Our Rufous Hummingbirds returned on March 15, right on schedule.

Now, there are not very many blossoms around yet, so I always wonder about the
theory that hummers follow the blooming so they will have nectar. I just can't
see them migrating here if they need blossoms.

However, just before the hummers arrived, we had a big hatch of "gnats", little
flying bugs about which I am too ignorant to have a better name. The hatch
continues. There are millions of the little bugs around.

Having frequently watched Anna's Hummingbirds spend an entire afternoon
flycatching in a large, hot, dry area where there were few or no blossoms, I
conclude that hummers apparently can subsist on bugs.

I now wonder if the Rufous Hummingbirds time their northward migration to
coincide with temperatures or day lengths that cause insect hatches that they
can feed on - rather than just blossom availability.

Anybody have further information on this?

Jerry Blinn
Silverdale


E-mail from: Jerry Blinn, 21-Mar-1997