What Alabama Hummingbird Fans Need to Know This Fall

Birds have always held a special place in my heart, especially hummingbirds. And now, we’re entering hummingbird migration season, when these tiny travelers make their way down south. It’s an exciting time for hummingbird fans across Alabama, and I’m definitely among them.

My father was the family's unofficial birdwatcher. Living in Florida meant you could sit outside almost year-round, and he took full advantage of it. With a morning cup of coffee in hand, he would sit in the backyard, watching the birds come and go. I feel like it was “his” time to enjoy those simple pleasures of life.

Now our backyard was a playground for the birds. My dad had two bird baths, a few feeders, and plants that attracted his feathered friends. But his favorite time of year was hummingbird migration season. He had numerous hummingbird feeders, which my mother called his “bad habit,” and he made his own hummingbird “juice.”

When Will Hummingbirds Arrive in Alabama?

According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Ruby-Throated fall migration dates, Alabama is in the zone between September 27 – October 4, with a tiny portion of the coastline between October 4 – 11. Remember, it is not an exact science; hummingbirds may arrive a little earlier or later.

Why Their Arrival Window Matters

As the hummingbirds travel to Central and South America for the winter, they need a little help with refueling for the long journey.

It still amazes me that these tiny little creatures make the long journey. It’s wild.

How to Properly Feed Hummingbirds

As hummingbirds make their way south during fall migration, Dr. Adam Rohnke, Mississippi State University Extension wildlife specialist, offers several recommendations to greet our seasonal visitors.

• “Clean all feeders from earlier in the year and fill them with a new batch of hummingbird food. Mix one part of refined white sugar with four parts water. An old wives’ tale suggests adding red food coloring into the water to help attract birds. That tale is not true, as it’s not recommended to add food color to the mix.”
• “Keep a close eye on the feeders. The mixture will spoil within 2–3 days of sitting in hot temperatures. If you notice the mixture turning an opaque, milky white color, dump it out and clean thoroughly. To clean, submerge the feeder in a 10 percent bleach solution, rinse with water, and let it air dry.”

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It still amazes me that these tiny little creatures can make such an incredible journey. Knowing that my Dad played a small part in helping them along the way makes those memories even more special to me.

He carried this “bad habit” for years, even at 88. When my father passed away at 89, I had the difficult task of going through his belongings. As an only child, that meant every memory, every keepsake, and every decision was mine to make. Talk about hard.

But one box brought a smile when I opened it and saw all his hummingbird feeders. I was instantly transported back to those quiet moments in the backyard, sitting beside my “Daddie,” my best friend, in comfortable silence as we watched the birds come and go.

I kept a few of his feeders for myself and shared the others with family members who loved their Uncle Bud. In a small way, his birdwatching tradition continues, carrying a piece of him into our family’s backyards.