Empathy List Archives

SD

Sharon Dellinger

Fri, Oct 10, 2025 7:18 PM

I noticed Mike saying he planned to take his hummingbird feeder down ‘so
they move on’. I’ve always left mine up until i wasn't seeing any to help
out the stragglers. Is there any truth to needing to take the feeders
down so they don’t stay too long? Don’t they know when to go?

Thanks,
Sharon Dellinger
Colchester

I noticed Mike saying he planned to take his hummingbird feeder down ‘so they move on’. I’ve always left mine up until i wasn't seeing any to help out the stragglers. Is there any truth to needing to take the feeders down so they don’t stay too long? Don’t they know when to go? Thanks, Sharon Dellinger Colchester **************************************** >

CS

C. S. Wood

Sat, Oct 11, 2025 1:14 AM

Some percentage of Ruby-throats are reported to be forgoing the
southbound migratory trip around the Texas and Mexico coasts or
occasionally across the Gulf in favor of the feeders and flower gardens
that have proliferated along the Gulf coast. So i suppose it’s possible
that they may linger farther north as long as adequate food supplies
are available. I would not let that discourage keeping feeders up
since lingering birds probably would not have to go far to find food
when weather turned. And it’s possible a feeder may be a temporary
lifeline or a last chance refueling for a bird somehow stuck behind or,
for that matter as we have seen recently, for a vagrant Rufous
Hummingbird.

Chris Wood
Woodbury, CT
203 558-0654
[1]C.S. Wood Photo Sampler

 On Oct 10, 2025, at 3:20 PM, Sharon Dellinger via CTBirds
 <ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org> wrote:

I noticed Mike saying he planned to take his hummingbird feeder down
‘so
they move on’. I’ve always left mine up until i wasn't seeing any to
help
out the stragglers. Is there any truth to needing to take the feeders
down so they don’t stay too long? Don’t they know when to go?
Thanks,
Sharon Dellinger
Colchester

To subscribe or unsubscribe via email, send an email with just "join"
or "leave" in the subject or body to:
ctbirds-request@lists.ctbirding.org
CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing
birders together statewide. Please support COA:
https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/
CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For
list rules and subscription information visit:
https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/

References

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cswood-photos/albums/72157710313935571/

Some percentage of Ruby-throats are reported to be forgoing the southbound migratory trip around the Texas and Mexico coasts or occasionally across the Gulf in favor of the feeders and flower gardens that have proliferated along the Gulf coast. So i suppose it’s possible that they may linger farther north as long as adequate food supplies are available. I would not let that discourage keeping feeders up since lingering birds probably would not have to go far to find food when weather turned. And it’s possible a feeder may be a temporary lifeline or a last chance refueling for a bird somehow stuck behind or, for that matter as we have seen recently, for a vagrant Rufous Hummingbird. Chris Wood Woodbury, CT 203 558-0654 [1]C.S. Wood Photo Sampler On Oct 10, 2025, at 3:20 PM, Sharon Dellinger via CTBirds <ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org> wrote: I noticed Mike saying he planned to take his hummingbird feeder down ‘so they move on’. I’ve always left mine up until i wasn't seeing any to help out the stragglers. Is there any truth to needing to take the feeders down so they don’t stay too long? Don’t they know when to go? Thanks, Sharon Dellinger Colchester **************************************** To subscribe or unsubscribe via email, send an email with just "join" or "leave" in the subject or body to: ctbirds-request@lists.ctbirding.org CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/ CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/ References 1. https://www.flickr.com/photos/cswood-photos/albums/72157710313935571/

MD

Michael DiGiorgio

Sat, Oct 11, 2025 2:15 AM

I've seen immature hanging on, but rarely an adult male this late!

Get [1]Outlook for Android
__________________________________________________________________

From: C. S. Wood via CTBirds ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
Sent: Friday, October 10, 2025 9:15:18 PM
To: Sharon Dellinger sdell1964@gmail.com
Cc: ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
Subject: [CT Birds] Re: Hummingbird feeders in fall
Some percentage of Ruby-throats are reported to be forgoing the
southbound migratory trip around the Texas and Mexico coasts or
occasionally across the Gulf in favor of the feeders and flower gardens
that have proliferated along the Gulf coast. So i suppose it’s possible
that they may linger farther north as long as adequate food supplies
are available. I would not let that discourage keeping feeders up
since lingering birds probably would not have to go far to find food
when weather turned. And it’s possible a feeder may be a temporary
lifeline or a last chance refueling for a bird somehow stuck behind or,
for that matter as we have seen recently, for a vagrant Rufous
Hummingbird.
Chris Wood
Woodbury, CT
203 558-0654
[1]C.S. Wood Photo Sampler
On Oct 10, 2025, at 3:20 PM, Sharon Dellinger via CTBirds
ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org wrote:
I noticed Mike saying he planned to take his hummingbird feeder down
‘so
they move on’. I’ve always left mine up until i wasn't seeing any to
help
out the stragglers. Is there any truth to needing to take the feeders
down so they don’t stay too long? Don’t they know when to go?
Thanks,
Sharon Dellinger
Colchester

