SALT LAKE CITY — A couple in Beaver awoke Monday to an unusual sight following the snow they received — more than 50 hummingbirds gathering around their feeders.
David Rubinger said he stepped outside to take pictures of the snowfall that covered their yard and the mountains beyond. To his surprise, he saw the bird feeders were being swarmed.
According to Rubinger, the feeders belong to his wife, Charlotte. He said it normally take about two days for the hummingbirds to empty. On Monday, Charlotte had to refill both feeders before 5 p.m., less than a day after she had already filled them.
According to Charlotte, she typically sees six different types of birds, including ones with shocking pink throats (likely broad-tailed hummingbirds) and others that are greenish blue-purple (likely Anna's hummingbirds).
“My wife has to buy … sugar in 75 lb lots,” David said, in order for her to keep the feeders consistently filled.
Hummingbirds use up energy quickly as they fly from place to place, eating up to three times their body weight. With the snow covering the ground and nearby sources of food Monday morning, the nearby birds flocked to the Rubinger's backyard for a early morning feast.
The snow had cleared by the evening, but hungry birds still darted around the scene, enjoying their dinner provided by they Rubingers.
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Charlotte said the morning sight was “unbelievably incredible.”
Charlotte has both feeders and flowers hanging up on the back porch, but the hummingbirds tend to prefer the feeders.
David said the birds choosing the feeders over the flowers was like “kids going for the candy rather than the salad bar.”
Read more: Utah’s dry winter saving UDOT millions in snow removal budget
