a good southerly wind coming on Friday and warmer temps.
Depending on what the wind's like next week, i'd guess that we'll have hummingbird sightings in 10 days or so.

currently, there aren't even gnats for them to eat. i'm assuming there won't be many bugs or flowers in 10 days, so just a reminder to get your feeders out sooner vs later
Title: Re: Hummingbird migration 2015 - please read
Post by: Dr. John on April 06, 2015, 12:53:51 PM
I saw on a nature documentary that they also feed on sap from the sap wells created by sapsuckers until there are other food sources.
Title: Re: Hummingbird migration 2015 - please read
Post by: mr.sharp-photo on April 07, 2015, 07:56:22 AM
Quote from: "Dr. John"
I saw on a nature documentary that they also feed on sap from the sap wells created by sapsuckers until there are other food sources.
considering that we haven't had many sapsucker sightings...again, things don't look overly positive right now.
Title: Re: Hummingbird migration 2015 - please read
Post by: Howieh on April 07, 2015, 01:13:33 PM
Quote from: "mr.sharp-photo"
http://www.hummingbirds.net/map.html

i'm no expert, but there's a good southerly wind coming on Friday and warmer temps.
Depending on what the wind's like next week, i'd guess that we'll have hummingbird sightings in 10 days or so.

currently, there aren't even gnats for them to eat. i'm assuming there won't be many bugs or flowers in 10 days, so just a reminder to get your feeders out sooner vs later

I guess we can dream but I will be pleasantly surprised if I see hummers at my feeder before early May. Every year's migration pattern is different but my arrival dates have been very consistent - May 9 plus or minus 2 days for the past 5 years. Remember 2012? March was like May weatherwise, no major storms to interrupt the northward migrations of birds and butterflies and I still didn't see hummers until early May, even though they had been reported just south of the eastern Great Lakes in late March! See here:

http://www.hummingbirds.net/2012maps.html (http://www.hummingbirds.net/2012maps.html)
Title: Re: Hummingbird migration 2015 - please read
Post by: Howieh on April 08, 2015, 10:47:28 AM
Maybe dreams do come true after all...

http://www.learner.org/jnorth/maps/humm ... g2015.html (http://www.learner.org/jnorth/maps/humm_ruby_spring2015.html)

...but I'm not holding my breath! :)
Title: Re: Hummingbird migration 2015 - please read
Post by: mr.sharp-photo on April 08, 2015, 02:47:19 PM
sunday and monday - high temps and moderate winds from the south.

again, it's bloody early. but,.,,Maryland's getting strong southerly winds starting on Friday. same thing for west virginia for this weekend.
Rochester has south 35 km/h winds for this Friday.  then 20 km/h south on monday.

takes nothing to put some sugarwater in a feeder. i'm going to make mine tomorrow or Friday.
Title: Re: Hummingbird migration 2015 - please read
Post by: Howieh on April 08, 2015, 05:30:31 PM
Quote from: "mr.sharp-photo"
sunday and monday - high temps and moderate winds from the south.

again, it's bloody early. but,.,,Maryland's getting strong southerly winds starting on Friday. same thing for west virginia for this weekend.
Rochester has south 35 km/h winds for this Friday.  then 20 km/h south on monday.

takes nothing to put some sugarwater in a feeder. i'm going to make mine tomorrow or Friday.

Surely you don't believe all that weather prediction stuff! :-D Ok, I was a meteorologist and I think the forecasts are correct so they should be close to the south shores of Lakes Erie and Ontario by late next week, and besides, we have to see them before Meghan does, so I'll be ready! I was watching a video from last May of what started out as 3 males fighting over the feeder; one left pretty quickly but I have about three minutes of the the remaining two in aerial combat. If I can remember how to do it I'll post it on Drop Box.
Title: Re: Hummingbird migration 2015 - please read
Post by: mr.sharp-photo on April 09, 2015, 07:21:32 AM
Quote from: "Howieh"
Surely you don't believe all that weather prediction stuff! :-D Ok, I was a meteorologist and I think the forecasts are correct
well, i believe computer models, so yeah :)

i'm also assuming half of the ppl reporting hummingbird sightings are old badgers like you, so it probably takes them 5 days or so to figure out how to report the sightings :)
Title: Re: Hummingbird migration 2015 - please read
Post by: Howieh on April 09, 2015, 11:18:54 AM
Badger? Ok, I've been called much worse (played lots of hockey!). It looks now like the big push through Pa and NY could be stalled for a couple of days by strong winds and storms but conditions look very favorable from Sunday through all of next week. It almost seems like the hummers know not to cross the lakes because food (small insects and nectar) will be scarce until late April or early May. Still very quiet here otherwise, how about where you are?
Title: Re: Hummingbird migration 2015 - please read
Post by: mr.sharp-photo on April 14, 2015, 07:39:03 AM
well there you go, Howieh. a hummer was spotted in NOTL yesterday (although the type of hummer is a bit strange)
Title: Re: Hummingbird migration 2015 - please read
Post by: Howieh on April 14, 2015, 11:15:59 AM
Quote from: "mr.sharp-photo"
well there you go, Howieh. a hummer was spotted in NOTL yesterday (although the type of hummer is a bit strange)

