I recall a concern expressed, but don’t remember by whom, that hummingbird feeders left in place late into the fall might delay migration and keep the birds in an area longer than they should remain (that is, past the time when natural sources of nectar have disappeared). Possibly that makes them vulnerable to starvation if feeders don’t remain available. In southern Nevada, I’ve seen hummers active around feeders on January 1st and when it’s close to freezing. Would they be there if the feeders were not? Can feeders alter the migration behavior in a negative way?
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