The Baiting Hollow Hummingbird Sanctuary: Initial Hummingbird Videos at the Sanctuary; Visiting

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).

Saturday, May 20, 2017

Initial Hummingbird Videos at the Sanctuary; Visiting

Here are a couple of rather poor clips showing the adult male (I presume it's "Fred", from previous years - though it could be "Son of Fred") in residence at the Baiting Hollow Hummingbird Sanctuary. The top one shows him perching at the tip of a dead black pine tree, located part way down the eastern slope of the western valley. From this spot he gets an excellent view of this valley (though since it's quite far away and not on my property) I do not get an excellent view of him. He spends most of his time scrutinizing his territory for either intruders or potential mates. But sometimes he very briefly visits one of my feeders. The second video shows him perching on a branch just above a feeder.

We will be open to visitors (by appointment only) certain days during the period july 20 - sept 15. Details of available dates and how to obtain an appointment will be posted in july at this blog. Please note no appointments can be made until the exact available dates are posted. Do not request an appointment until available dates are announced. This will be the last summer I open the sanctuary to the public, because the settlement of the lawsuit (brought by a neighbor) to which I agreed stipulates that public visitation will cease after sept 15 2017. However I will of course continue to welcome visits by friends and personal guests.

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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

Saturday, May 20, 2017

Initial Hummingbird Videos at the Sanctuary; Visiting

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