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Re: Hummer Migration



We get buzzed a few times a day by south bound hummers, during the Caesar's Head
Hawkwatch in September and October.

Jeff Catlin
Marietta, SC
jco@viperlink.net

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jack Dozier" <jdozier@nettally.com>
To: "CarolinaBirds" <carolinabirds@duke.edu>
Sent: Saturday, March 08, 2003 1:32 PM
Subject: Re: Hummingbird Super-stimulus Experiment 2003


> At 08:30 AM 3/7/03 -0500, Harry Legrand wrote:
> I just saw a personal comment from someone about this, and agree that
> this is close to a hoax. I did check out the website to see if this is
> some cruel hoax, and it seems to be legit!
>
> As far as I know, hummingbirds migrate at night. If so, they presumably
> fly a thousand or more feet above ground and would not see the fake
> hummingbird feeder because of distance or darkness. The website mentions
> that hummingbirds migrate by day at treetop height. That is news to me.
>
> If anyone else has information about hummingbird migration (day versus
> night, etc.), could you please enlighten us?
>
> Harry LeGrand
>
>
> I don't know how they choose to travel once they are acclimated to Land
> Ho!, but I have seen them arrive in mid afternoon from the Gulf, traveling
> about 15' above water level.  Whether this is just the tired ones is not
> known.  I may have missed any higher birds.  Usually they continue to the
> first wooded/vegetated cover, presumably to find sustenance.  In the Spring
> Rubythroats can be seen around flowers on barriers islands in increasing
> numbers as the day goes by.  Changing numbers of individuals about flowers
> here lead one to presume that some move on after feeding or encountering
> heavy competition.
>
> I have not gone to the tower kill studies, but as memory serves, hummers
> aren't heavy victims.  I have seen them hover just over tree top level and
> fly about neighborhoods (along the coast).  This seems to be the height one
> particular Rufous Hummingbird traveled from one feeder to another about one
> mile away, and another did the same to a somewhat closer feeder.  I would
> think they are primarily day migrants, maybe both by day and night to some
> degree, although due to their energy requirements, I suspect day migrating
> is usual.
>
> Jack Dozier
> Alligator Pt., FL
> jdozier@nettally.com
>