- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
re: Hummingbirds/Hummingbird feeders
Posted on 5/2/16 at 4:14 pm to BiggerBear
Posted on 5/2/16 at 4:14 pm to BiggerBear
Excellent post.
A local garden center gave a talk in which they stated that the sugar water concentration should not be stronger than 4/1 because it is hard on the hummingbird kidneys to have it stronger. That was news to me, I've always used 3/1 and most summers I've had dozens of birds.
Hummingbirds have 2-3 broods in a year so the numbers build as the year goes on. And then the migrants show up and the numbers really go up. So a late start doesn't hurt too badly.
The first springtime migrants are mostly males looking to be first on choice territory, usually well north of the gulf coast, so they keep pushing north. By mid summer males are migrating south again. The females and youngsters migrate south later in the fall.
I agree - you need multiple feeders for good numbers. And if you are in the deep south keep a feeder up all winter. I had a Ruby-throated show up in January for a little while and had a local guy come out and band it. He put the feeder it was using inside a cage with a trap door; when the hummingbird flew in he pulled a fishing line that shut the opening. He took some measurements, banded it, and then let me release it. Anybody who gets a winter hummingbird should check for local banders (Audubon is a good place to start). Houston and Baton Rouge are well known for wintering hummingbirds, all along the gulf coast really. Ruby-throated are almost the only summer species from Houston east but in the winter they are usually something other than Ruby-throated and some yards that are well established can get 3-4 species in a winter.
(the bander put dye on the head for ID purposes - in case another bird showed up)
For anybody who has ant problems there are inexpensive ant guards that work well. This is one I've used:
Ant guard
So far I've seen 15 hummingbird species in the US (southeast Arizona is best). Places in central and south america (Costa Rica and Ecuador for instance) have incredible hummingbirds. I've seen more than 50 species in Costa Rica (the size of West Virginia).
A local garden center gave a talk in which they stated that the sugar water concentration should not be stronger than 4/1 because it is hard on the hummingbird kidneys to have it stronger. That was news to me, I've always used 3/1 and most summers I've had dozens of birds.
Hummingbirds have 2-3 broods in a year so the numbers build as the year goes on. And then the migrants show up and the numbers really go up. So a late start doesn't hurt too badly.
The first springtime migrants are mostly males looking to be first on choice territory, usually well north of the gulf coast, so they keep pushing north. By mid summer males are migrating south again. The females and youngsters migrate south later in the fall.
I agree - you need multiple feeders for good numbers. And if you are in the deep south keep a feeder up all winter. I had a Ruby-throated show up in January for a little while and had a local guy come out and band it. He put the feeder it was using inside a cage with a trap door; when the hummingbird flew in he pulled a fishing line that shut the opening. He took some measurements, banded it, and then let me release it. Anybody who gets a winter hummingbird should check for local banders (Audubon is a good place to start). Houston and Baton Rouge are well known for wintering hummingbirds, all along the gulf coast really. Ruby-throated are almost the only summer species from Houston east but in the winter they are usually something other than Ruby-throated and some yards that are well established can get 3-4 species in a winter.
(the bander put dye on the head for ID purposes - in case another bird showed up)
For anybody who has ant problems there are inexpensive ant guards that work well. This is one I've used:
Ant guard
So far I've seen 15 hummingbird species in the US (southeast Arizona is best). Places in central and south america (Costa Rica and Ecuador for instance) have incredible hummingbirds. I've seen more than 50 species in Costa Rica (the size of West Virginia).
2
Posted on 5/2/16 at 4:24 pm to Tigris
I can only imagine how small a hummingbird band is. How do they even get numbers on it or read them?
Posted on 5/3/16 at 3:43 am to Tigris
quote:
Hummingbirds have 2-3 broods in a year so the numbers build as the year goes on.
Excellent post yourself.
Yes, hummers are not only excellent homing birds for the exact location of your feeders but also for the exact location of where they nested the year before. Nesting previously (year before or prior year) near your feeders helps to attract them to your area now (whether they nested in your "yard" or nearby).
So, for several reasons the number of birds at your feeders continues to increase year after year that you have your feeders out.
When you put feeders out kinda' matters. More hummers come if you put feeders out in early March (Gulf coast). You will lose a few frequent visitors if you do not. Still, you will get many throughout the season if you are a little late in putting your feeders out during the early season.
So, put feeders out soon as you can...
Good to see one pic/mini video proves my earlier point that even feeders several feet apart produce amazing numbers of hummers. Fact. Do not be limited to a 10 foot or 15 foot spacing "rule". Love that mini video. Put up feeders where you can...
Ruby-throated hummers are usually the only hummingbird from March-October east of Austin/Houston in the Houston and Baton Rouge area. Other hummingbirds are strays usually only appearing several weeks late in the season - see migration maps. But when they come it is so amazingly rewarding. Even if briefly. Yes, I guess there are examples of other hummers over-wintering in Gulf coast area. IMO, those are the exceptions. Most would fly south to Mexico/Central America for the winter, including our subject ruby-throated hummingbirds. Just IMO.
Enjoy nature and hummingbirds.
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News