When Will My Hummingbirds and Orioles Return?

[@MicheleLHarvey]

Generally hummingbirds come with the tulips, so that's when I put up the feeders. Here in the northeast Ruby-throats fully return right around Mother's Day.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

That is a great way to remember their return.

[@JohnWood-tk1ge]

Can’t wait! I now feel spring is coming. I saw my first large group of gold finches at the feeders today, tried to get a picture for Facebook but they wouldn’t let me close enough to get a decent picture. But that doesn’t matter they’re back 😍.

[@jameslomenzo1139]

I use to feed around 50 Goldfinches year's ago, they love thistle seed and in June here in Middle Tennessee they built they're nest with the wild purple thistle plant that goes to bloom.

[@JohnWood-tk1ge]

@@jameslomenzo1139 where I live in upstate New York we usually have a very few that stick around all winter. When you see large groups it means spring is close, redwing black birds have been here for a month and a half.

[@jameslomenzo1139]

@JohnWood-tk1ge Red Winged Blackbirds built every spring in my watergarden, in the cattails, they sure are pretty also I have a purple martin colony next to the watergarden and the RW sure watches out for hawks. They're a very bold bird, if I get to close to their nest, they let me know.

[@JohnWood-tk1ge]

@@jameslomenzo1139 great bird but the gold finch is the sign of spring here.

[@kelcritcarroll]

I had my feeders up on may 5, and its the 18 of may and ive onlu one male hummer here. Ive always had at least ten stay all summer for the last forty yrs but this spring only one is here…im very concerned.they usually are here between the 8th to the 12. Im in west mi in the very middde of lower peninsula five mi from lake mi

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Others are reporting similar patterns., late or less hummingbirds. It can be many things but something we want to keep an eye on for sure.

[@geauxtigers_8458]

Great video, Mark. The migration map with dates looks on point. House Finches have begun nesting here in NW Louisiana 😁

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Thank you for tuning in!

[@outdoorztime2923]

I believe you're "spot-on" as they say now days, Mr. McKellar. Another biologist I enjoy watching in Missouri works a lot with the Whitetail Deer, and he mentioned how photoperiodism is the main cause of when deer shed their antlers. Seems logical, since the weather can be quiet a bit different from one month in a year compared to the previous. Great video. I might need to look into planting a Black Locust Tree (if I can find the space).

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Thank you. One black locust tree will grow into a grove over time. They spread underground

[@outdoorztime2923]

Well, maybe I should pass on planting the Black Locust. Also, I just read where the seeds are toxic to many livestock and wildlife species... @@MarksBackyardBirds

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

They are widespread along roadsides. I bet ranchers keep them cut back then.

[@frontier2487]

I’m not familiar with the hummingbirds of the east coast but in so cal, hummingbirds are here all year long

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

You are lucky. We only have one species out east and they leave In October and generally return in April. For a lucky few in the Deep South, they may get one or two in winter.

[@frontier2487]

@@MarksBackyardBirds Oh interesting, I didn't know! haha I’m lucky for sure thanks for sharing!

[@kathysparks6338]

Thank you! Helpful video and map.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

They will be here before we know it!

[@davettayoung1495]

Hi Mark, from North Texas! Great informative video. Thank you

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Thanks you for tuning in!

[@rfrederick8226]

California High Desert - a few male Costa's seem to stay here all winter so I keep a couple of feeders which are only partially full. This past week we have begun to see more hummers. A few orioles also the last couple of weeks. This is the first winter in over 40 years that there have not been Juncoes visiting. We have lots of Gold Finches as usual.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Thanks for the report. Costa’s are beautiful birds.

[@barco581]

Random question, here in New England the Blue Jays often pick up multiple in-shell peanuts one by one before deciding which one to fly away with. What are they doing? Weighing them?

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Yes, much like birds will pick up a sunflower or Nyjer seed only to drop it and pick up another. They are testing the heart weight. There are lots of empty hulls and they can tell when they pick it up if it is worth the effort to open it. Jays will stash a lot of those peanuts.

[@jameslomenzo1139]

I have around 15 Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds each year, as always the first week of April here in Middle Tennessee, I seen the Ruby-Throated going to the same spot my feeders were the year before if i don't have the feeders up but this year I will start putting up a feeder the 1st of April so they'll have nectar.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

That is a nice population of hummers you have there in the neighborhood. Sounds like we are on a pretty close schedule for arrival.

[@findingdori442]

I’m in beautiful southern California & I’m used to having Hummingbirds live in my backyard & I treasure it! They would even let me hand feed them. Then…all of a sudden, just like that, no more? Why did they leave?

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

So many possibilities. Perhaps for a different area to nest.

[@findingdori442]

@@MarksBackyardBirds Thank you for the reply 💛 I did notice a nest in the front of my house but the original male who lived in my yard “hummy” is gone. He used to come when I would call him . Hummingbirds are so Godly 💛 I pray they come back to my yard

[@dianebales2388]

Do hummingbirds come back thru in the late summer going south or will we only see them in the spring?

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

@@dianebales2388 yes, they pass back through. For the Kansas City area, August and Early September are our busiest times for hummingbirds.

[@dianebales2388]

@@MarksBackyardBirds thanks. We are in Iowa city so we will plan about that time as well

[@gohlervideos6470]

Junco's are still at my feeder in Central IND

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Early April is when we can sometime have juncos and hummers in the yard at the same time.

[@shirleywilhelm1495]

Hi from South Texas.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Hi Shirley!

[@tabathaparsons3333]

So I live in Illinois I've been feeding birds and researching the ones I see but I don't really know how many kinds of birds they're here they're so many kinds of birds I have in my little town I didn't even know it's makes my day hearing them sing and watch them run around in my yard I don't really know if they have birds that eat jelly in Illinois or what kind your supposed to use but I know I miss my hummingbirds and I'm so ready for them to come back. Ok I have a question ❓ are hummingbird feeders you buy for the window dangerous and how do you keep cats away I have a cat lady down the street 😒 she has like 100 outside cats that loves to poop in my yard and try to stalk my trees I don't know how to keep the cats away but my bird feeder is up so high I have to climb 🪜 a ladder cats are serial killers I haven't seen a chipmunk 🐿️ in my neighborhood in 5 years Iam thinking of calling animal control is my only way to stop it idk there's a lot of ppl that feed stray cats out here

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

You are so right, cats are a major threat to bird populations all across the country. Here is a link to a great program: abcbirds.org/program/cats-indoors/ They are a fantastic organization and this is a terrific program. Unfortunately, it is the cat owners that have to be convinced and that is hard to do. I encourage you to contact your local municipality and see if their leash law applies to cats. It generally does but they tend not to enforce it. Your rights as a bird lover are just as important as those who have cats and let them roam free.

[@kelcritcarroll]

Cats are serial killers? 🤣ive said this myself …..they are to blame at least a large blame to the decline in so,g bird populations without a doubt.

[@lupemelendez1970]

The spring migration chart does not reflect anything for the west coast…

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

The map shown is for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds that do not nest west of the Rockies. I included the link to www.journeynorth.org in the description that has maps for many different species including western hummers so you can check their progress there.

[@AndrewJR66]

Another great video thank you so much

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Thank you Andrew