When the Hummingbird Season Ends: Confessions of a Backyard Superfan
- Kasey Mueller
- Sep 7
- 4 min read
It's too quiet. Unnervingly quiet.
I finally understand how my sports-fan friends feel at the end of their season. They mourn the loss of games, the roar of the crowds, the adrenaline rushes, the highs, and the lows. Well, I get it now — because my season has ended too. Not football, not baseball… but hummingbirds.
The season is short and dramatic. It started here on May 21st with the drone of wings and high-pitched chatter, and I realized yesterday, September 6th, that it's officially over. Cue the tiny violins (or maybe piccolos — they feel more appropriately sized).
This year was unlike anything I've ever experienced. Last year, at High Road Wildlife Preserve, we focused on creating a wildlife-friendly forest habitat. But this year? We doubled down on the pollinator garden — partly for biodiversity and partly for my gardening obsession, which desperately needed an outlet. Think of it as a hummingbird stadium, complete with concessions, seating, and security.
And just like in Field of Dreams, the motto applied: "If you build it, they will come." Oh, they came. They came in a buzzing, thrumming, feathered mass.
The Hummingbird Show
In Ecuador, I once saw hundreds of hummingbirds and thought, "This. This is heaven." But Northern Idaho is not Ecuador. We only get five species here: Rufous, Black-chinned, Anna's, Costa's, and Ruby-throated.
Last year, the few hummingbirds that showed up were nervous, skittish, darting around like caffeinated introverts. But this year? It was completely different. They moved in. They stayed. They relaxed. It was like hosting summer camp for tiny, flying jewels.
We started with six feeders, mixing up homemade nectar like bartenders in a very niche cocktail lounge. By the end of the season, we had twelve feeders AND a garden overflowing with hummingbird-approved flowers. The bar was open, the lounge was packed, and business was booming.
Evenings became a spectator sport. We'd sit on the deck and watch the males zip and dive like tiny Top Gun fighter pilots, chasing each other with the kind of reckless bravado that makes you wonder if tiny insurance agents are shaking their heads somewhere. Later in the season, when the males migrated, the females and their young lingered. They slowed down a little, spent more time at the flowers, and occasionally hovered in front of our faces like tiny, irritable landlords demanding rent. (Translation: "Refill the feeder, human.”)
We learned so much. We watched, listened, and marveled. And now, as I box up the feeders and sweep the last sugar-water spills off the deck, I can't help but think of them on their incredible journeys — some flying to Alaska to breed, then down to Mexico or South America for the winter. The mileage on these birds puts even the most frequent-flyer business traveler to shame.
Feeding and Caring for Hummingbirds
As the season progressed, we learned the ins and outs of caring for our feathered friends. Setting up hummingbird feeders was just the start. We discovered the importance of using the correct nectar recipe: four parts water to one part sugar, boiled and cooled. The benefits of using this precise mixture are that it attracts hummingbirds and not their nemesis, wasps. Wasps have been known to gang up on hummingbirds and kill them.
Regularly cleaning the feeders is essential to prevent mold and ensure the health of our tiny guests.
Looking Ahead
As we box up the feeders and bid farewell to our tiny guests, we can't help but dream of next season. The anticipation of their return fills us with excitement.
We plan to enhance our garden with more native plants and perennials known to attract hummingbirds, such as Bee balm, Agastache, Salvia, and honeysuckle vines, ensuring a vibrant and welcoming environment for them. Research indicates that planting a variety of flowering plants can increase the likelihood of attracting hummingbirds by up to 50%.
I wish my tiny feathered friends safe travels. I'll be here when they return.
Yes — my season has ended. But like every good sports fan, I'll spend the off-season dreaming of what next year's team will bring.
Sideline Stats (For Hardcore Hummingbird Fans)
Heart rate: Up to 1,200 beats per minute. That's faster than most rock concerts.
Wing beats: 50–80 times per second. Blink right now. Too late — they flapped 20 times while you blinked.
Metabolism: If humans had the metabolism of a hummingbird, we'd need to eat around 300 hamburgers a day to break even.
Memory: They remember every single feeder and flower they visit. Miss a refill once, and you will get side-eyed by a bird that weighs less than a nickel.
Migration distance: Some species travel up to 3,000 miles. That's like running back-to-back marathons while drinking nothing but Red Bull.
High Road Preserve Hummingbird Species Count 2025 (#BirdFly):
Rofous Hummingbirds: 202
Black Chinned Hummingbirds: 141
Anna's Hummingbirds: 416
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds: 107
Costas Hummingbirds: 88
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