The Baiting Hollow Hummingbird Sanctuary: October 2017

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).

Sunday, October 29, 2017

More Rain, and More Summer Vids

Saturday, October 14, 2017

Feeding in the Rain

Just at sunset (it's now setting over western Long Island) the rain stopped.

The rain today reminded me of these videos of hummers in the rain

Thursday, October 12, 2017

spot the hummingbird

One of the last videos of the 20017 season. At first it's difficult to spot the hummer!

Monday, October 9, 2017

from http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/calliope-hummingbird

I got word that a Calliope hummingbird - the US's smallest - from western states such as as Oregon and Washington - has been spotted in Baiting Hollow, though not (yet) at the sanctuary, so I was keeping an eye out for it, without success. But instead here are a couple more videos from september, featuring favorites such as jewelweed and shrimp plant.

Thursday, October 5, 2017

Ladies and More Monarchs

I have never seen so many Painted Ladies as the last few days, and lots of monarchs too.

Sunday, October 1, 2017

Hummer!

After several days with no sighting I was happy to see one hummer several times, visiting the feeder hanging in the doorway of the front cabin:

While waiting for him, I filmed a lot of monarchs

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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.