The fall migration for some bird species begins pretty early. It feels that way to me anyway. We are in mid-September…the days are still warm and the getting is good for bugs and flowers.
But this is about the time when the dominant male hummers start to leave on their southward journey. I wish I knew where he was going but no doubt it will be a place filled with flowers and bugs, and maybe a feeder or two.
The little birds are about the size of your thumb and they are tiny powerhouses full of energy. That’s a good thing too because they’ll travel to the southern US, or Mexico to spend the winter. Some may go down into Central America, and fly non-stop over the gulf to get there.
This male controlled and protected his feeder all summer long. Once he left a second male came in for a few days and then he too left on migration. Sub-adult males usually come next and will act just like the old boys…chasing away any other hummer who wants to take a drink.
Then it seems to be the adult females (who are often tolerated by the males), then the youngsters of the year are the last to leave. We still have 3 or 4 around and I’ll enjoy my remaining time with them as much as I can.