Hello VAbirders,
Since I was the culprit who first posted the article from Massachusetts
about wintering hummingbirds one would think I might have learned, but I
tread here once again with great care. I have permission from David
Sibley to post a comment he sent to the Massachusetts network on the
hummingbird debate:
I think this is an interesting and very worthwhile discussion, and while
attempting not to get too involved in the debate over the general pros and
cons of bird feeding, I wanted to support the comments of Mark Szantyr and
Brian Krisler. I think the general rule is that birds migrate when their
bodies tell them to migrate, and in the direction that their brains compel
them. Many of us provide lots of high-quality food all winter, but it
neverinduces Tree Sparrows to stay later than April. Virtually all of the
Ruby-throated hummingbirds migrate south while feeders are still filled.
Theonly exceptions are birds that are injured, possibly "not right in the
head"or in some other way hindered in their migration. <snip>
David Sibley
Harry Glasgow
