The Baiting Hollow Hummingbird Sanctuary: Open Tomorrow 9.30-12.30 and 3-6; deer; 99 year-olds

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, August 17, 2011

Open Tomorrow 9.30-12.30 and 3-6; deer; 99 year-olds

We will be open tomorrow am and pm (but closed from 12.30 to 3, as always). See lihummer.org for directions etc. Today was quite a good day, with quite a few hummers around, and they should stay until the wind shift to the north. One of our visitors today was 99 years old, and another only 2. 2 of our other, regular, visitors today were spotted fauns, who have doubled in size over the last month. Luckily they don't like the strong flavor of our salvias, our key hummingbird plants.

The afternoon tomorrow may have showers and thunder, but that should not deter hummers, and you can take shelter in the front cabin or under the front porch. If possible car pool because parking is limited, and if there are a lot of visitors, please do not stay too long.

The picture was taken yesterday by Cliff Dayton. It shows a young male feeding at red porterweed. Note the transparency of the wing.

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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, August 17, 2011

Open Tomorrow 9.30-12.30 and 3-6; deer; 99 year-olds

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