The Baiting Hollow Hummingbird Sanctuary: OPEN TOMORROW 3-6; Mulberry Jam

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, August 8, 2011

OPEN TOMORROW 3-6; Mulberry Jam

We will be open tomorrow (tuesday) afternoon from 3 to 6. The wind is turning to the north and I expect that some hummers will leave tomorrow early, but then it will turn to the east and then SE, so more might arrive by the afternoon. We had a large private group visit here this afternoon, and while numbers are still low, everyone saw plenty of hummers. Curiously, most of the hummers are at feeders, not flowers. Usually at this time of year we see inexperienced juveniles, who prefer flowers.

For directions and other information, please see lihummer.org.

We will be adding more dates soon, influenced by the weather, and the number of hummingbirds. Sorry to keep people on tenterhooks - please be patient.

Thanks to Aram Mirzadeh for the picture, which shows a young hummer (note the white band on the end of the tail) feeding at Salvia involucrata "Mulberry Jam".

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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

Monday, August 8, 2011

OPEN TOMORROW 3-6; Mulberry Jam

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