Is it a myth that you need to take down your hummingbird feeder duing the off season?

Question

My dad takes it down because he says the birds will not migrate south unless you don't. I think it's baloney because don't they need nurishment on the way down there?!?!?!

Answer 1

I take mine down, only because they will freeze and crack. Plus by the time the birds being to migrate south, the ants get into the feeder since the birds are not keeping the levels low fast enough.

I also can’t feed during the early spring and late fall due to the bear that will get into anything left out during those months. That darn bear will grab the hummingbird feeder and drink the liquid. So, my song birds don’t have a feeder then either, but I start refilling it when the bear starts to hibernate.

The experts say to leave the feeder up as long as weather permits.

‘Hummingbirds migrate in response to hormonal changes, which are triggered by decreasing length of daylight; nothing you can do will make them stay too long, so it's not necessary to stop feeding them to force them to go south. On the contrary: they will need to fatten up to nearly double normal body weight to survive the journey, and thus appreciate your feeder more than ever up until literally the last minute before they depart.’

Answer 2

He's just messing with you. They migrate because of the cool nights and the shorter daylight hours. It doesn't really need to come down but the water in it will eventually freeze and break the feeder. Dad probably is just tired of looking at it and keeping it filled. The birds will find a way to eat on the way south, they have been doing it for a thousand years.

Answer 3

When to Take Down the Feeder
Hummingbirds will not delay migration if a feeder is present; they are driven by forces more powerful than hunger. If you live in the southeastern U.S., leaving a feeder up might attract one of the western hummers that visit the region in small numbers every winter

Answer 4

I live in the mountains of California; and it gets mighty cold up here. I continue to keep my feeders up (and clean and filled). Many hummingbirds migrate-it is ingrained in their being-but there are a couple of kinds that remain through the snow and freezing temps. My feeders freeze up inside--I just bring them in and let them thaw out--then hang them out again. I have 5 feeders, and in the peak season those little guys go through them everyday. But they do need to be cleaned regularly.

Answer 5

They will migrate due to the cold weather, not the feeders that are out along the way. You should take it down and clean it out once you notice that the hummingbirds seem to be gone.

Answer 6

The birds migrate whether you leave it up or not. I know when my birds have hit the road because I'm not filling up the feeder every day....that's around October. They head back sometime in March/April. We are in Delaware. I just put the feeder inside until it's time for them to come back.

Answer 7

relies upon on the place you reside, some hummingbirds, mutually with Anna's Hummingbird are non-migratory and could stick around for the wintry climate. in case you have some staying during the wintry climate, it is probable the main considered necessary time to feed them as there are actually not too many bugs, or nectar around. you need to leave a minimum of one up for stragglers.

Answer 8

I take mine down when the level stops going down. This tells me the birds are gone. It also prevents freezing and breakage of the feeder.

Answer 9

We take ours down when there is a chance of a freeze.