Delaware
When do you hang your hummingbird feeder in Delaware?
Dance of the Sandy Neck hummingbird
Eavesdropping on a ruby throat-ed hummingbird getting a morning fill up at a feeder on Sandy Neck in Barnstable
Steve Heaslip, Cape Cod Times
Would you like to feel like Disney’s Pocahontas and attract a majestic hummingbird or two to your Delaware home this spring?
Here’s what you need to know about when hummingbirds will migrate to Delaware this year, how to prep your feeder, and how to (hopefully) keep the birds from having sword fights with each other in your backyard.
When will the hummingbirds arrive in Delaware in 2025?
Around mid-April is when Delawareans can expect to see the arrival of hummingbirds, said Michael Moore, spokesperson and past president of Delaware Ornithological Society. The ruby-throated hummingbird, known for having a red neck, is the most common hummingbird to the Small Wonder.
When should I set out my hummingbird feeder?
You can set your feeders out around mid-April, which is when hummingbirds are expected to land in Delaware. It’s also a good idea to clean and refresh your feeders with nectar.
What should I put in my hummingbird feeder?
The only nectar you need in your feeder is a mixture of white sugar and water. Moore said the best thing to do is stir up one-fourth cup of sugar with one cup of water.
Where should I put my hummingbird feeder?
You can hang bird feeders just about anywhere, including on a porch with shade or on a tree. It’s a good idea to try to keep the feeder out of direct sunlight to prevent birds from getting burnt to a crisp. Moore said it’s wise not to hang feeders by windows so that the birds don’t collide with glass.
How can I attract more hummingbirds?
Since hummingbirds love nectar, found in plants, one of the best tips to reel in more hummingbirds is simple: “Plant native plants that attract hummingbirds,” Moore said.
Examples of native plants include Salvias, Bee balms and native Coral honeysuckle. Hummingbirds can’t live off just sugar water alone. They get a lot of protein from eating bugs. That’s why Moore said you shouldn’t spray your yard with insecticides.
“If you want birds in your garden, you need to have insects. Insecticides are not good,” he said.
Why does the hummingbird fight so much?
Hummingbirds are tiny and cute little creatures, but they’re also pretty old school because they live by the sword. Their long-pointed beaks are shaped like swords, which they use to defend their territory against other hummingbirds.
Moore said that’s because they evolved from feeding only on plants, which is a limited resource.
“The problem is they (hummingbirds) sort of haven’t figured out that hummingbird feeders have potentially unlimited amounts of food. But they’re just programmed to not really share.”
One way you might be able to help reduce hummingbird-on-hummingbird violence is by hanging multiple bird feeders and spacing them apart in different locations because these birds also are territorial over their feeders, Moore suggested.
Then again, Moore said some habits are hard to break.
“Feeders are fairly new things to them, and they don’t realize they’re different from flowers.”
How long will hummingbirds be in Delaware?
Hummingbirds migrate in the fall, but their departure is more gradual than their spring arrival. Moore said some of the hummingbirds will begin migrating south in September, whereas others will linger around until October or even November.
Is it safe to have bird feeders during bird flu outbreak?
The Delaware Department of Agriculture says you can continue filling your bird feeders – unless you also keep chickens or live near some.
Regardless of the prevalence of bird flu, backyard birders can prevent the spread of all bird illnesses by following a few simple steps, according to various agencies.
- Clean bird feeders once a month with a solution of nine parts water to one part bleach. For wooden bird feeders, use regular soap or a solution of three parts water to one part vinegar.
- Change bird bath water every two or three days.
- Never touch wild birds and always wash your hands after handling bird feeders and baths.
If you see a sick or dead bird, call the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Wildlife Section at 302-739-9912 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. After hours, report sick and dead birds here.
Shannon Marvel McNaught contributed to this report.
If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters.
Delaware
Delaware County school employee accused of sex assault of minor in Texas
RADNOR, Pa. – Authorities say a Delaware County school employee is accused of traveling to Texas to sexually assault a minor he met online.
What we know:
Michael Robinson, 43, was taken into custody near Radnor Middle School where investigators say he worked as a paraprofessional.
Investigators believe Robinson traveled to Tyler, Texas in the summer of 2024 to meet a minor he had connected with online.
Robinson, according to U.S. Marshals, allegedly sexually assaulted the teen over the course of a weekend.
Delaware County school employee accused of sex assault of minor in Texas
Prosecutors in Smith County, Texas charged Robinson in December with Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child Under 15-years-old.
Robinson is being held at a Delaware County jail where he is awaiting extradition to Texas.
What they’re saying:
U.S. Marshals in Pennsylvania said Robinson’s arrest shows that “sexual predators will always be pursued relentlessly.”
The Radnor Township School District said Robinson has been placed on leave and will not have contact with students.
“Parents of the limited number of children to whom the employee was assigned were contacted by the administration immediately.”
The district said it is cooperating with law enforcement and has “no information indicating misconduct involving district students.”
