Date: 09/27/2023
Number: 16
We still have 10-12 or so resident juveniles with us, playing, chasing, and fattening up for their long first migration journey. We still have plenty of flowers for them all throughout the front, back, and side yards, along with 10 hummingbird feeders. Each feeder basically is the center of its own territory, surrounded by flowers.
I'm also beginning to see travelers coming through. It's always easy to distinguish them from my residents, as most of the travelers are not comfortable with me, at least at not initially. It's funny to watch them check things out, especially the feeders. We have red weather guards over our feeders, with red ant moats underneath, and then the feeders. The newbies always check out the multiple layers before trying out the feeder. It's fascinating to watch and see which birds have been around humans and feeders. Some go only to flowers. Our resident juvies get very worked up and fuss them out big time! Our last Ruby juvie left October 15th last year and our juvenile male Rufous arrived about a week later and stayed with us until the end of March, so we are observing and watching activity closely. God speed to all our migrating bird friends, both those leaving and those heading our way. We love them all dearly. â¤ï¸ So thankful the weather has been conducive to good traveling so far. We pray it continues to be the case.
Hummingbird/pollinator flowers that are still going strong: Gartenmeister fuchsia, about a dozen or so different varieties of Salvia, Vermillionaire cuphea, lots and lots of Butterly bush, Tithonia, Shrimp plant, Major Wheeler's honeysuckle, Lantana, and porter weed.
We still have lots of bumblebees. The butterflies are starting to wind down. Our Catbirds have also been heading out. Our Eastern bluebirds and Robins are starting to return from their summer vacation. After they finish nesting in July, they spend a couple months out in the country where the insects are plentiful. Thank goodness, the starlings haven't returned yet. It's always such a blessing to get some time off from them.
Kernersville, NC
Latitude: 36.1 Longitude: -80.1
Observed by: Sophie
Contact Observer
The observer's e-mail address will not be disclosed.
Contact will be made through a web-based form.