The Baiting Hollow Hummingbird Sanctuary: Open Today 9.30-12.30 and 3-sunset; ruby throats

BASICS

BASICS: "Hummingbirds.....where is the person, I ask, who, on observing this glittering fragment of the rainbow, would not pause, admire, and turn his mind with reverence..." (J. J. Audubon).

This is a blog about my summer life at the Baiting Hollow Hummingbird Sanctuary, at my winter garden, Calypso, in the Bahamas, and aspects of life in general.

This private sanctuary is now permanently closed to the general public, as a result of a lawsuit brought by a neighbor. Only my friends and personal guests may visit (paul.adams%stonybrook.edu).

Friday, August 26, 2011

Open Today 9.30-12.30 and 3-sunset; ruby throats

We will be open today from 9.30 to 12.30 then 3 to sunset. See lihummer.org for directions and info. Please do not bring food or drink if you come for sunset: let's keep it minimal. Depending on the storm, we might also open tomorrow, though only to those who have not yet visited this season.

The picture was taken yesterday by Melissa Hahn. It shows an adult male with a full ruby gorget, and the characteristic forked tale. I do not know whether this is the adult male who dominated the sanctuary throughout the summer, or a recent, transient, arrival from the north. However, the adult males are always the first to leave: once the females are no longer receptive there is no point in sticking around, since he plays no direct role in child-rearing.
The only hummingbird species that breeds east of the Mississippi is the ruby-throat (Archilocus colubris). Of course only the adult male has the full ruby throat. Many people believe that they get more females than males, because they mistake the young males for females (they have a white band on the tail, which is not forked, and only a trace of throat color). However, there are equal numbers of males and females. Sir Ronald Fisher, the famous founder of population genetics (and, largely, statistics) showed long ago that if sex is genetically controlled, genes producing equal male/female numbers will always get preferentially selected. A beautiful example of how science explains what everyone already thought they knew, but didn't really.

1 comment:

UnknownAugust 26, 2011 at 12:30 PM
Hi, How can i post pics?

Thanks!

Paula
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FAQs

1. How can I visit? Unless you are an invited friend or personal guest of the owner, Paul Adams, you cannot. The sanctuary is now permanently closed to the general public.

2.Why did the sanctuary close? The sanctuary opened, on a very limited basis, during 1998-2017. However, a neighbor, Kamal Bherwani, and 2 former neighbors, Fred Terry and Shawn Hamilton, brought a $3 million lawsuit, and forced complete and permanent closing. The plaintiffs claimed, incorrectly, that the sanctuary was a "commercial business". Though no evidence for this claim was, or could be, produced, the owner decided to settle the lawsuit and permanently close.

3. When do the hummingbirds arrive and leave, and where do they go for the winter?

They arrive on Long Island late april, and early may. They leave between aug 1 and oct 1. The adult males arrive and leave first, then the adult females, then the young, in order of fledging. They all go to central America via the Gulf of Mexico.

3. What varieties do we have at the sanctuary?

Only the ruby-throat (only the adult male has the ruby throat). This is the only one that breeds east of the Mississipi. The US has about 9 other species but they are all western.

4. Why are there rocks in the trees? How long have you had this place?

I have had the property for 27 years and each year I put a new rock to mark the beginning of a new hummingbird season (may 1).

5. What is the best place to sit to see hummingbirds?

On your bottom! Since you may have to wait a bit choose the spot that best suits you.

6. How can I attract hummers to my yard?

Plant cardinal flower (right variety!) and black-and-blue salvia, maintain a couple of small clean feeders, both placed where you spend a lot of time outdoors (or in front of a picture window). Read this blog or lihummer.org for further suggestions.