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re: The flight of the Hummingbird 2017 Update: Pg. 6 They are on the move!
Posted on 5/1/17 at 6:51 pm to Canard Noir
Posted on 5/1/17 at 6:51 pm to Canard Noir
When I was a kid, my mom would always have three feeders outside the bay windows in our kitchen. Every year we would have dozens of birds outside at the same time. You could stand by the feeders and they would just hover all around you without a care in the world. I thought that was the coolest thing, so I started helping her with the feeders every year. Unfortunately, my mom got diagnosed with cancer when I was twelve and it wasn't good from the beginning. I took care of the feeders for her so she could sit at the table and watch them. I lost her when I was 14 and abandoned the feeders because it reminded me of her too much and at that age I couldn't handle it.
I had completely blocked that memory out until I saw this thread a couple months ago. I decided to go get a feeder and put it up in mid March. Didn't see a single bird and not a drop was gone out of it until a couple weeks ago. Now at any given time there's three or four at a time fighting over it and I have to refill every three days. Brings back a lot of good memories every time I look out there.
Sorry for the book.
Just thought I'd share and say thanks to the OB.
I had completely blocked that memory out until I saw this thread a couple months ago. I decided to go get a feeder and put it up in mid March. Didn't see a single bird and not a drop was gone out of it until a couple weeks ago. Now at any given time there's three or four at a time fighting over it and I have to refill every three days. Brings back a lot of good memories every time I look out there.
Sorry for the book.
Just thought I'd share and say thanks to the OB.
1
Posted on 5/2/17 at 12:36 am to OneEyedWillie
quote:
Sorry for the book. Just thought I'd share and say thanks to the OB.
I read your "book". So will many others in this unique group of hummingbird lovers. I thoroughly enjoyed your post. So will the others. Welcome to this hummingbird lover group (on this site and others).
Hummers tend to have that affect (that you described) on people. Keep filling those feeders (yes, you will get more) for many years to come.
I'm proud to participate in this thread. Proud to have you come on board and continue in the tradition of loving/caring for these beautiful creatures for many more years to come...
Posted on 5/2/17 at 9:01 am to TaserTiger
Hey guys, new guy here. Hummingbirds have been a part of my life for decades. As stated above my love for hummingbirds began with my mother.
We have some land in the country and as long as i can remember we have had hummingbird feeders. In recent years the number of feeders has swelled from 4 to 12, and i go thru 10 pounds of sugar a week keeping them filled.
On a good year we will have over an estimated 200 using them. Estimated because trying to count hummingbirds is like trying to count fire ants in a stepped on mound.
Anyway, just thought this is the perfect place for my first post.
We have some land in the country and as long as i can remember we have had hummingbird feeders. In recent years the number of feeders has swelled from 4 to 12, and i go thru 10 pounds of sugar a week keeping them filled.
On a good year we will have over an estimated 200 using them. Estimated because trying to count hummingbirds is like trying to count fire ants in a stepped on mound.
Anyway, just thought this is the perfect place for my first post.
Posted on 5/4/17 at 2:40 am to saltwaterdawg
quote:
Anyway, just thought this is the perfect place for my first post.
Interesting. It is a great first post. Welcome. Holy cow, 10 lb. sugar a week. Good for you to attract 200 hummers - people have not (in general) heard of this. I know I have not heard of this activity from 12 feeders. Keep the info flowing. Thanks for the post.
Posted on 5/4/17 at 5:37 am to TaserTiger
Thanks for the welcome. Yes it's slow right now with only 30 to 40 so far, but by the end of May it should be back up to speed. I would contritubute our success on having so many on several factors.
First would be the planting of flowering bushes and vines known to attract them.
Second is we have several large Cedar trees in close proximity to the feeders, and hummingbirds love those cedar trees for nesting, as well as roosting.
Third would be it's the country, our lodge is surrounded by woods, and our lodge is 10 feet off the ground so our feeders are all under cover.
I think I have some videos from last year if I can find them, I will post.
Have a super day.
First would be the planting of flowering bushes and vines known to attract them.
Second is we have several large Cedar trees in close proximity to the feeders, and hummingbirds love those cedar trees for nesting, as well as roosting.
Third would be it's the country, our lodge is surrounded by woods, and our lodge is 10 feet off the ground so our feeders are all under cover.
I think I have some videos from last year if I can find them, I will post.
Have a super day.
Posted on 5/4/17 at 7:33 am to saltwaterdawg
I've got to go back and start reading this thread from the beginning now, but first I'll share my frustration. My sister, who lives about 2 miles from me, is draining 2 feeders at a time about every 2 days. I on the other hand have seen 3 birds over the span of a few weeks on my feeder. Using everything the same. Why am I running the birds off!? I'm changing my food every week at a minimum to make sure it doesn't sit. 
Posted on 5/4/17 at 8:02 am to lsugrad35
Just a few sightings...very slow compared to last year.
Posted on 5/4/17 at 8:03 am to lsugrad35
Remember, we have been feeding hummingbirds for 40 years. They tend to go back to where they were born.
What is the terrain like where you are as opposed to your sisters? Do you have any supplemental plantings to attract them?
