It sounds like the little guys are programmed to leave when they are fat and healthy enough, whether we have feeders up or not. They say to leave them up for any late comers headed south. I've had one hanging around later than usual and had the same concerns!

I mentioned on another thread that most of mine left last Wednesday, but yesterday I had more come in, maybe a dozen or so. Nothing like the masses at the end of September and the first part of October. I've taken down my large feeders and am using my mini feeders now.

During the height of the migration, I was going through 1 and 1/2 gallons of solution a day. This was way down from prior years. I think the answer to using less sugar this year is because we are not in a drought this year, we have lots and lots of plants for the hummers. I've noticed a lot of them out front in my beds and in the field across the road from me.

And it is best to keep some feeders up for at least two weeks, some say a month, after you see your last hummer. Just make sure the feeders stay clean and the solution doesn't go bad. Some years, I've had hummers overwinter. If the plants are blooming, I let the hummers use them, but if we have the occasional freeze that kills the plants, then I keep feeders up.

As some of you already know, I'm a former Hoosier, 5th generation, born and raised in Benton County, Indiana, about 100 miles NW of Indy!

sitter 2007, I live at Heritage Lake which is in Putnam County, approx. 15 miles west of Danville, which is in Hendricks County. The town that we use for mail is Coatesville, but it is actually 7 miles south of us!!

We are between Hwy 36 on the north, 40 to the south and State Road 75 on the east. Terre Haute is about a hour drive to the west.

We are originally from Indianapolis. We live in Boone County for the last 25 yrs. We moved out in in January this year and love it.

Anyhoo, I haven't seen a hummer since the morning of the Oct.10. Infact, I have cleaned and put my feeders up except the 1 have left out. It wil stay out at least until the first of November.

And that is probably way more information than you wanted!! lol

I have a list of all the birds I have been able to ID so far. I am up to 39 and all have been in or flying around my yard except the Bald Eagle which I saw on a walk down my road.

Will be checking out the Wildlife forum too. We have lots of deer, raccons, opossums, coyotes out here.

I'm in a small town, south of Baton Route and fellow hummer enthusiasts here are SEEING a few each day!!! Thanks. THis has been my first year and it's been fantastice -- up to 30-35/day! Sad sad days now...

This Saturday my 2 weeks are up and time to take down the feeders. I wanted to remind everyone that JUST one of the things that make these birds so special to us it that we have a very limited time to see and experience them. They are very fascinating birds and just seeing them for a bit each year makes the experience so much more memorable. Hope that makes sense.

As others expressed, now I will have time to focus on learning about other birds and wildlife habitat. Since winter is coming, now we have much more time to journal and learn!!!

BTW: I was outside every day of the week in my garden, so spring/summers become a busy time for all of us.

Dream of next year and make plans this winter :)

I think the general rule of thumb is to leave feeders up 1 month after your last sighting for any straggler that may come thru, but I think I will leave a feeder up untill turkey day. Although Im not sure how necessary that is since I have flowers if there is no freeze for a while.