The Baiting Hollow Hummingbird Sanctuary: Closed Today; Salvia greggii

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, August 5, 2012

Closed Today; Salvia greggii

We are closed today (private groups are visiting: please contact me, via lihummer.org, if you would like to reserve time for your photography/birding/plant/kid group). I hope to be open monday afternoon, and much of the rest of the week, but please check this blog for confirmation.
The photo, by Mike Chachkes, shows a hummingbird at Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii) "Cherry Queen". Actually, it's probably a hybrid between "Furman's Red" S. greggii and S. blepharopylla (you can also see one of these at the sanctuary). Though not really a perennial it is often winter-hardy in a sheltered, well-drained location, and many of mine came back through the mild winter. It starts to bloom when hummers arrive in early may and keeps going till frost. However, it does tend to sprawl. And the flowers are a brilliant red.
There are many variations and cultivars of S. greggii, all excellent hummer plants. However, the brilliant red of Cherry Queen does seem to attract their attention!
Thanks to Mike and to all those who are sending me great pictures taken at the sanctuary.
I hope to post the best of them in the coming days.

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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

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Closed Today; Salvia greggii

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