Trains.com

Any recommended rail track to enjoy hummingbirds?

3297 views
13 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: US
  • 75 posts
Posted by RKFarms on Wednesday, September 1, 2021 5:37 PM
MP173 we had no bluebirds this year either. (WC Indiana)
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: US
  • 75 posts
Posted by RKFarms on Wednesday, September 1, 2021 5:36 PM

Depends on where you are, but there are many hummingbirds in the Colorado Rockies, and if you go to the right areas there are some trains, although not as many as 10-15 years ago. Winter Park and towns west on the Rio Grande Moffat tunnel line would be good, but the birds will be leaving pretty soon.

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,020 posts
Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, August 25, 2021 1:14 PM

MP173
BTW, I am somewhat of a "birder", feeding and watering daily.  Lots of entertainment value with the songbirds.  Bluebirds are my favorites, followed closely by American Goldfinch.

Ditto, with winter visitors that include grosbeaks, cardinals, bluejays, nuthatches, chickadees, gold and purple finches, and any number of different sparrows, etc ("dickie birds").

There are around 35 birds listed on the "seen in the yard" list, including a hawk.  

Seeing hummingbirds is going to be dependent on the local flora.  

Apparently there's a malady going around that affects the birds.  I'm not feeding right now for that reason.

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

  • Member since
    May 2004
  • From: Valparaiso, In
  • 5,921 posts
Posted by MP173 on Wednesday, August 25, 2021 8:03 AM

Hummingbirds are still buzzing around our backyard.  Unfortunately there are no tracks in our backyard.  

We did have bluebirds last summer, but not this year.  The Wabash had a daily Chicago - St. Louis passenger train "Blue Bird" which was a "Domeliner", no doubt to view the outstanding Illinois scenery...lots of corn and soybean fields.

My 1956 Official Guide shows it leaving St. Louis at 855am and arriving at 205pm with a return trip leaving Chicago at 425pm, arriving in St. Louis at 950.  That would have been an outstanding day.

BTW, I am somewhat of a "birder", feeding and watering daily.  Lots of entertainment value with the songbirds.  Bluebirds are my favorites, followed closely by American Goldfinch.

Ed

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,096 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Wednesday, August 25, 2021 1:27 AM

Beautiful picture.  Thanks

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • 4,557 posts
Posted by Convicted One on Tuesday, August 24, 2021 10:52 PM

BaltACD
nd two small birds (bigger than humming birds) flew straight into my forehead from about 10 feet away. 

 

Probably looked like a good place to build a nest?  Whistling

 

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Tuesday, August 24, 2021 10:15 PM

Was walking into a medical facility today - and two small birds (bigger than humming birds) flew straight into my forehead from about 10 feet away.  WTF?

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
  • 13,681 posts
Posted by CShaveRR on Tuesday, August 24, 2021 10:06 PM

When we used to be able to spend a day or so at Knox Station Bed and Rails (back about 20 years ago), they had hummingbird feeders there, so one could see (and feel!) hummingbirds while one watched trains blow through at Knox (on the old Santa Fe, just east of Galesburg, Illinois). 

I wish they were still there...

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

  • Member since
    December 2017
  • 2,671 posts
Posted by Lithonia Operator on Tuesday, August 24, 2021 7:19 PM

I regularly saw the L&N Humming Bird when I was a kid in Gulfport MS.

Still in training.


  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
  • 5,557 posts
Posted by York1 on Tuesday, August 24, 2021 6:51 PM

The HummingBird

York1 John       

  • Member since
    December 2017
  • 2,671 posts
Posted by Lithonia Operator on Tuesday, August 24, 2021 6:08 PM

I'm pretty sure the thread-starter seeks a place that's good for birding (specifically hummingbirds) along with train-watching.

Unfortunately, I know very little about birds, so can't help.

Still in training.


  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Tuesday, August 24, 2021 1:18 PM

mudchicken
Already left Cincinnati, headed for New Orleans (L&N)...

But isn't that two words?

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
  • 10,820 posts
Posted by mudchicken on Tuesday, August 24, 2021 11:06 AM

Already left Cincinnati, headed for New Orleans (L&N)...

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
  • Member since
    August 2021
  • 2 posts
Any recommended rail track to enjoy hummingbirds?
Posted by zee razza on Tuesday, August 24, 2021 6:57 AM

Hi, I am a big fan of the hummingbirds and always thinking about them. Now a days, I am looking for rail tracks on which I can enjoy the hummingbird species.

Let me know if there is any tracks in Alaska along them I can enjoy the plenty

of hummingbirds. 

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy