Yesterday I saw the first male ruby-throat at the hummingbird feeder.

Woah is me, it was filled with *old* sugar-water.

Here's the thing... for the last few winters (even when it was "cold")
at least one of the female hummingbirds never left. So I again left the
feeder hanging rather than take it down in at the end of October.

One of those gals hung around during Hurricane Matthew. I'd taken the
feeder down (it hangs from a chain under the eaves in front of a plate
glass window; I was afraid the wind might make it swing and smash the
window). The bird flew up and looked for the feeder in the middle of a hurricane. Looked around like "Where the heck is the food?!" I
happened to be sitting at my desk in the corner in front of a window
where I can see the feeder. The hummingbird flew over to the window
behind my desk and hovered, sort of accusingly. I'm not kidding.
Where's the feeder?

I put on a slicker and some boots and went out in the tail end of a
hurricane hung the feeder back out.

The next year, no hurricame but the stubborn female bird didn't leave.
So I kept the feeder out and filled. I wondered why she didn't migrate
with the others. This went on for another year.

Then... Winter 2019 was the first time she didn't stick around. I left
the feeder out and did wash and refill it a couple of times. Ever
hopeful. :) But hummingbirds don't live long and this went on for a few
years so she's probably dead.

When the male showed up yesterday the nectar was *nasty*. Oh, please
don't drink that! I'll be right back! LOL

Took the feeder down, washed it and refilled it. Hung it back out. The
male didn't show back up but today a female found it. Apparently word
is spreading.

I'm going to miss that tough little lady who refused to migrate. I've
got no idea why she did but she sure went through some tough weather for
a few years all by herself.

If I can I'll try to get pictures of the hummers who are starting to
come around. It's only day two, and so far I've only seen two.

Jill

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