The Baiting Hollow Hummingbird Sanctuary: Quiet opening day; Salvia guaranitica

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).

Friday, August 1, 2014

Quiet opening day; Salvia guaranitica

First, one more reminder that you MUST have an appointment (see right column of this blog) and current signed waiver to visit. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE AN APPOINTMENT YOU WILL BE REFUSED ENTRY AND YOUR JOURNEY WILL HAVE BEEN IN VAIN. This rule is being enforced strictly this year. In fairness to others, and to allow the sanctuary to continue, please respect this rule. Merely requesting an appointment is insufficient: you must have a confirmed appointment with a predated current waiver corresponding to your appointment slot. Currently available slots are posted to the right - more will be added soon.

It's been a typical nice quiet opening day with 3 cars this morning and 3 this afternoon. Everyone saw hummingbirds, including some nice chases - and the resident adult male is still around, though some of the juveniles are taking over part of his territory.

Here's a slo mo (8X) clip of a juvie feeding at Salvia guarantica (anise sage; ***). The most widely available version of this is "Black-and-Blue", which has black calyces at the flower base. However I prefer (though the birds don't) the regular species, with green calyces. Note the straight white band at the tip of the hummer's tail; the adult male has a forked tail and no white tip.

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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

Friday, August 1, 2014

Quiet opening day; Salvia guaranitica

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