An open letter to Lilly,
It is time for me to send my hummingbirds south for the winter. They have been stocking up on food for their long journey south. They may stop to do some sightseeing along the way but I would expect them to arrive mid-October. I am entrusting them to your care over the winter, but don’t forget to send them back our way next spring.



Shame Maralee… must feel like the family are leaving you to face the cold alone…
It does. Part of me wants to keep food out for them, but then when the really cold weather hits they may not survive the long trip south. So I know it’s best to let them go. Sigh . . .
Ha! Thank you. I will care for them and protect them from the neighbor’s cats! Tell them to leave Tuxedo for shorts and a tank top. 🙂
By the time they get there, they will have shed all of their clothes to bask in the warmth there.
🙂
They can always stay at my warm place in BC, Canada.
Do you have hummingbirds all year round? Lucky you. 🙂
Yes, lucky me. 😛
Here on the Oregon coast we have a bunch that stay the winter. Then there’s a springtime migration that comes barreling through (the feisty ones squabbling over feeders) that keep me putting out a gallon of food per day. They move on elsewhere after a few weeks. But those weeks are a thrill as they dive bomb me, some even hovering over the empty feeders as I carry them into the house.
That would be fun to see. We don’t have quite that much activity here. I’ve had two that have been fighting a bit the last couple of days but usually they just come one at a time.
Oh, I do understand. The males left a few weeks ago, and the females departed last week. I miss their daily visits. Will not see them until next April.
I felt so terrible when I took their food away and they were hanging around the spot where the food was. But I know it’s for the best.
Such wonderful hummingbird captures. Not an easy task and well done Maralee.
Thanks, Bella.
Hi Maralee, there are times when i am thankful that we only have the dry and wet seasons here in the islands … pretty much a simple lifestyle and adjustment in weather changes. but then, with how globally times have changed, our wet seasons have extended till Christmas … not a cozy way to celebrate the holidays …
your photos always teem with life … thank you for sharing them with us — April
What islands are you on? I lived in Hawaii for 25 years when we didn’t have much change of season other than rain.
Hi Maralee … islands of the Philippines … i just fancy calling the country as “islands”, we have after all 7,100 of them 🙂