Spotted already in Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, eastern Texas and southern Arkansas, the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are migrating. Put out the hummingbird feeders if you live in or near those areas.
Each spring, Hummingbirds.net provides an interactive map for people to follow the migration and report sightings of hummingbirds in their area. While any self-reporting map has a margin of error, the combination of reported sightings will give a good idea of when these lovely little jewels are approaching your home.
You can click to enlarge the map for today.
And go to the Website here regularly to watch for the hummingbirds. You might even report a new sighting in your area.
I am not aware of a similar reporting system for the other hummingbirds in North America. The Ruby-throated is the only one found regularly in the Eastern and Midwestern US. We do occasionally get the wayward Rufous but in most cases if we see a hummingbird, it's almost certain to be a Ruby-throated.
So mix up your nectar and set out your feeders as soon as you see the birds approaching your area.
I cannot think of anything more enchanting than waiting for a hummingbird to reach your garden. Totally envious......look forward to seeing your images when they arrive in your area.
ReplyDeleteLove the seasons of bird migrations. Always such a wonderful time.
ReplyDeleteI always try to plant flowers that the hummers will enjoy because I read that they get nutrients as well as sugar that way, but it's hard to find flowering plants that work in shade. This is a smart time to put feeders out. Flowers aren't blooming yet and the sun won't yuck up the feeding solution as rapidly as it does in hot weather. Thanks for the reminder! Now to find my feeder. . . !
ReplyDeleteMy goodness, all ready?? Guess I'd better get serious. Usually the first one arrives in a cranky mood and gives me a hummer tongue lashing if I am not ready. Thanks for the heads up.
ReplyDeleteI love them...I have no way of identifying various hummers, but we seem to have them year-round in Cali. Please get some photos to share!
ReplyDeleteSaw a video today of a BUNCH of hummingbirds at feeders on a porch rail. Never seen so many!
ReplyDeleteWe have the occasional hummingbird. Not many, though, and my hummingbird nectar goes bad too quickly. Then the ants come. Then I give up.
ReplyDeleteThis must be quite spectacular! I'm going to be planting plenty of humming bird & butterfly plants so they can feed naturally. Had issues in the past with wasps and yellow jackets-so don't want to deal with those.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the interactive map.
Hugs, Noreen