Hummingbirds Are Back!

[Whit]

We spent a pleasant southeast Texas late afternoon, early evening sitting in the back yard with a neighbor watching the hummingbirds in a feeding frenzy. We have eight feeders out. Between the feeders and the plants to attract the hummers, we have dozens of birds. As they flit around it sounds like swarms of mosquitos. Every once in a while one would buzz by very near our heads. It is amazing how aggressive those little birds can be. They have a lot of fight for their size and tend to protect "their" feed from others. Amazing creations of God. Hope you have them to enjoy as well. Put out a feeder or two, who knows, if you feed them they might come. Be blessed.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Put out a feeder or two, who knows, if you feed them they might come. Be blessed.

To brighten up my MIL's life a bit after her husband's passing, we installed a couple of window boxes of flowers for her. It's become a magnet for hummers, and my MIL is thrilled watching them. The largest hummer of the bunch has gotten in the habit of first coming to her window and hovering there, looking inside. She thinks it's being friendly.



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[leswad]

I believe them to be alien.

Cliff Clavin Hummingbird Facts:

1. Can go from 0-60 mph in 3 feet.
2. Only found in the America's
3. If a hummingbird was a 170 lbs man, it would burn 155,000 calories a day.
4. Crosses the Gulf of Mexico without stopping.

 

[pawngal]

They are amazing little creatures. I never had any until this year, saw one, put up a feeder and love watching them. The cooler weather the past few days they have been at the feeder a lot more. Won't be too long and they will be heading south, I'll sure miss watching them and the occasional Baltimore Oriole. Will get some other feeders up for the winter birds like the Chickadees, maybe a Cardinal will visit.

 

[walkin jack]

It still feels too early to be putting out the feeders here but I'm not a humming bird so what do I know? But today is the 5th day in a row we have seen them so I put one out. If it gets any action I have one more I'll put out. We seem to be on the edge of their migratory path. I think that path they take may vary somewhat every year depending upon weather conditions or some other factor I don't know about. Some years we don't see any and some we see as many as a half a dozen or so. I live for the time I see some of those huge flocks I see in pics. That would be so cool.

 

[Memphis]

I've been mesmerized lately watching these little creatures in my back yard. I've got two feeders and they are wearing them out. They are so territorial that it's almost humorus. We've got one "rogue" that we nicknamed "A.H." (I won't tell you what that stands for). After he feeds on the juice he perches on top of the feeder and barnstorms any others that try to dine. I never tire of watching them. An interesting fact is that hummingbirds can't walk. I recently read that and sure enough I've never seen one walking. They can only grasp. I'd still love to see a nest with either eggs or young. They must be tiny. We only have the Ruby Throated Hummingbirds here in the south.

Roger

 

[Old_Cop]

Today we haven't seen any hummingbirds. The males with their red throats left about two weeks ago. We will leave the feeders out for a few more days just to be sure.

 

[Jessie]

I'm about to shut my feeders down so they'll start heading south. Maybe one more refill since it's still pretty warm here.

 

[Kinman]

As was mentioned in an earlier thread the males have long gone in most northern areas, the females are left with their brood. Often in good times females will have a second hatching, these birds may have been slow to fledge and able to make the long trip south. Keep your feeders out for the late comers, you never know it might be all that saves one or two from making the trip to come back and please you next year. Trust me the birds have been making the migration much longer than we've been putting out sugar water...they know when to go.

 

[quaduser]

Some things you should know about hummingbird feeders...

1) Clean them regularly. In the sun, the sugar liquid will ferment. This is harmful to the birds if they drink it.

2) Don't use the commercial mix for hummingbird feeders. It contains red dye.

3) If you are serious about feeding hummingbirds, use organic sugar which can be found at Costco. Boil the water first and let it cool before adding the sugar.

4) Don't start feeding hummingbirds unless you are committed to continue feeding them throughout their season in your area. In my area, western Washington, they are here all year long. When it's 6 degrees outside and they are waiting for you to unthaw the feeder, you will know what you have to do.