The Baiting Hollow Hummingbird Sanctuary: It's June and Hummingbirds (and I) are here!

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, June 1, 2012

It's June and Hummingbirds (and I) are here!

I'm now spending more time at the sanctuary, and getting plants in the ground for our re-opening, at the beginning of august (it's possible we might have a few sneak open days prior to that; details will be posted here; please do not attempt to visit outside of announced open times). I see both a male and female hummingbird every day, but only very rarely and briefly - nesting is in progress.
Here is a picture of my crossvine (Bignonia capreolata) in flower (a good hummingbird plant, and very rare on Long Island).

It is quite old and very high in a mulberry tree. The flowers are about 2 inches long. It is normally found on the Georgia coast Sea Islands!

Exciting news! - there's a new store on Long Island (in Medford) devoted exclusively to hummingbird plants - see lihummingbirdplants.com. I've not yet had a chance to check it out but will report here when I do.

I will post more information about the Sanctuary (the number one hummingbird sanctuary in the world according to Google!), hummingbird and other plants, and hummingbirds on Long Island here at this blog in the coming days.

1 comment:

IcemanJune 24, 2012 at 2:14 PM
Great that you are back! I've been seeing them all throughout June as well. My Monarda is about 6 feet high and blooming profusely - so they are spending lots of time in there, along with the Salvia Guaranitica, and today, in the blooming Crocosmia.
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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.