DAVID . . . My guess is that this may be one of those years when sapsucker wells--those horizontal, sap-oozing holes made by Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers--may be of more importance than usual in the northern part of the ruby-throat's range. (See images at http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek060515.html )
Hummers may also take small amounts of sap from tree buds that likely will be bursting early. I suspect warm weather that allows hummers to be further north than usual also will cause earlier-than-normal emergence of insects that will provide needed fats and proteins. The big question may be what will happen if there is a sudden cold snap now that ruby-throats are so far north. Will adults survive? Will early nesters lose the first clutch or eggs--or even a first brood? We'll have to wait and see, i guess. :-) Cheers, BILL ======= On Mar 26, 2012, at 1:23 PM, David Inouye wrote: > http://www.hummingbirds.net/map.html reports that Ruby-throated Hummingbirds > have already arrived in Canada this month (3 weeks earlier than last year). > What wildflowers do they usually visit during their spring migration, and are > they already in bloom? > > David Inouye ========= RESEARCH PROGRAM c/o BILL HILTON JR. Executive Director Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History 1432 DeVinney Road, York, South Carolina 29745 USA office & cell (803) 684-5852 fax (803) 684-0255 Please visit our web sites (courtesy of Comporium.net): Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History at http://www.hiltonpond.org "Operation RubyThroat: The Hummingbird Project" at http://www.rubythroat.org ==================
