During breeding season, hummers gather protein (insects) for their chicks
and for themselves. They fatten up on sugar water when they arrive after a
long migration flight, to prepare themselves for fall migration, or, in the
case of year-round Anna's, to increase protection against our winter
weather. After seeing very little activity during May and June, I am
seeing feeder activity pick up in recent days especially by females and
juveniles.

Phil Dickinson
Lake Stevens

On Thu, Jul 14, 2016 at 11:22 AM, Steve Loitz <steveloitz at gmail.com> wrote:

> I concur with Hal. For years of mountain travel in the Cascades we've seen
> RUHUs work up from the lowlands into montane, then subalpine, then alpine
> zones as spring turns into summer, leaving only ANHUs in the westside
> lowlands.
>
> Steve Loitz
> Seattle
>
> On Thu, Jul 14, 2016 at 11:07 AM, Hal Michael <ucd880 at comcast.net> wrote:
>
>> One thing that hummers, at least here (Rufous??) do is migrate upslope
>> into the mountains chasing bugs and wildflowers. Looking for a dense food
>> supply prior to migration. What's left may be the now-esident Anna's.
>>
>>
>>
>> Hal Michael
>> Science Outreach Director, Sustainable Fisheries Foundation
>> Olympia WA
>> 360-459-4005
>> 360-791-7702 (C)
>> ucd880 at comcast.net
>>
>> ------------------------------
>> I live on 5 acers completely surrounded by over 50 acres of forest.
>>
>> I have the same event happen every year with the hummingbirds that come
>> to my feeders.
>>
>> In the early spring, I have many hummingbirds swarming the feeders. I
>> have 5 feeders out, each with 6 holes. There are so many humming birds
>> that they are swarming around tthe feeders like bees coming into a hive.
>>
>> In the early part of July everything changes. Nearly all the hummers
>> dissappear. For the rest of the summer there are only 2 or 3 that come in
>> and out on an occasional basis.
>>
>> I've lived in this house for about 19 years now and the same event has
>> happened every single year.
>>
>> Can anybody help shed light on what's going on?
>>
>> Larry Baxter
>> Camano Island
>>
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>
>
> --
> Steve Loitz
> Seattle, WA
> steveloitz at gmail.com
>
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