The Baiting Hollow Hummingbird Sanctuary: Fred snacks at bedtime; visiting procedures

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, May 29, 2017

Fred snacks at bedtime; visiting procedures

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The past few evenings, just after sunset, Fred has been feeding at a clump of Autumn Sage (Salvia greggeii "Autumn Sage") even though he completely ignores it throughout the day. Maybe it's because the light is better (though still not good) on the front deck than almost any other location, or maybe it's simply because that's the time I almost always sit there.
Happy Memorial Day everyone! - even though the weather continues wet, gray and cold on the unofficial start of summer.
Reminder: this will be our last year for public visitation, and only during the period july 20 - sept 15. Although you need an appointment to visit, you can only request this once the actual open days are posted at this blog, starting around july 15. Please do not request an appointment until the available dates are posted.

2 comments:

LindaJune 6, 2017 at 7:45 AM
A nice short blog. Your writing skills are amazing man and the way you have described the evening, just after sunset is amazing. The video is beautiful also.
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Sophie GraceSeptember 6, 2018 at 11:38 PM
This is a really good and inspirational video Thanks for sharing!unblocked games
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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.