First Hummingbird, and it's snowing....

[Hummer]

Yesterday afternoon, we had our first hummingbird of the year when we heard a male Black-chinned Hummingbird fly around the house.He went to each of the three feeders that are out now.

We've seen him throughout the day today and I snapped a quick photo of him. The occasional rain just turned into a freaking blizzard with 40 mph winds and horizontal snow. Hummers can brave the cold as long as they have food resources. Time to get out those feeders, clean them up and mix sugar to water at 1:4 ratio.





April 12 is a pretty early date. April 15-20 is closer to the average early date.

[jerrymrc]

It is snowing and I just brought the feeder in. Have to put it out tomorrow.

[GilpinGuy]

Man, I'm a sucker for the hummers (that sounds bad). I put out 4 feeders every year and have to fill them all twice a week. I love these little guys.

I haven't seen one yet, but they'll be here soon.

[Bailey Guns]

Typically the last week of April before we see them here in Bailey. I enjoy having them around.

[Hummer]

There are two species of hummingbirds that breed in CO, the Broad-tailed Hummingbird of the mountains (generally above 5500 ft. elevation to timberline); and the Black-chinned Hummingbird that lives in drier lowland country generally below 6500 ft. The first males of both species will typically begin arriving around April 15. A few are reported earlier but the bulk of the population will be here by late April and early May. The first arrivers, usually males looking to establish breeding territories, are just as likely to be seen in the northern mountains with several feet of snow on the ground as those that use lower elevation habitat.

Since there are no flowers in the mountains until mid to late May, the birds feed on insects unless sugar water feeders are available. Feeders help give those hardy early birds a better chance of surviving spring storms. The sugar in solution will be protected from freezing down to about 27 degrees. A lamp aimed at a feeder can keep it thawed even in below zero temps.

Here, you can see how I use a plastic plate to keep falling snow from clogging the ports on a feeder:




For a tiny 3.5 gram bird, hummingbirds are pretty tough critters. Proportionate to body size they have the largest breast muscles (for forward, reverse and upside down flight) of any animal. The also have the largest heart, lungs, brain and kidneys....

This morning we watched one chase a magpie around the house.

[rondog]

I'd love to attract some hummers - You guy's just use water and sugar 4:1? I've never had any luck with that red shit.

Ain't nothing like a nice hummer.....