The Baiting Hollow Hummingbird Sanctuary: CLOSED TODAY SUNDAY; attracting hummers

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 18, 2013

CLOSED TODAY SUNDAY; attracting hummers

We are closed today (sunday aug 18) for 2 private groups. Both groups are regular visitors to the sanctuary, and have contributed wonderful photos and hummingbird plants. If you are a member of a camera, garden or birding club, consider arranging a private visit. This offers several advantages: you can bring equipment, carpool, exchange information, and stay longer. The public is excluded from such events.
We are also sometimes closed for a variety of other reasons; please respect our closings and stay away. We can only operate if people are thoughtful and respectful of what we do. We are not in this to make money (far from it!) but to share our joy in these marvelous little birds. But almost everyone on Long Island can make their own backyard into a little hummer haven, with regular hummingbird activity., though it takes more effort than rural off-isand locations. Here are some simple steps towards that goal.
(1) plants "black and blue" salvia, and other 3/4 star plants like coral honeysuckle and cardinal flower
(2) provide a few clean feeders with fresh clear sugar water (1:4 ratio)
(3) provide open areas and trees with some dead branches, for perching
(4) spend lots of time near your flowers and feeders; you don't need to watch, just listen for the buzz.

We should be open most slots next week, but please check the blog for details, and only come if you have a printed signed waiver. Hummers were quite active yesterday, and should remain so until we get a good north wind.

The recent photo is by Martin Stone. Thanks Martin!

1 comment:

CaroleAugust 18, 2013 at 9:02 PM
Dear Paul, I requested a waiver a few days ago as a few of the members of our 4-H club are interested in visiting this summer. Reading today's blog, though, I'm wondering if you are open to us requesting a group tour. Our club has 18 children, ages 5-10, and 10 parents; that would be a maximum number, as I doubt everyone could make it on the same day. We'd happily donate plants, and the visit would probably lead to our members doing a project or presentation on hummingbirds at a 4-H fair later in the year. I realize you're only open for a few more weeks, so this request may be unfeasible, but I thought I'd try. My email is carole dot vandevelde at gmail dot com. Thanks so much for hosting such a terrific destination!

Carole
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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.