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re: Put out a couple of my hummingbird feeders yesterday (3-11-18)

Posted on 3/12/18 at 4:56 pm to
Posted by baseballmind1212
Missouri City
Member since Feb 2011
3269 posts
Posted on 3/12/18 at 4:56 pm to
Anyone have recs for attracting to a "new" location? Is it as simple as putting a feeder out? My kid loves humming birds and I'd probably win step-dad of the year if I could bring some around.
Posted by NELARiceGuy
NELA
Member since Nov 2015
97 posts
Posted on 3/12/18 at 10:15 pm to
quote:

Anyone have recs for attracting to a "new" location? Is it as simple as putting a feeder out? My kid loves humming birds and I'd probably win step-dad of the year if I could bring some around.

Im no expert. I had one buzz me last year at my house. That was the first time in IDK how many years I had thought about Humming Birds. My grandma used to keep a feeder up but never had much luck. I searched the topic on this board and found you need atleast 3 feeders 5-10 feed apart to keep the males from bullying the others. Then make your own food with a 4:1 water:sugar mix. Im sure someone else will chime in. Had a bunch of birds last summer/fall.
Posted by Clyde Tipton
Planet Earth
Member since Dec 2007
38863 posts
Posted on 3/12/18 at 10:41 pm to
What NELARiceguy said.

I'd add that you need to keep the nectar fresh bi-weekly if you don't have enough birds to drain them regularly and clean the feeders monthly to combat black mold that's bad for them. It's not necessary, but you can also plant flowers that they like in the area to also attract hummingbirds like geraniums and petunias.
Posted by Tigris
Mexican Home
Member since Jul 2005
12441 posts
Posted on 3/13/18 at 6:06 am to
quote:

Anyone have recs for attracting to a "new" location? Is it as simple as putting a feeder out?


To some extent. Make sure it's a feeder that shows a lot of red color. They definitely are attracted to that. And you might try 2 or 3 feeders. If there are flowers around that helps too. The numbers increase over time as they learn where the feeder is. And the same birds will come back the following year if they survive the migration. Numbers are highest in the fall because they have one or two broods; and also because the birds that breed in the north are headed south. The numbers also depend on the setting; when I lived in Baton Rouge I had a few but never big numbers. Out in the country I had a ton, in a coastal spot decent numbers but nothing overwhelming. If you are in Baton Rouge you can try a feeder in the winter as well. Increasing numbers are wintering there; my SIL always has one or two; but she has a garden with flowers in the winter as well.

Don't buy the pre-made red nectar crap at a store. Just mix sugar with hot water at three or four parts water to sugar.
Posted by BFIV
Virginia
Member since Apr 2012
7793 posts
Posted on 3/27/18 at 7:53 pm to
quote:

Anyone have recs for attracting to a "new" location? Is it as simple as putting a feeder out? My kid loves humming birds and I'd probably win step-dad of the year if I could bring some around.




Mine haven't arrived yet here in SW Virginia, but they will be here soon. I've been feeding them for 30+ years. I've often wondered if the same birds return each year? In any event, hummingbirds prefer "edges" and creeks or streams. That is, if you have a wooded area bordering your yard, a hedge line or even a fence, these "edges" are a preferred flyway for them. They will find your feeders even if you don't have an edge area, but putting out a feeder there and a couple on your porch will draw them in a lot quicker. Those little hummingbirds are gnat and skeeter killing machines, too.
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