We live in Margate, near Ft.luaderdale...  are there possiblities of
seeing hummers in my area?  What is the best time/way?

Hi sofldavcar!

Well, you are in luck!  There are several little hummers that live at
least part of the year in Florida, and, because Ft. Lauderdale is so
far south, you can still hope to see them at this time of year and
right into winter.

While most hummingbirds migrate to Mexico and South America, some Ruby
Throated Hummingbirds will winter over in South Florida.

The University of Florida has a great overview of hummingbirds native
to the state. Their website is cited below under “Hummingbirds Found
in Florida.”  I will provide you with further links both within and
outside of their website in order to round out the information for
you.


==================================
HUMMINGBIRDS FOUND IN FLORIDA
==================================

“Hummingbirds live only in the Americas. Of the 338 species known, 16
are found in the United States and 3 occur in Florida. Black-chinned
and rufous hummingbirds occasionally can be seen in Florida during the
winter. The ruby-throated hummingbird is by far the most common hummer
in the state.”

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/scripts/htmlgen.exe?DOCUMENT_UW059



=====================================
PLANTS THAT ATTRACT HUMMINGBIRDS
=====================================


One way to see Hummingbirds is to search around plants that they feed
on. A hummingbird requires lots of high-energy nectar and spends much
of its time feeding.

A list of Florida plants that will attract hummingbirds in the fall
and winter can be found at the University site above.  Learn to
recognize those plants when they are flowering and chances are you’ll
spot a hummer nearby.

Here is more information on plants that attract Hummingbirds
http://www.nsis.org/bird/sp/sp-humm.html


=====================================
HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS
=====================================

Another way to see Hummingbirds is to provide a Hummingbird feeder.
Again the University provides basic information on how to construct,
fill, and care for a Hummingbird feeder.

Or you can purchase one at your local hardware or discount store or
online here:

http://www.birdwatchers.com/cgi-bin/shopper?keywords=hummingbirdfeeders&search=action


More information on attracting hummingbirds to your yard—

http://birding.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.birdwatchers.com%2Fdebtips.html


================================
SPOTTING HUMMINGBIRDS
================================


As a long-time birdwatcher, I can tell you that spotting a hummingbird
is something that takes a bit of practice. They move quickly, almost
never land, and sometimes can be mistaken for a large bumblebee. 
You’ll need a good pair of binoculars and lots of patience. Find one
of the plants mentioned above, or better yet, a garden center that has
an outdoor display and you’ll likely see them there. I’ve often
spotted them on the hanging fuchsia plants!

Or better yet, go to one of the sanctuaries or nature centers listed
below and have a guide help you spot your first few.  I’ve found it
helpful when I go to a new area to find a guide to introduce me to the
native species and show me where to look. I thank a fabulous guide in
Arizona for pointing out a male Rufous Hummingbird performing an
amazing aerial mating display. The bird was 40 feet in the air and I’d
have surely walked right by him.



===================================== 
BIRD WATCHERS GROUPS AND TOURS
=====================================


Other birdwatchers can provide up-to-the minute information on when
and where to spot specific birds. For example, here’s an excerpt from
a birdwatching newsletter this past January:

“The discovery has the bird watching world chattering from coast to
coast. The hummingbird phenomenon, virtually unknown a decade ago, has
people rescheduling their vacations and has created a volume of e-mail
that threatens to overwhelm the system. From New Orleans to Ft.
Lauderdale and north to Nashville and Atlanta, hummingbirds are
dominating the bird watching agenda.”

http://www.hummingbird.org/Hummingbirds.On-Line.Issue.2.htm

Also, sanctuaries often have a higher concentration of species due to
the proper planting of food plants, protected breeding areas, and
overall wilderness available.

A very comprehensive list of birding sights, sanctuaries, and birding
groups in Florida
http://www.camacdonald.com/birding/usflorida.htm



=====================================
KNOW YOUR BIRDS
=====================================

Ruby Throated Hummingbird
http://209.133.64.45/birds/birds_m/BD0119_1m.jpg

Black Chinned Hummingbird
http://www.tsuru-bird.net/arizona/hummingbird_black-chinned_m2.jpg

Rufous Hummingbird
http://www.coastnet.com/~rcward/albums/Rufous%20Hummingbird.jpg



That should provide you with a good overview of what kinds of
Hummingbirds you can see in your area and how best to see them. If
anything I’ve said isn’t clear, feel free to ask for a clarification.

--K~

Search Terms:

Hummingbird Florida
Hummingbird Ft Lauderdale
Bird watchers Florida
Birding Florida
Bird sanctuary Florida

A lot more information than we expected. The delay in the rating was
only due to our excitement to get feeders up and plants planted that
were friendly to hummingbirds and butterflys.  Thanks.