Hi Everyone,

The following is posted for George Jett:

Hummingbirds are fascinating animals.  This was a good year for our nesting Ruby-throats, but they are leaving. Most of our nesting birds leave the region by mid October. I recommend leaving your hummingbird feeders out from now until January 1 for two reasons.  Migrants need additional energy for the dangerous trip south, and this is the time period when non-breeding hummingbirds start showing up in Maryland
 
I call non breeding species "out-of-season, out-of-range birds".  Maryland now has four non-breeding species on the state list:  Rufous, Calliope, Anna's and Allen's Hummingbirds. They show up in the east during October through January. For example, in 2008 within about a 20-mile stretch in Calvert County along the western side of the Chesapeake Bay, we had the fourth Maryland state record of a Calliope Hummingbird (North Beach), a hatch-year female Rufous (Port Republic), and a first Maryland state record hatch-year female Allen’s (Prince Frederick).  The Allen's was discovered on December 23.  To see images of a number of these animals visit www.georgejett.net. These vagrants are normally hatch year birds that have yet to learn which way to migrate. Hatch-year birds are those born this spring or summer. We have two Rufous Hummingbird records for Charles, and many others across the state. So many that the MDDC records committee no longer reviews this
 species but the others are reviewable, so if you get a non-breeder please report it.
 
Rufous and Allen’s are very hard to separate in the field. You need detailed measurements of the bird in hand, especially when you are determining the first state record. The Allen's stayed until December 29, and as many as 50 avid birders got to see this new state bird due to the generosity of the property owner. This bird probably migrated from northern California, and went east instead of south to Mexico where the species normally overwinters. Because the bird got extra feed during her stay in Maryland, she likely had a more successful trip south once she decided to continue migration.

All these records resulted from hummingbird feeders being left out to attract birds during the October to January period. There is absolutely no truth to the old wives' tale that if you leave out your feeder, the birds won't leave, and will freeze in the winter. Hummingbirds migrate based on the available light and suitable weather conditions. Suitable weather is a big high pressure with a good tail wind. Hummingbirds leave when the available daylight triggers chemicals in the brain to tell them it is time to move along, and this occurs around the spring and fall equinoxes.
 
Please make sure your feeder is clean, the food is fresh, and the feeder is located where you can see it easily and check it on a daily basis. This way you will know when you have a potential non-Ruby-throated Hummingbird. 
 
They will be hungry from the long flight from as far away as Alaska. If it gets below 20 degrees at night, bring in the feeder so the liquid feed won't freeze. Nothing worse than to arrive for a frozen dinner!  Sugar and water will freeze around 20 degrees, so to prevent damage to your feeder when ice expands inside it, fill it just two-thirds full.  If a hard freeze is expected, it is best to bring the feeder in at night. When you put out the feeder in the morning it will be nice and warm for any birds using it.  
 
Most of these vagrants are generally hatch year birds and hard to identify to species so it is important that proper identification is made. This is done by certified hummingbird banders. Fortunately I know two in the area. If you have a hummingbird come to your feeder after October 30, please contact me so we can put into operation a catch and release effort to determine the species. This is important to science and you could be a part of learning more about these amazing animals. I can be reached at 
 
Good bird watching.
 
George M. Jett
Waldorf, MD 20603