Right now is the peak of the Ruby Throated hummingbird season, so it’s especially important to keep your feeders clean and filled with fresh nectar.

While you may not have seen many earlier in the season, due to nesting, they are plentiful now. Fledglings and adults alike are busy bulking up on insects and nectar for their long migration flight to Central America, going as far south as Panama. In the next few weeks, all will migrate, with males leaving first, followed by females and fledglings.

By the end of September, all will be gone, but it is very important to leave your feeders up for at least two weeks after you see the last one. This helps any stragglers or those migrating from north of here. It’s always sad when they leave, but they’ll be back again next April, with many returning to the same exact location.

-Article by Dave Katz