The Baiting Hollow Hummingbird Sanctuary: Opening Dates/Times

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).

Monday, July 29, 2013

Opening Dates/Times

ALL VISITS AT YOUR OWN RISK!

The photo is another superb recent one by Rick Mei. The hummingbird is feeding at Salvia involucrata "Mulberry Jam".
We will open for the first time this season tomorrow afternoon (tues july 30) at 3 pm, until 5.30.
We will then open the following dates times (am = 9.30-12.30, pm = 3-5.30):
wed july 31 am,pm
thur aug 1 am,pm
fri aug 2 am OR pm (see blog) but not both
sat aug 3 am, pm
sun aug 3 am.
WE ALWAYS CLOSE 12.30-3; there are several excellent local restaurants, as well as vineyards and farmstands. If you do visit a local commercial establishment, please mention that you are visiting the hummingbird sanctuary.
We will also open most of the following 3 weeks - please check the blog for details. If possible please come during the week, when you can stay till closing time. If you come at the weekend and the parking lot is busy, please limit the length of your visit. There is no charge (and closely supervised children, but not dogs, are welcome) , though we welcome gifts of good hummingbird plants (e.g. bee balm, cardinal flower) and old but sturdy garden chairs. You visit at your own risk (WE DO NOT CARRY ANY INSURANCE) and the roads and paths are difficult. You should wear proper shoes, this is a nature sanctuary, not the mall!

New visitors must carefully read instructions and directions at lihummer.org, and should ring the bell on arrival and proceed.
Groups of 6 or more can make an appointment for a weekday private visit (email me at padams?notes.sunysb.edu, where you correct the ?). You can also email any other question you might have.

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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.

BASICS

Monday, July 29, 2013

Opening Dates/Times

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