Michael,
There have been numerous studies that have shown that putting up feeders do
not interfere with hummingbird migration. If this were the case our
Ruby-throats would be staying in large numbers throughout the region well
into winter. By October 1st nearly all of the Ruby-throats will be gone
from this area and any hummingbird that shows up at a feeder
or elsewhere will have a significant chance of being a vagrant. Although
there are very small number of birds that are seen away from feeders, the
readily available food supply from feeders have increased the numbers of
vagrant birds being observed throughout the east during the off season.
These numbers may be a natural part of hummingbird migration, but only in
the last couple of decades in which people have been leaving feeders out
far longer into fall and early winter has the number of birds become known.
In some cases these birds have come, stayed well into the heart of winter
and then disappeared to the fears that the conditions have certainly taken
their toll on the birds, only to have the birds come back the next year to
do the same thing.
Ed Boyd
Chestnut Hill Cove, MD
On Wed, Sep 19, 2012 at 8:55 PM, Dan Haas <nervousbirds...> wrote:
> To be clear, I'm not trying to harm hummingbirds, or lure them to stay
> in Northern Baltimore City for our sake. I was only trying to find a way to
> get a clear, crisp photograph of this mysterious beast in order to
> have it identified.
>
> All that aside, I still don't get the logic of your argument Jim
> (Michael). Can you be sure these hummingbirds are not visiting local
> feeders and only stopping by Robert E. Lee Park occasionally? And
> based on your last email, how would hummingbird banders successfully
> capture a bird only visiting flowers in a relatively large area? If
> it is possible, that's great. I just thought their nets worked on
> feeders (for the most part).
>
> Best to all,
>
> Dan
>
> --
> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Group 'Maryland & DC Birding'.
> To view group guidelines or change email preferences, visit this group on
> the web at http://www.mdbirding.com
> Posts can be sent to the group by sending an email to
> <mdbirding...>
>
>
>
--
-- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Group 'Maryland & DC Birding'.
To view group guidelines or change email preferences, visit this group on the web at http://www.mdbirding.com
Posts can be sent to the group by sending an email to <mdbirding...>
|