Wanderer2 Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains

I live in the Rockies at 7820 feet above sea level and when I arose yesterday (5/21) at 6AM it was snowing heavily, there was 12 inches of snow (none the day before), and 24 degrees. Several Hummingbirds had arrived in the previous two weeks and I was immediately concerned if they had survived. After dark the day previously I had taken in the sugar water feeder I had been putting out and now wondered if there was anything to be gained by putting it out again in such weather. But I decided to do so and hung it from a post on one of our decks. To my great astonishment, by the time I had gone 4 steps to the house door a Hummer was on it feeding!!! In pouring snow and 24 degrees!

Soon there was some congestion on the feeder so I filled and put out a second one at the opposite edge of the deck and while I was standing there hanging it another Hummer was hovering 1 - 2 feet away waiting for me to finish. As soon as I did it began feeding. This continued all day and after dark I took the two feeders in. This morning (the snow had stopped and it was a bit warmer) I hung them again and for awhile there was no activity and my heart sank, fearing they had died during the cold, cold night. However, after awhile they did start visiting the feeders, although not in the numbers of the day before.

This was my first experience in about 50 years of bird watching of seeing Hummingbirds being active in snowfall and sub freezing temperatures. Perhaps others have and I would like to hear those experiences. I have uploaded one of the many photos I took and would like to add a few more but can't find how to do that. The photos are of poor technical quality because of the falling snow, bird movement, and my having to shoot through window glass. Sorry I couldn't do better.

Attached file:
(Download)

NMGal Loc: NE NM

Bless you for putting the feeder out.

lnewcome

The poor babes at least, they are not chasing each other away. Beautiful picture. Linda

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

They need that fuel to keep their body/muscles warm and have energy to move and fly.
Experts say that they are insect eating machines that are fueled by nectar/sugars.

JRiepe Loc: Southern Illinois

I took my feeder down after having not one bird in two and one half weeks and there's certainly no snow in southern Illinois.

TrishV Loc: Now living on Whidbey Island, WA

We live in western Washington and do get snow - not nearly the amount you would - and yes they do hang around so I take the feeders in at night and get up just as it is starting to get light and hang them out so that they have something there for when they first get up. I am attaching two photos of hummingbirds in the snow and as you will see it shows one actually bathing whilst it was still snowing.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

Thank you for feeding these delightful creatures!
Best Wishes,
JimmyT Sends
Bravo Zulu

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Awesome captures 💚❤️💚❤️💚

Hereford Loc: Palm Coast, FL

If the ever needed that extra food, it's now.

Wanderer2 Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains

Thanks for the replies, much appreciated. Today it was in the 50s and a lot of the snow melted. However I only saw two or three Hummers all day which is much fewer than usual. I hope that was not because of deaths last night when it was still around freezing. I wonder if they are able to learn that they could get to an altitude only a few direct miles to the east from here (at the beginning of the great plains) where it is 2500 feet lower than here and warmer. I can hope for something like that but have no idea of it is a realistic hope.

Thanks again.

lnewcome

No lie. I remember a 4th of July in WV that had flurries drifting down. Linda