Date: 08/19/2010

Number: 1

The family of Ruby Throat Hummers in the Oak in our backyard appears to have been preparing for the journey south. Over the last week both this family and last years, in an Oak 100 feet to the south, have gone through 48 oz of liquid feed.

The total number seen so far at one time at a feeder appears to be about 6 Ruby Throat-ed immature or female hummers. Of these two of the number have shown a fine white spotted pattern on their tails as they flash about in the Cherry tree where we added another feeder last week to handle the extra demand.

It appears between the two families, there should be about an additional 6 hummers going south this year. This morning after refreshing the feeders the number showing up has dropped to three total. The dominate female appears to have hung on and two of the young from the southern Oak tree are still about.

(At first I thought it was the mix or ants. I washed everything with warm salt water. This afternoon I bought all new liquid concentrate and refilled both feeders. I checked that the bottom reservoir was full and replaced the feeders. Only three came to investigate the change. I suspect that either last nights rain chased some of them south along the advance of the dryer, cooler air or they had been preparing for the trip and simply choose to ride the front south. This appears early!)

Graham, NC

Latitude: 36 Longitude: -79.3

Observed by: l. david
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