As summer winds down and the birds go into molt a lot of questions arise. Why does
that birds head look blue? Is that a bald headed bird? When should we take down hummingbird feeders? Will keeping the feeder up too long keep the hummers from migrating south? This time of year is usually a bad time for mites that attack birds. They can become so numerous the head feathers disappear and the head appears to be blue. This is common with blue jays, cardinals and sometimes brown thrashers. As far as hummingbirds are concerned it is fine to leave your feeders up until you haven’t see one for over a month.
I like to tell folks you don’t have to tell them when to leave any more than you have to draw a map and show them where to go. All of that info is in their DNA and they will leave when appropriate. However, if you keep your nectar clean and decide to leave the feeder out for the winter, you might get a wonderful surprise. Here in central South Carolina we usually host several species of hummingbirds in the winter that we don’t otherwise see. I have seen Anna’s, Black-chinned, Calliope, and Rufous hummingbirds right here in the Midlands in winter.
Jim is a lifelong resident of Columbia, and graduated from University High School and attended USC for four years. He had an early introduction to birds and their behavior from a great uncle that lived with his family. “Uncle Talley” knew birds and instilled a love for them by teaching the three boys in the family to identify birds from an early age. Jim has been a lifelong birder.
In 1993 he and his wife Jackie, brought Wild Birds Unlimited to Columbia. Today Jim and Jackie own only one store and that is on Forest Drive where he still helps people enjoy the wonderful hobby of bird feeding. If you have questions regarding birds, please email Jim at Jkcolumbia@aol.com.