Delaware
Rehoboth cancels 2026 Polar Bear Plunge after major snowstorm
Lewes Polar Bear Plunge in Rehoboth Beach
Participants flock to the water at the Lewes Polar Bear Plunge, which raises funds for Special Olympics Delaware on Sunday, February 2, 2025.
Rehoboth Beach has canceled the upcoming 2026 Lewes Polar Bear Plunge and 5K Run to the Plunge as the Sussex County resort town continues dealing with the aftermath of last weekend’s snowstorm, organizers of the annual Special Olympics fundraiser said on Feb. 26.
“Rehoboth Beach is navigating significant challenges because of the snowstorm,” a Special Olympics Delaware email announced. “At present, the boardwalk and all beach crossings remain snow covered and many sidewalks throughout downtown Rehoboth are as well.”
The plunge and 5K had been rescheduled to March 1 after severe weather conditions in late January caused it to be moved from its original Feb. 1 date.
The plunge will not be rescheduled for this year.
Last weekend’s storm brought nearly 2 feet of snow to parts of Sussex, closing hundreds of roads when trees and wires were downed. There were also power outages across the county, including Rehoboth Beach which had to restore power to its wastewater treatment facility.
Plunging for a cause
The polar bear plunge is one of Special Olympics Delaware’s more popular fundraisers, drawing more than 4,000 participants last year.
In recent years, the event has been bringing in more than a million dollars for Special Olympics Delaware. Last year, plunge events drew $1.3 million, just shy of the record-breaking $1.5 million raised in 2024.
Alex Seymore, Special Olympics Delaware’s director of digital media, said the organization had already raised more than $1 million from this year’s event.
“We expect a small impact,” Seymore told Delaware Online/The News Journal. “But again, we’re showing that we’ve raised over a million dollars.
He added they are reviewing how the cancelation will impact them and their services.
“It’s been just a couple hours, so we’re not completely positive how it will impact things in the long run,” he said. “We’re thankful for everybody that’s helped raise this money through this time.”
What is still occurring
While the plunge and 5k and been canceled this year, there are other indoor events that will continue as scheduled:
Feb. 27
- 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. – pick up packets and souvenir sales for the Plunge and 5K Run to the Plunge at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center, 229 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach.
Feb. 28
- noon to 2 p.m. Fire & Ice in the Atlantic Sands Ballroom, 1 Baltimore Ave, Rehoboth Beach.
- 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Restaurant chili contest.
- 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. – pick up packets and souvenir sales for the Plunge and 5K Run to the Plunge at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center, 229 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach.
Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com.
Delaware
Trump Accounts for kids; are they available in Delaware?
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Watch this quick video for easy tips to lower your energy bills and save money every month. 1/7/26
President Donald Trump touted his Trump Accounts for kids platform during his State of the Union address Tuesday, Feb. 24, months before the savings account program goes live this summer.
Roughly 63% of parents open bank accounts for the newborns and young children according to The Financial Brand, showing that in general, opening a bank accounts for your child is a good idea.
But what, exactly, are Trump Accounts for kids, and does it make sense for you to open one for your child? Here’s everything you need to know.
Trump Account for kids explained
The IRS explained in a memo Trump Accounts will be available for any children under 18, with $1,000 seed money available for newborns and very young children.
That account will be seeded with federal government funds.
“A Trump account is a type of traditional individual retirement account that is established for the exclusive benefit of an eligible individual and that is designated at its establishment as a Trump account,” read the IRS’ Trump Accounts memo. “Upon an election under the pilot program, $1,000 is paid by the Secretary to the Trump account of an eligible child.
“An eligible child means a qualifying child who is born after December 31, 2024 and before January 1, 2029, who is a U.S. citizen, and for whom no prior pilot program election has been made.”
The Trump Accounts website confirms parents do not need to make a contribution, but can deposit up to $5,000 a year into the interest-bearing account.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in comments published Jan. 28 a single $1,000 deposit into a Trump Account at birth should grow to an estimated $500,000 by the age of retirement.
When will Trump Accounts for kids lunch, and can I apply in Delaware?
Trump Accounts for kids will go live on Monday, July 5, and parents in Delaware are allowed to apply for the nationwide offering when it opens.
Until then, you can visit the Trump Accounts website to add your name to the email list to get an update when the service goes live.
The IRS and U.S. Department of the Treasury released Trump Accounts guidance you can read before opening an account.
Problems with Trump Accounts for kids
While opening a Trump Account for your child may seem a good thing, TIME uncovered a few problems with President Donald Trump’s namesake account service.
“The program may be open to every child, but its benefits will flow overwhelmingly to families with the means to contribute thousands of dollars a year. What could have been a leveling tool instead risks becoming a widening wedge between the haves and the have-nots,” read a portion of TIME’s take. “For a family living paycheck-to-paycheck that is unable to add anything beyond the government’s $1,000 seed deposit, the balance reaches just $5,839 by age 18. “
The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies echoed much of that sentiment, and said Trump Accounts for kids will have the opposite effect from its stated goals.
Damon C. Williams is a Philadelphia-based journalist reporting on trending topics across the Mid-Atlantic Region.
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