MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • June 28, 2020
The most common question I receive is “where are the birds?!” One species that observers are especially attuned to is the ruby-throated hummingbird, typically the only species of hummingbird we see in Maine. They arrive in early May and are typically common in yards by Mother’s Day. But then by Father’s Day they are gone. Don’t worry, the hummingbirds are out there, they are just taking advantage of naturally-occurring food, which is generally more abundant and has a higher metabolic reward than sugar water. It won’t be long until hummingbirds will be back at your feeders. ~ Doug Hitchcox, Maine Audubon Staff Naturalist