Our rufus hummingbirds leave for warmer climes in August, but the Anna's hummingbirds stick it out here for the winter. They go into torpor every night to enable them to survive the cold, but they still wouldn't make it here without being fed. Before feeders came along, and people planting gardens full of less seasonal flowers, they used to winter no further north than Oregon. Now they live all year as far up as Vancouver Island. Adaptable little things!

I duct tape one of those little hotties hand warmers to the bottom of the feeders when it's cold enough to freeze sugar water, which fortunately it isn't very often around here.