The Baiting Hollow Hummingbird Sanctuary: Hummers already on Long Island!

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, April 14, 2014

Hummers already on Long Island!

The following picture was taken yesterday by Melissa Hahn at her home in Suffolk County! They're here! Of course the first arrivals are the adult males, with the brilliant ruby gorget. They establish their breeding territories before the females (who get second choice) arrive. Make sure your feeders are out, and maybe a male will pick your yard as his territory.

3 comments:

UnknownApril 18, 2014 at 9:53 AM
I wonder where this is in Suffolk County ... I haven't seen any yet in East Hampton ... we had 3 last summer and I am so hoping for returns this summer ... Just found out about your Sanctuary and very much looking forward to visiting in August if your neighbors (who do not seem very neighborly to me) are not successful in closing it down.
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UnknownMay 7, 2014 at 10:04 AM
I just saw my first hummer of the season on my feeder in Bayport last night. It was a male.
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PaulMay 8, 2014 at 6:59 AM
I've had a couple of other reports from Long Island of recently arrived males. So they really have arrived, mostly a bit later than the vanguard one photographed above. Let's hope the season is a long and good one! I return soon to Long Island to see for myself.
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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.