The Baiting Hollow Hummingbird Sanctuary: LaLa and Mme W Update

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).

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

LaLa and Mme W Update

We had, and are still having, 3 days of torrential rain (5 inches total) coupled with very strong north winds, which have driven water through various cracks and crannies in the houses, and caused the power to go off for 18 hours (we are at the end of a remote narrow road between North Palmetto Point and Double Bay, on Eleuthera) - but the good news is that Mme W is still hanging in there, protecting her eggs and keeping the nest fairly dry - no obvious damage. I hope to get video tomorrow if things dry out a bit.

It seems that LaLa is doing okay too: here's a report from Johnny at around 9.30 this morning:

"She is strong and feisty this morn! I watched her Feeding on new feeders I put out replacing the frozen ones. I did not see her using the heated feeder but she must be as all the others were frozen until I arrived around 930 am. She is also confidently defending her area against local chickadees and titmice trying to drink from the ant moats above the feeders! Long way to go but she's off to a solid start!"

I have to say Johnny, that, since she's been there since at least nov 17, she's well beyond a solid start!

1 comment:

UnknownJanuary 7, 2016 at 11:55 AM
We are all so happy that La La is doing so well, despite the weather conditions.
She must be a pretty tough bird.

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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.