The Baiting Hollow Hummingbird Sanctuary: Too cool! Be sure of your appointment requests.

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 8, 2014

Too cool! Be sure of your appointment requests.

The above really cool image was snagged at the sanctuary yesterday morning by Bob Imoor. He used a 1/3200 shutter speed, which freezes the rapidly moving wing. It was taken without flash - the light on the front deck overlooking the Sound is very intense.

But the weather is too cool too! In particular the wind is from the north, and I suspect some of my hummers have taken off south on their annual migration, eventually to Central America. We saw rubythroats last year in Costa Rica at thanksgiving. When will summer (= warm weather) start?

Almost everyone is being very considerate and cooperative in sticking to our rules, making appointments, bringing waivers. Thanks, I appreciate it. For the very very few who don't think rules apply to them, I suppose there's nothing I can say, except that your behavior makes it possible the sanctuary could close. But these folks don't even check the blog.

Plenty of available slots for appointments monday and wednesday next week, and more slots soon upcoming. But please check carefully that you will actually be able to come for your appointment before emailing your request: I'm getting a lot of cancellations, which involves unnecessary work particularly for me.

To end up with, here's a recent video.

2 comments:

sunsetsAugust 9, 2014 at 8:52 PM
Hi Paul, I've emailed for an appt for 8/22 or23, 24 or 26th. Is it too soon to request those dates? My mother in law and my family are looking forward to a visit!
Thanks,
Amy
Amysepe@gmail.com
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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.