Outdoors Will hummingbirds stay as long as there is a food source? By Cottage Life Published: May 2, 2011 Updated: October 24, 2023 share Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Copy Link Cancel Photo by She Shoots Pretty Things/Shutterstock Will hummingbirds stay as long as there is a food source? When should feeders come down to avoid endangering the birds? Most hummingbirds know enough to head south at the appropriate time. However take feeders down with the first frost. That said, hummingbird feeders can be crucial to the tiny birds’ survival during unseasonable cold spells in spring and fall. So, at times of year when it’s appropriate for hummingbirds to be zipping about the garden but the weather turns bitter, keep the feeder well stocked. Check out the Ontario Hummingbird Project for information about when hummingbirds arrive and depart. Also, Bird Studies Canada conducts an annual survey of birds that visit feeders during the winter. Related Story 5 species of hummingbirds you can spot in Canada Related Story Hummingbirds can count? You can count on it Related Story Cottage Q&A: Feeding hummingbirds