HUMMINGBIRDS IN HIGHLANDS, CASHIERS AND sAPPHIRE vaLLEY
Roaming the High South with Radio Cashiers
In Western North Carolina, the arrival of Ruby-throated hummingbirds is the unofficial start of spring. These tiny athletes travel over 500 miles nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico, arriving in the mountains between late March and mid-April.
HummingbirdS in WNC
The Migration Timeline
Hummingbird Habits in WNC
- Late March: "Scouts" (usually males) arrive first to claim the best feeding territories.
- Mid-April: The majority of the population settles in as mountain wildflowers begin to bloom.
- September–October: Most head south for the winter, though you might see rare "winter hummingbirds" (like the Rufous) occasionally passing through..
Hummingbird Habits in WNC
Hummingbird Habits in WNC
The high-elevation environment of the Plateau offers a unique habitat. Because mountain nights can be chilly even in spring, hummingbirds here frequently enter torpor—a deep, sleep-like state where they lower their body temperature and metabolic rate to survive the cold.
How to Support Them
How to Support Them
- The Mix: Use a simple 4:1 ratio (4 cups water to 1 cup white granulated sugar). Boiling the water helps the sugar dissolve and slows fermentation.
- The "No-Go" List: Never use red dye, honey, or artificial sweeteners, as these can be fatal.
- Native Plants: They love high-nectar, tubular flowers. For your WNC garden, try planting Bee Balm (Monarda), Cardinal Flower, Columbine, or Trumpet Creeper.