Hummingbird question

[wollstonecraft]

I've been able to attract hummingbirds with feeders placed amid flowers in my garden. I'm very careful about keeping the feeders clean, and the effort has really been a success. I've never done this before, so I have questions about what is the best thing to do for the birds. The matter of when to take in the feeders concerns me. The feeders can be accessed by the birds for long after the blossoms are gone, and the hummingbirds would have started to migrate south when the blossoms started to disappear. The feeders, on the other hand, could be out there for some time later. I saw online an article that said to leave the feeders out until October. But to me, that seems to put the hummingbirds at risk for not being able to find blossoms to feed from on their journey south, if they wait that late to migrate. The feeders could be giving them an incentive to remain this far north much longer than they would if it was just the blossoms available to them. I'm hoping I haven't caused problems for their migrating habits by putting out the feeders. Now I'm not sure if I should put out feeders next summer. Does anyone have experience with this who would know of the right way to handle it?

[Polar Cub]

I take mine down at the end of September to first week of October.
I saw them up at Ricketts Glen, feeding on tree sap. They'll be alright, but take the feeders in by mid-oct, no later.

[wollstonecraft]

[QUOTE=Polar Cub;533949]I take mine down at the end of September to first week of October.
I saw them up at Ricketts Glen, feeding on tree sap. They'll be alright, but take the feeders in by mid-oct, no later.[/QUOTE

Thanks! I'm seeing insane things online about keeping the feeders out all winter, with elaborate measures to keep the sugar water from freezing. I'm not going that route.