The Baiting Hollow Hummingbird Sanctuary: Opening july 20; Fred and Female/Juvie

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).

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Opening july 20; Fred and Female/Juvie

Our first open date this season will be july 20, followed by 21 and 22. More dates will be posted soon, until the end of the season sept 15. Please note WE ARE ONLY OPEN BY CONFIRMED APPOINTMENT, and for posted dates/times only. We open 10-12.30 and/or 3-5. Please email me at paul.adams#stonybrook.edu requesting a specific date and time; I will then send you visiting information and a confirmation of your appointment. Of course friends are welcome (and encouraged) to visit at any time (appointment also though please), but preferably not during our public open days/times. Always closed 12.30-3. Thanks!

I spent a pleasant hour or 2 this afternoon in the lower garden, and saw quite a lot of Fred, mostly perching on twigs about 7 feet above me, cleaning his beak, darting his tongue, briefly opening his beak probably to "chip" or "squeak" a warning, and above all watching in every direction for intruders. I suspected that he was spending a lot of time in this sector because of interlopers. Indeed, I filmed this guy at one of his bluff-top feeders while Fred was briefly absent. Note the white band on the tail tip, characteristic of females or juveniles. Note also the ascending bubbles as nectar is consumed.

Here's Fred at the same feeder.

and perching nearby, just above me.

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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

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Opening july 20; Fred and Female/Juvie

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