This article is interesting and addresses why hummingbird populations may be decreasing. I only have one feeder at my Eagan home and have never had large numbers. I'm seeing activity comparable to past years. However, last fall the number of migrating hummingbirds passing through Longfellow Gardens in Minneapolis seemed way down. I thought it might be the drought and the really hot weather we had during the late summer/early fall. I'm hoping that was an aberration.
https://www.hummingbird101.com/what-has-happened-to-all-the-hummingbirds-this-year/ Pat Wolesky -----Original Message----- From: Minnesota Birds <MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU> On Behalf Of Nancy Steinhauser Sent: Friday, July 19, 2024 7:34 PM To: MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU Subject: Re: [mou-net] Hummingbird Numbers I have been recording hummingbird activity here for 28 years. No red dye. Cleaning and refilling feeders every 2-3 days. I know the populations go up and down depending on what they're doing in their breeding and life cycle. But this year has been an anomaly. And the same with neighbors and friends. A very scary anomaly. Everyone is bewildered up here. How can we all get the "normal" big, medium or low numbers arriving back in the Spring, and then have them all disappear? I'm watching 6 out my window now. A large number arrived in the Spring but there are very few left. And the recent uptick is fledglings. I'm asking about bird flu. Have ruby-throated's succumbed to bird flu? Does anyone keep track? Or - is there something else happening that's killing them? Thanks for all the info. On Fri, Jul 19, 2024 at 10:49 AM Rebecca Field <rebeccafiel...@gmail.com> wrote: > I would add that we should not put out sugar water with red dye in it. > Just sugar and water - 4 parts water to 1 part sugar, or 3 parts water > to 1 part sugar. Too high a ratio of sugar to water can damage their > kidneys and livers. The nectar should be changed every 1 to 4 days, > depending on the weather conditions. > > Rebecca Field > > On Fri, Jul 19, 2024 at 10:37 AM marshall or janet howe/mcmillen < > howe.mcmil...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > There may be something unusual going on here, but don't forget that > > hummingbirds normally vacate feeders during the period when they are > > feeding young. At these times they are feeding almost exclusively > > on insects. When the young become independent, the numbers at > > feeders typically skyrocket. > > > > Marshall Howe > > > > ---- > > General information and guidelines for posting: > > https://moumn.org/listservice.html > > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > > > > During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice > > social distancing, and continue to bird responsibly. > > > > ---- > General information and guidelines for posting: > https://moumn.org/listservice.html > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > > During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice > social distancing, and continue to bird responsibly. > ---- General information and guidelines for posting: https://moumn.org/listservice.html Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice social distancing, and continue to bird responsibly. ---- General information and guidelines for posting: https://moumn.org/listservice.html Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice social distancing, and continue to bird responsibly.
