winter hummers (1 Viewer)

ptickner

Well-known member

• Jan 7, 2014

• #1

With the great cold snap bearing down on much of the US, I thought I'd share a photo of my parent's rufous hummingbird in north Georgia. Here she is at the feeder at 8 deg. F (-13 C) today. They've switched to a Hummzinger brand saucer-type feeder, which acts as a perfect lid for the small crock pot of hot water, which keeps the feeder from freezing. We'll see how she makes out tomorrow, which is supposed to be 2 deg. F (-17 C).

Any other winter hummers (Arizona and SoCal doesn't count!)?

 

Attachments

• 
  winterhummer.jpg

  105.2 KB · Views: 70

Lisa W

I really need to get out and bird more

Staff member

Supporter

• Jan 7, 2014

• #2

Darn, we here in AZ don't count
Actually I live in the "high" desert and don't see many hummers between November and late January. Let us know how that little fellow makes out. The crock pot is an interesting way of keeping the sugar water from freezing. Never would have thought of it.

 

ptickner

Well-known member

• Jan 7, 2014

• #3

I guess Bisbee might count

The wind was really bad (wind chill well below zero), so more indirect methods of trying to keep the feeder warm weren't working too well. There have been lots of swapping out feeders every 20-30 minutes before they came up with the crock pot. Fortunately they are both retired, so they have time on their hands!

The hummer is a FY female who first showed up in Mid-October, and was banded by researchers from the GA Hummer Study Group.

 

Attachments

• 
  GArufous2.jpg

  118 KB · Views: 56

ptickner

Well-known member

• Jan 7, 2014

• #4

Update - I just received word that she made it through the night, which got down to zero (-18 c), and has been drinking quite a bit this morning.

Not out of the woods yet, but it is supposed to start gradually warming and shouldn't be that cold again.

 

Lisa W

I really need to get out and bird more

Staff member

Supporter

• Jan 8, 2014

• #5

Thanks for the update, glad she made it. Hopefully all will end well.

 

Little SuperBirder

Addicted to Birds

• Jan 9, 2014

• #6

Wish I got more rare birds in my yard! I guess I can't complain though... I've gotten quite a few nice ones over the past two years: Eastern Phoebe, Tropical Kingbird, Snow Geese, Gray Flycatcher (winter bird), and Mountain Bluebird.

 

The F stops here

This guy...

• Jan 16, 2014

• #7

Glad to hear she made it through. Have a bit of a soft spot for hummers ||