The Truth About Hummingbirds and Their Fall Migration

[@farmgirlb2296]

Oh my goodness I get so emotional when they start migrating for fall and winter. I probably worry about them more than I should on their long journey south. They are such precious little creatures! ❤️

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

They are so small, it is amazing they make this journey each year.

[@TSUNAMI-MAMI]

@@MarksBackyardBirdsanimals like hummers make me so in awe of biology and the natural world. We are so lucky to live among these amazing beings!!!

[@1962Melody]

I cried. I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one.

[@farmingirl4281]

I’ve had 14 feeders out all summer long. I put out a gallon and a half to two gallons a day.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Wow!

[@Curious-Lass]

Excellent video! I recently have a hummingbird which is not a Rufous but he has become very aggressive at guarding all the feeders and flowers in the backyard chasing away any hummingbird that dares to come into the yard! He sits up high on a branch that is way too high to reach to cut. So, I had to run to the nursery to plant hummingbird plants out front along with a couple of feeders there. So now everyone is happy!! 🌺 🌸🐦🌿❤️

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Good job 👏

[@TSUNAMI-MAMI]

Omg 150 miles in one night?!? 😱 that’s crazy! They’re soooo tiny that blows my mind.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Wind certainly helps that!

[@Eyewonder3210]

I live in the middle of Michigan. This summer has been the strangest for my feeders. I usually have a mating pair. This summer I had to put up 4 feeders, 8 cups a day. Too many birds to count. 40 years of feeding and never experienced this. I talked with neighbors and word spread. More people put up feeders. Certain flowers didn't bloom very well this year.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

This sounds like it was tough year on the native plants that the hummers would typically feed on in your area. We see this is very dry summers here in KC.

[@danabrubaker1717]

​@@MarksBackyardBirdsso I'm hearing that we should keep hummingbird feeders out in the winter also? What about the feeders freezing up over night? 4:04

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

@@danabrubaker1717 I only recommend leaving hummingbird feeders up as long as you are willing to keep them fresh. I understand There are new “heaters” being marketed to help with that. I do know people who use heat lamps during cold snaps

[@tennesseenana4838]

I love watching those tiny wonders at my feeders and on my flowers. I put feeder #6 out last week and am going through over 2 quarts of sugar water every day now. I'm in north/middle Tennessee. Since you said they're going to start their migration soon, I'd better put more sugar on my grocery list, so I'll have plenty for them. Thank you for these information videos!

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

I love it! They are keeping you busy.

[@mgoh1984]

I understand it's good to add a bit more sugar this time of year to help. I'm in SW Ohio and they are still around, usually into the first week of October I still see them.

[@pastorharrison48]

Very informative

[@MegInWhispers]

true! noticed a few more at our feeders in central-eastern CT

[@stuartmenzies3928]

Humming birds are smart. They have a large brain and can return to places previously feeding from memory

[@danabrubaker1717]

And bring their cousins with them. 😂

[@teresacakes1979]

Thanks

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Welcome

[@goodkarna]

You've just explained why there are so many strangers at my feeders and the small ones are drained everyday in September.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Thanks for tuning in!

[@gramig0]

Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge. Learning so much.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Thanks for tuning in!

[@ummm8511]

Im in Northwestern Minnesota. I have one baby hummingbird out of 5 that has not departed yet. She refuses to go. Our night time temperatures have been at 34 to 38 past for the past week. She hangs out in the lilac bush. I did notice she was gone most of the day 2 days ago, but came back. I have 2 feeders out for anyone else coming thru on their migration. I don't know how to motivate her to head south.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

She has to make that decision for sure. I'm betting on the next night with a good wind out of the north may do the trick.

[@stuartmenzies3928]

I live in the bay area lovely weather still nearly November. I have a feeder and watch them still enjoy our feeder. But I watch for them to gradually leave

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Your season is much longer than ours!

[@kingrobs89]

I live in San Antonio Texas, I had no clue of anything, the first week of aug one day I was bird watching in my backyard and notice a hummingbird check out a bird feeder then took off, a few days later a swap it for a hummingbird feeder, now it stop by every 10-30 minutes, I see up to 3 daily feeding or fighting/flying around trees chasing each other , hopefully plant some flower for the trip back when winter is over but for now it feeders

[@kingrobs89]

Assuming they leave and head south to Mexico soon then the younger ones show up

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

You still have lots of migrants to be passing through.

[@MegInWhispers]

could you make a video about how to select / put up / understand bird houses, for beginners? i feel like i have a good bird setup in our backyard with water, tree / bush shelter, and feeders / seed, but selecting and putting up bird houses is my final frontier.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Great idea. Will get that into the queue.

[@MegInWhispers]

@@MarksBackyardBirds - thank you!!

[@pshahdoshi]

The Hummingbird that visits my yard was seen end of September. I am in Chicagoland area. Now I do not see the hummingbird. They have migrated now. They do not migrate until end of September or even first week of October

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

We have seen a that date get later and later over the years. Amazing

[@goodkarna]

I'm in Glenview and saw the last one on October 7 this year!

[@MegInWhispers]

Mark, do blue jays naturally drive away grackles and starlings? (off topic, i know!) I find that my jays do not bully our other songbirds, but I've noticed that when I see them more often, I see the grackles and starlings, which aggressively bully my songbirds, less / not at all. So, I'm hoping to do all I can to attract the blue jays. I'd love to hear your thoughts!

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

They can do it. Especially when they are in their family groups. They are great birds

[@MyBeautifulHealth]

Blue jays at my house come for the whole shell unsalted peanuts I leave out..and I haven’t noticed a grackle since I started doing this, now that I think about it.

[@jeffkimble8857]

I see Cornell has started promoting 3:1 rather than 4:1 for feeding.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

I have not seen that. Quite a change for them

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

From what I read, that is a suggestion for cold rainy conditions only. May help them, but not in hotter drier conditions.

[@jeffkimble8857]

@@MarksBackyardBirds its actually not much a change at all. Nectar ranges naturally from 5:1 to 1:1 in flowers. So if you extrapolate that data, 3:1 is closer to what the average would be anyway. But I guess it depends on what flowers you have around as to what ratio they get aside from the feeders.

[@vanschermerhorn7167]

How far apart do you hang hummingbird feeders ?

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

In the fall distance is not as important but it does help to have a sight barrier between them. A tree, different sides of the house etc.

[@NextOfKim.]

I saw a PBS documentary on Nature showing that crazy tongue, but they didn’t show that it wrapped around the skull lol

[@williamsporing1500]

I watch the hummers at my feeders all the time. I’m convinced all they do is eat and chase each other lol

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

@@williamsporing1500 That is about it this time of year

[@waynenelson8907]

Maybe it's a cold-blooded goose he is riding on:)

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

🤣

[@stuartmenzies3928]

They are the only birds who fly backwards

[@casperinsight3524]

Apparently not all hummers migrate so its good to leave one or two feeders around all year 😎😘

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Only if you are willing to keep the nectar fresh and the feeder clean. Too many give up and leave it out and that it is unhealthy for your birds.