They're here! Hummingbirds have arrived in the Lehigh Valley

The rule of thumb is that Ruby-throated Hummingbirds arrive in the Lehigh Valley around income tax day. This year, their arrival was precise: The first Ruby-throat reported here was on April 15.

The first sighting occurred in the Easton area. The source of the information,   Hummingbirds.net, does not identify the precise location.

Some Ruby-throats have made it as far north as Vermont and New Hampshire; birds that migrate along the Atlantic coast tend to hug the shore and then dash inland to their customary breeding territories.

Are your hummingbird feeders clean and placed in your backyard? The hummingbirds will be hungry from their flight and eager to refuel. Many of these birds are migrants that eventually will travel farther north. But if you put out the welcome mat in the form of several feeders, you might entice these dazzling little creatures to remain in your neighborhood all summer long.

For tips on attracting and feeding hummingbirds, please click here to see our previous posting from last week.

The map shows locations where Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have been sighted and the date when the report was submitted.

Source: Hummingbirds.net