birdsoup

At this time of year the most common questions at the store asked with a degree of surprise is “Do we have hummingbirds around here?  I have never seen one.”

Yes, there are hummingbirds in Lower Westchester.  Many people have never seen one in their backyard; others see them every year.  Why the big disparity?  People who see them have the right habitat and are good observers.  Hummingbirds are tiny, fast, always on the move, and easily dismissed as another insect.  In addition, many hummingbirds are just passing through moving farther north to better habitat.  So they only appear in your yard for a brief visit.  The best way to attract them to your yard and encourage them to linger for a while is to provide a hummingbird feeder and a variety of nectar-rich flowers.

Hummingbirds arrive in Westchester in early May, although a few are seen earlier.  I haven’t heard of any sightings so far this year.  The following link shows a map with the location and date when they were first  reported in 2012.  Looking at the chart you can trace their northward migration.

                              http://www.hummingbirds.net/map.html

Hummingbirds are fascinating birds.  Look for them soon in your yard.