What (where) is NOTL and where is that report? I'm sure there are hummers close to Lake Ontario that have not been reported but I still think the big push (across the lake) won't occur until early May. Anyway, my feeder is ready so I'll probably put it up later today. I hope they don't show up too soon because there is absolutely nothing for them to eat here! :)

edit: Got it - Niagara on the Lake? Just checked the report, sounds like a rufous!
Title: Re: Hummingbird migration 2015 - please read
Post by: mr.sharp-photo on April 16, 2015, 04:43:04 PM
so i was off by a week. hah.
probably a week from now before we get sightings.
looks like most of the US is 1 week ahead of last year's sightings.
Title: Re: Hummingbird migration 2015 - please read
Post by: Luv2Bird on April 17, 2015, 04:09:20 PM
Am putting my feeder out tonight.  A Ruby throated was spotted in Ohio April 16th!! .. Very exciting news.  Monarchs are on the move as well in the Southern states.  Earliest I've seen one at the feeder is April 30th (but then I'm not there all day) and usually  around May 5th or so.
Title: Re: Hummingbird migration 2015 - please read
Post by: mr.sharp-photo on April 24, 2015, 01:34:03 PM
any hopes for early hummingbirds is kind of going down the tubes. cold weather and northerly winds during the week.
so who knows...
Title: Re: Hummingbird migration 2015 - please read
Post by: Howieh on April 24, 2015, 10:13:19 PM
Quote from: "mr.sharp-photo"
any hopes for early hummingbirds is kind of going down the tubes. cold weather and northerly winds during the week.
so who knows...

Maybe, maybe not? There's no really warm weather in sight but temperatures should be near normal with lighter winds for the next few days so we should start seeing more local reports soon. In the meantime I've uploaded a 'feeder wars' video from last year to Drop Box - hope this works:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/134 ... I_5121.MOV (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/13400530/MVI_5121.MOV)
Title: Re: Hummingbird migration 2015 - please read
Post by: Luv2Bird on April 30, 2015, 04:31:07 PM
That video was terrific !  I got one last year of similar "fighting" and figure 8 display.  Definitely like B52's ... they use up all their energy fighting and never manage to feed!!  Anxiously waiting for first males to arrive . Just put fresh homemade syrup in my feeder this morning.
Title: Re: Hummingbird migration 2015 - please read
Post by: mr.sharp-photo on May 01, 2015, 10:31:45 AM
south winds sat sun and monday.
so this is it, methinks
Title: Re: Hummingbird migration 2015 - please read
Post by: Howieh on May 01, 2015, 11:24:20 AM
Maybe so but there's still nothing to eat here (honeysuckle should bloom next week) so I still think mine won't show up for at least a week. In the meantime here are a couple of shorter(!) videos - watch the young bird trying to balance on the feeder and watch as two males start another air war. I lined myself up so the perched guy was visible while the other one fed; I knew if I waited long enough the perched male would take action - they almost hit me on the way by. Enjoy!

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/134 ... %20508.MOV (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/13400530/Early%20Aug%202013%20508.MOV)

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/134 ... %20479.MOV (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/13400530/July%202013%20479.MOV)
Title: Re: Hummingbird migration 2015 - please read
Post by: mr.sharp-photo on May 01, 2015, 07:39:34 PM
Quote from: "Howieh"
Maybe so but there's still nothing to eat here (honeysuckle should bloom next week)
Ann Brokelman posted that she spotted one before 7 PM tonight.
so there you go
Title: Re: Hummingbird migration 2015 - please read
Post by: Howieh on May 01, 2015, 11:52:36 PM
Quote from: "mr.sharp-photo"
Ann Brokelman posted that she spotted one before 7 PM tonight.
so there you go

Ann's a raptor expert - I'm sure it was a bumblebee! ;) I know some hummers have arrived, I'm just saying I'll be lucky to see one here before the second week of May...or, maybe tomorrow?? Anyway, the feeder has been out for about two weeks and the ants are very happy!
Title: Re: Hummingbird migration 2015 - please read
Post by: MEGHAN on May 05, 2015, 01:43:24 AM
Quote from: "Howieh"
Maybe so but there's still nothing to eat here


Lack of flowers is no issue. Nectar only makes up a small percentage of the Hummingbirds diet.
So many bugs around, I am sure all of you have eaten a few while walking around any park recently, and little spiders are all they need. Also, as mentioned before, there is a lot of sap running.

Meghan
Title: Re: Hummingbird migration 2015 - please read
Post by: Luv2Bird on May 06, 2015, 12:21:38 PM
Very happy to report the first Male Ruby throated Hummer at our feeder the morning of May 5th.  That's exactly the same day of our first sighting last year. There was also a Chipping sparrow and a male Rosebreasted Grosbeak ...
spring is finally here and migration is in full swing .  Happy birding.
Title: Re: Hummingbird migration 2015 - please read
Post by: mr.sharp-photo on May 09, 2015, 03:04:47 PM
i was outside with a friend and my wife, brewing, and a hummingbird came to our backyard feeder.
unfortunately, we were standing 5 ft from the feeder, so it stayed for 4 seconds and left.
it was great to see