Hummingbirds: Less visible but present
If you’re wondering where your hummingbirds have gone, you’re not alone. Every June many (but not all) backyard birders start to see a dip in hummingbird activity. Mama hummingbirds are busy nesting and they feed their young ones live insects. Males are still active at feeders, but you may not happen to see many. Lots of flowers are blooming and insects are plentiful, so natural food sources are more available to hummingbirds now than when they first started to arrive in April.
The combination of females focused on nesting and more food everywhere means that your feeders just aren’t the go-to spot they were in April and May. However, don’t despair. The busiest hummingbird season is just around the corner. MidJuly through mid-September is a crazy time for hummingbird activity. By then, babies have fledged and are visiting your feeder along with both their parents.
Furthermore, the bossy rufous hummingbirds have returned. The rufous nests in the Pacific Northwest up to Alaska but the males (followed shortly by females and young) start to move south through New Mexico in early to mid-July. So, until then, keep feeding, but make sure your sugar water is fresh. Change it at least twice a week whether you are seeing hummingbirds or not. If you continue to provide fresh nectar, you’ll probably have some action before it gets really crazy in a few weeks.
This is the season when baby birds are everywhere and sometimes cause us backyard birders some concern. If a nestling, (no feathers or fuzzy downy feathers and obviously defenseless), falls out of a nest, put it back if you can locate the nest. Birds are not bothered by your scent. That is an old wives’ tale.
If the baby is a fledgling, (larger size-with flight feathers), then it’s probably left the nest and is trying to learn to fly. One or more of its parents is probably nearby keeping an eye out for the youngster and making sure it has enough food.
Don’t try to rescue fledglings. Yes, they are vulnerable and pretty defenseless during this stage, but in a few days they will hopefully learn to manage mostly on their own. Certainly keep pets away from fledglings.
If you find an injured bird, call the Wildlife Center in Espanola at 505-753-9505. They do excellent work and rehab injured birds and other animals. Go to their website for more detailed information.
We all know how hot and dry it has been. Believe me, the birds feel it too. A good habitat full of native plants, trees, flowers, and shrubs goes a long way toward providing an oasis for birds in hot weather, but placing at least one birdbath in your backyard is very important. I like to use shallow baths, no more than two inches deep. I have two elevated baths and one ground bath and have placed them where I can see them.
Every day I give my three birdbaths a quick brushing, empty out old water and fill them with fresh cool water. I leave my brush outside under a bath and keep my hose ready. This takes just a minute or two each day but can make a real difference to birds, especially with the weather we’ve been having.
Young birds are beginning to leave the nest and it is awfully nice if parents can show their fledglings where to go to find fresh water. You’ll also see parents guiding their youngsters toward your feeders.
Anne Schmauss is the co-owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in Santa Fe and she loves to hear your bird stories. She is the author of For the Birds: A Month by Month Guide to Attracting Birds to Your Backyard and Birdhouses of the World.