The Last Male?

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ATTENTION

Our eyes and ears should be open and alert to the natural wonders that surround us every day. Take time to look out our windows to see the birds that visit us and open our windows to hear them. Walk around whatever space we have to enjoy the birds in nature. Every day, work on improving our powers of observation.

ACCEPTANCE

Nature happens. We cannot MAKE natural things happen (or NOT happen). We can create habitats to encourage natural things to happen around us, but there are no guarantees.

RESPONSIBILITY

Birdfeeding comes with responsibilities to the birds and the environment we share with them. If you are unwilling to accept these responsibilities, you shouldn’t feed the birds. We also have a responsibility to share these natural wonders with the next generation.

August 23, 2012

Is this a picture of the last male hummingbird? It was taken August 21st and it could just be the last adult male Ruby-throated Hummingbird I see until next spring.

Fall hummingbird migration is in full swing and adult males are the first to depart. My resident adult males are probably already gone, and any adult males I've seen over the past week or so have probably been migrants stopping to refuel at my nectar-rich patch.

While it is much easier to record arrival dates than departure dates, I've tried nonetheless and over the past four summers, the last adult male was seen somewhere between August 24th and August 28th, with the average being August 25th.

So I'll probably have a couple more days to enjoy the handsome devils. It seems like only yesterday that they first arrived.

Posted at 10:10 AM in Acceptance, Attention, Feeder Birds, Food for Birds, Migration | Permalink

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Barbara, interesting that further north of us, the adult males stay longer.
Jeriann, hummingbird activity was slower yesterday (Monday) but has picked up again today. Still watching for an adult male...none yet!
Marie, I think they (they being banders) say that at this time of year, most days the birds you see one day are gone and replaced the next day. Pretty amazing thought!

Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | August 28, 2012 at 10:20 AM

An adult male showed up at my feeder early yesterday (26th August) but I had not seen the usual male there for a week. May have been the same guy, but who knows.....Lots of female/immatures around still.

Posted by: Marie Read | August 27, 2012 at 01:20 PM

I believe my male has been gone for about week.....just battling females left and their activity has slowed quite a bit today.

Posted by: Lzinterj | August 27, 2012 at 12:58 PM

Seems that there are still lots here in Central Ontario - my brother records that they leave his cottage area mid-September... but I'm watching

Posted by: Barbara | August 24, 2012 at 08:30 AM

Ellen, I saw one today too, but only a day or two more :((

Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | August 23, 2012 at 04:46 PM

We still have quite a few around. One of the males buzzed my head last night when I was standing near the hummingbird feeder, probably to remind me to refill it. :)

Posted by: Ellen | August 23, 2012 at 03:38 PM

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