What is the terrain like where you are as opposed to your sisters? Do you have any supplemental plantings to attract them?
Posted on 5/4/17 at 8:13 am to saltwaterdawg
Comparison:
Both have feeders under the patio. Hers hangs higher than mine. Not sure if this makes any difference.
Neither have any additional attractive plantings nearby. She's on 5 acres pretty open. No trees or anything very close.
I'm in a subdivision and I have a tree that hangs over the patio and some plants on the patio but nothing that I know of that would attract them. My next step is to research plants that would attract them and try to throw some of them into the mix. I've looked out the back window and seen 1 at a time just a few times, but right now I'm throwing out more food weekly than they are drinking.
Both have feeders under the patio. Hers hangs higher than mine. Not sure if this makes any difference.
Neither have any additional attractive plantings nearby. She's on 5 acres pretty open. No trees or anything very close.
I'm in a subdivision and I have a tree that hangs over the patio and some plants on the patio but nothing that I know of that would attract them. My next step is to research plants that would attract them and try to throw some of them into the mix. I've looked out the back window and seen 1 at a time just a few times, but right now I'm throwing out more food weekly than they are drinking.
Posted on 5/4/17 at 9:06 am to lsugrad35
I would say, get some color in your yard to attract them, Coral Honeysuckle, butterfly bushes, pink mandevilla, trumpet vine. That should help IMO, i am sure there are more qualified people here that can help you than i.
Posted on 5/5/17 at 12:00 am to lsugrad35
Good advice from saltwaterdawg:
I will add, try to get 1 or 2 more feeders and install them under your patio. Use 3', 5' or more separation - whatever you can best manage (separate them as much as you can).
I have always maintained that there is no hard and fast rule re. feeder separation distance. I have seen too many videos of swarms of hummers around feeders only 2' - 3' apart. Just a general rule of thumb: keep them as separated as much as you can to accommodate your chosen # of feeders.
You will then be adding more "color", since more red color (of the feeders) will be more easily noticed by hummingbirds passing by. Note that saltwaterdawg has many feeders. IMO it's more feeders plus more hummingbird attracting plants.
I know it's frustrating to deal with refilling feeders just to get no "takers", but once a hummingbird population is established you will have another problem: having to refill empty feeders.
IMO, if your feeders are at least 5' to 6' above "grade" that should be high enough. Just below the patio ceiling may be better, but I don't know if I have seen any discussion on this anywhere else.
quote:
I would say, get some color in your yard to attract them
I will add, try to get 1 or 2 more feeders and install them under your patio. Use 3', 5' or more separation - whatever you can best manage (separate them as much as you can).
I have always maintained that there is no hard and fast rule re. feeder separation distance. I have seen too many videos of swarms of hummers around feeders only 2' - 3' apart. Just a general rule of thumb: keep them as separated as much as you can to accommodate your chosen # of feeders.
You will then be adding more "color", since more red color (of the feeders) will be more easily noticed by hummingbirds passing by. Note that saltwaterdawg has many feeders. IMO it's more feeders plus more hummingbird attracting plants.
I know it's frustrating to deal with refilling feeders just to get no "takers", but once a hummingbird population is established you will have another problem: having to refill empty feeders.
IMO, if your feeders are at least 5' to 6' above "grade" that should be high enough. Just below the patio ceiling may be better, but I don't know if I have seen any discussion on this anywhere else.
Posted on 5/6/17 at 1:26 pm to TaserTiger
just saw my first of the season
Posted on 5/6/17 at 1:58 pm to lsugrad35
they like our bottle brushes...
Posted on 5/6/17 at 3:19 pm to TaserTiger
quote:
I have always maintained that there is no hard and fast rule re. feeder separation distance. I have seen too many videos of swarms of hummers around feeders only 2' - 3' apart.
Posted on 5/7/17 at 12:04 pm to Clyde Tipton
So far this is the third sub-par year in a row.
Posted on 8/16/17 at 10:45 am to Crimson Wraith
quote:
So far this is the third sub-par year in a row.
It's been very slow at my place all spring and summer... Until about 10 days ago.
I can't look at my feeders without seeing one. No swarms yet, but there are a bunch of regulars now hitting my feeders and chasing each other around daylight until dark. Seems like new ones show up each day and the frequency is growing.
I thought mid-Sept. was supposed to be the big push. It's either early this year, which I suspect because of recent weather, or it's going to be crazy a month from now.
Posted on 8/16/17 at 10:47 am to Clyde Tipton
Time to clean my feeders out and refill. 
Posted on 8/16/17 at 10:49 am to AlxTgr
quote:
Time to clean my feeders out and refill.
Mine had gotten nasty too. About 2 weeks ago I saw one feeding and felt sorry for him. I freshened up my set and within a day or two I had my first couple of regulars. I'd say I have 7-10 regulars hitting it hard now.
Posted on 8/16/17 at 11:12 am to Clyde Tipton
I think I am just going to get new ones.
Posted on 8/16/17 at 11:17 am to AlxTgr
Tractor supply had all hummingbird supplies 50% off a few weeks ago. I picked up 2 groovy, far out, solid and right on ones.
This post was edited on 8/16/17 at 11:17 am
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