To subscribe or unsubscribe via email, send an email with just "join"
or "leave" in the subject or body to:
ctbirds-request@lists.ctbirding.org
CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing
birders together statewide. Please support COA:
https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/
CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For
list rules and subscription information visit:
https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/
References
1.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/cswood-photos/albums/72157710313935571/
To subscribe or unsubscribe via email, send an email with just "join"
or "leave" in the subject or body to:
ctbirds-request@lists.ctbirding.org
CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing
birders together statewide. Please support COA:
https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/
CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For
list rules and subscription information visit:
https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/

References

https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg

I've seen immature hanging on, but rarely an adult male this late! Get [1]Outlook for Android __________________________________________________________________ From: C. S. Wood via CTBirds <ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org> Sent: Friday, October 10, 2025 9:15:18 PM To: Sharon Dellinger <sdell1964@gmail.com> Cc: ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org <ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org> Subject: [CT Birds] Re: Hummingbird feeders in fall Some percentage of Ruby-throats are reported to be forgoing the southbound migratory trip around the Texas and Mexico coasts or occasionally across the Gulf in favor of the feeders and flower gardens that have proliferated along the Gulf coast. So i suppose it’s possible that they may linger farther north as long as adequate food supplies are available. I would not let that discourage keeping feeders up since lingering birds probably would not have to go far to find food when weather turned. And it’s possible a feeder may be a temporary lifeline or a last chance refueling for a bird somehow stuck behind or, for that matter as we have seen recently, for a vagrant Rufous Hummingbird. Chris Wood Woodbury, CT 203 558-0654 [1]C.S. Wood Photo Sampler On Oct 10, 2025, at 3:20 PM, Sharon Dellinger via CTBirds <ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org> wrote: I noticed Mike saying he planned to take his hummingbird feeder down ‘so they move on’. I’ve always left mine up until i wasn't seeing any to help out the stragglers. Is there any truth to needing to take the feeders down so they don’t stay too long? Don’t they know when to go? Thanks, Sharon Dellinger Colchester **************************************** To subscribe or unsubscribe via email, send an email with just "join" or "leave" in the subject or body to: ctbirds-request@lists.ctbirding.org CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/ CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/ References 1. https://www.flickr.com/photos/cswood-photos/albums/72157710313935571/ To subscribe or unsubscribe via email, send an email with just "join" or "leave" in the subject or body to: ctbirds-request@lists.ctbirding.org CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/ CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/ References 1. https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg

AH

Anthony Hill

Sun, Oct 12, 2025 7:21 PM

I don't think there should be any concern about feeders delaying migration. Hummingbirds need to feed on insects for protein in addition to nectar and I would be confident that the birds move on of their own accord.

Anthony
Massachusetts

Anthony Hill
Master Bander
Certified Trainer, Passerines and Hummingbirds
retired Co-Chair, Hummingbird Working Group
North American Banding Council (http://www.nabanding.net)

Bander, Appledore Island Migration Station (http://appledorebanding.org/)

Instructor, Hog Island Audubon Camp (https://hogisland.audubon.org/)

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| Please consider the environment - Do you really need to print this e-mail? |
| Piense en verde - Antes de imprimir este email hágase la siguiente pregunta, ¿es necesario? |
** BUY TWO duck stamps at the Post Office and conserve habitat **

From: Sharon Dellinger via CTBirds ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
Sent: Friday, October 10, 2025 15:18
To: ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
Subject: [CT Birds] Hummingbird feeders in fall

I noticed Mike saying he planned to take his hummingbird feeder down ‘so
they move on’. I’ve always left mine up until i wasn't seeing any to help
out the stragglers. Is there any truth to needing to take the feeders
down so they don’t stay too long? Don’t they know when to go?

Thanks,
Sharon Dellinger
Colchester

To subscribe or unsubscribe via email, send an email with just "join" or "leave" in the subject or body to: ctbirds-request@lists.ctbirding.org

CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/

CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/

I don't think there should be any concern about feeders delaying migration. Hummingbirds need to feed on insects for protein in addition to nectar and I would be confident that the birds move on of their own accord. Anthony Massachusetts Anthony Hill Master Bander Certified Trainer, Passerines and Hummingbirds retired Co-Chair, Hummingbird Working Group North American Banding Council (http://www.nabanding.net) Bander, Appledore Island Migration Station (http://appledorebanding.org/) Instructor, Hog Island Audubon Camp (https://hogisland.audubon.org/) | Préservons l'environnement - Avez-vous réellement besoin d'imprimer ce courriel ? | | Please consider the environment - Do you really need to print this e-mail? | | Piense en verde - Antes de imprimir este email hágase la siguiente pregunta, ¿es necesario? | ** BUY TWO duck stamps at the Post Office and conserve habitat ** ________________________________________ From: Sharon Dellinger via CTBirds <ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org> Sent: Friday, October 10, 2025 15:18 To: ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org Subject: [CT Birds] Hummingbird feeders in fall I noticed Mike saying he planned to take his hummingbird feeder down ‘so they move on’. I’ve always left mine up until i wasn't seeing any to help out the stragglers. Is there any truth to needing to take the feeders down so they don’t stay too long? Don’t they know when to go? Thanks, Sharon Dellinger Colchester **************************************** > To subscribe or unsubscribe via email, send an email with just "join" or "leave" in the subject or body to: ctbirds-request@lists.ctbirding.org CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/ CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/