The Baiting Hollow Hummingbird Sanctuary: Open Today (Thur) 9.30-12.30 and 3-5.30; Rosebud Salvia

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).

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Open Today (Thur) 9.30-12.30 and 3-5.30; Rosebud Salvia

We are open today (thursday) am (i.e. from 9.30 to 12.30) and pm (3-5.30). Closed 12.30 - 3 so for lunch try the Lobster Roll near the south end of Terry Farm Road, and visit their new Tasting Room.
I've given up predicting activity levels - it seems to vary hour to hour, but there will be hummers around, though you may have to be patient. See lihummer.org for info, directions and instructions.

The image, by Bill Stamatis, shows a hummer feeding at Rosebud Salvia (S. involucrata). In previous posts I have referred to this incorrectly as Rosebay salvia). It's called "rosebud" because of the unusual pink knob at the end of the flower stalk. This gradually opens to release more flowers. It's a wonderful hummingbird plant - as good as Anise Sage (often sold as the cultivar "Black and Blue"). It comes mainly in 2 varieties, "Mulberry Jam", which is shorter than "Bethellii" (which I beleive to be closer to the species). The former flowers earlier, but the hummers like the tall spikes of the latter. One can often observe that a hummer will linger for several second at each individual flower, a sure sign of abundant nectar.

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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

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Open Today (Thur) 9.30-12.30 and 3-5.30; Rosebud Salvia

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