wasted time

[Kevin Stenberg]

Over the last couple weeks i have wasted a few hours.
The local hummingbirds have hatched and reared this years little ones. I have been sitting on the porch watching all the hummers jockie for a space at their feeder. It is like watching bees come and go from their hive. If you don't know hummers, they don't like to have another bird at the feeder when they are there. Ours is a 6 spout feeder and there is never enough room.
I think the only reason now they let other birds at the feeder with them is because of the new young birds have increased by 3 fold what we were feeding earlier in the year.

 

[Intheshop]

We don't have any feeders but..... over the years there always has been humming birds here.Usually one is all I would see but,they would regularly fly down and say hello when having morning coffee on the back porch.Fly around,I'd say something,they seemed to acknowledge? buzz around a bit more,then go looking for breakfast. Wife would occasionally come out on say weekend's, and then freak out to "see" a humming bird."Yup,he comes by pretty much every morning" was always my reply.

 

[Winelover]

Currently, have six hummers, dive bombing each other. They spend more time buzzing around the feeder, than actually eating.

 

[KHornet]

Not many hummingbirds in this area--unfortunately.

Paul

 

[S Mac]

I get a kick out of watching them, aggressive little boogers.

 

[Uncle Grinch]

Mine are very territorial also. One will perch on top of the feeder to “guard it”.

Have to change the sugar water every other day due to the heat. It wants to go bad quickly.

 

[Kevin Stenberg]

We have our feeder in the shade, but that only adds a day or two. Now the hummers empty the feeder in 3 days.

 

[freebullet]

That sounds relaxing to me. We see them around here too. Crazy little creatures.

 

[Winelover]

Hummingbirds numbers are multiplying around here. We normally have only 2-3 that stay all Summer. Numbers will increase in late Fall, when they start migrating south for the Winter. I counted 7 hummers, at one feeder this AM, and a couple more at the the other one. I hope this isn't a precursor to an early and long Winter. Do they know something we don't?

 

[Kevin Stenberg]

I haven't seen a decrease in numbers YET. Still crazy busy around the feeder.

 

[Kevin Stenberg]

The wife noticed yesterday that all of the male hummers have departed. So it will not be long until the females go also.
Last weekend we noticed the first signs of fall are showing up.

 

[Winelover]

We're still filling up the feeders, daily. Hungry little devils. It's been suggested that the reason their hitting the feeders more is due to the low numbers of flowers, due to the recent drought.

 

[Rally]

About any time I have the shop door open a hummer comes in the shop and can't seem to find their way back out. I keep a dipnet close by to catch them near the ceiling lights, where they always seem to be attracted to. We don't feed them but the wife has enough flowers around to keep them busy.
Can't wait for the cold to get here. The bugs have been terrible here and in the bogs.

 

[Hawk]

Weve been thinking about getting feeders for hummingbirds. There seems to be no end to the different types. Any advice on what to get?

 

[Winelover]

We like the ones made of glass versus plastic. The plastic will get brittle in the hot south.

 

[Kevin Stenberg]

Feeders glass like Winelover said. The feeder base should be plastic and able to be disasembled easily for washing. Utherwise it will mold.
Food is just sugar disolved in water. Coloring isn't needed.

 

[Winelover]

This is one of the ones I have and recommend. Our local Walmart usually has them in stock in the patio/garden section.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/More-Bir...13-Ounce-Hummingbird-Nectar-Capacity/28159557

 

[Hawk]

Thanks guys!

 

[Winelover]

Hummer nectar recipe:

Four parts water to one part sugar. Late Fall, use three to one. They are migrating down to Central America and can use the extra energy boost.

 

[Kevin Stenberg]

TV had a National Geo. show on South American Hummers. Some special mountain they live on. The colors and body shapes they have put our birds to shame.