[obol] A Tree for Hummingbirds

[John Thomas]

We have an "exotic," a Silk Tree (sometimes a problem in other areas when it
spreads) that our hummingbirds just are crazy about. It starts blooming in
early July and they just descend on it like honey bees to a field of clover.
And they are on it until they leave in August -though once in awhile an
immature will hang on a few more weeks into September-always on the Silk
Tree.

We have lots of shrubs and flowers for the hummingbirds but are always
amazed at how attached to this tree they seem to be! I usually don't see
this tree on lists of plants to attract hummingbirds probably due to its
exotic background. But it is a winner when it comes to attracting
hummingbirds so I thought I would mention it on this forum.

As for the hummingbird population: we have not done a count but we have
enough numbers to keep 3 feeders going down and lots of buzzing and cussing
activity all day long around the house. If I try to think back to all the
years we have fed hummingbirds, we are down a little from maybe 10 years ago
but have rebounded from a few years with fewer numbers. Those years had
hummingbirds just disappear for weeks after heavy local farm spraying
(upwind, unfortunately).

We had a male Rufous about 5 days ago. We think he was a migrant going south
and dropping by for a swig and rest. Our main male(s) seem to have left
several weeks ago now.


Good HummingBirding,
John Thomas
Silverton