A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Hobbies, Crafts and Creativity The Bird Lovers Forum Hummingbirds 2013

Point of interest:
for several years my hummingbirds came back around May 5th.
They used to leave around October 12, give or take a few days.
The week or so before they left they all fed like fiends, with 6 or 8 birds fighting for the 4 feeding stations

Well, the last few days the Hummers here are once again feeding like fiends--all fighting for the 4 stations----good thing is I have 2 feeders----still a LOT of hummingbirds feeding like that is a bit early to my notion.

I do hope this does not mean an early fall and or winter.....

any input on my notions ???

It could be that there is less out there for them to forage. Or a neighbor stopped feeding or is on vacation. I think it is way too early for fall behavior even for an early fall.

My hummers start acting different last year...nothing I did different. This year was even stranger behavior. I don't really have any idea, just think it all is something and the weather is different because of this 'something too'. Just sayin...

my hummers started coming later last year & left a week early as I remember.

I will say this about the feeding habits---I have recently deadheaded a lot of my flowers, so there is less for them to feed on, so Tina may have a point---
I know I sure hope that it is FAR too early for fall

I don't put out feeders for mine. I just grow flowers for them. So I really have not studied behavior too closely. And I have hummers all year long. More in summer because some of ours go further south into Mexico.
It is times like this that I most miss Thorny, our bird man.

yes I agree completely. I do think I may be friends with him on FB. He has a "different" name right ???

Yes, and I see him on Loz's page. But I have not friended him there.

I checked--We are not "friends" so I must have seen him on someone elses page...

The hummingbirds are crazy out of control here. When have you ever seen 6 hummingbirds feeding at one time? This feeder is right outside the window where Lola's cage is...she can hear them (they are LOUD little buggers!) and she talks to them in their language...lol

OH Cindy--I think I would print that shot out large & then frame it---I am sure that is a once in a lifetime photo !!!

Cindy that is terrific, it has been 2 yrs since I've seen that many hummingbirds at one time.

I've always made my own food, 1/4 cup sugar to 1 cup water...anyway, lately I put it out and by the next day it is cloudy. Why, am I doing something wrong?

Do you dissolve your sugar in hot water...or boil it? Or just use cold water.
I don't know....mine isn't outside long enough to get cloudy. I have refilled them 3 times today. I make mine in a big mixing bowl, 2 cups sugar and put 4 cups very hot water in it, mix it up good with a whisk and when it's cooled I pour it into a big jug and add 4 more cups of water. I keep it in the refrigerator. Then I make another batch and add it to the mix. They went through a 5lb bag of sugar in 5 days. It's weird because I never buy sugar except in the summer. I don't use it for anything except if someone comes to visit they might want sugar in their coffee or tea. A bag of sugar lasts all year until hummingbird season.

I've had so many hummingbirds at one time that I had people taking pictures because it was so unbelievable, but as I said, the last 2 years they haven't been here like normal.
I put mine on the stove top and stir it until all of the sugar dissolves and the water is clear. Usually doesn't boil. I only make enough to fill them and when I need more, I make it again, so it is always fresh.
i don't know why it is clouding up.

That's odd. I wouldn't think it would hurt anything being cloudy. I'm sure the hummingbirds love it just the same.

mine clouds up occasionally...I thought it was either due to the weather or perhaps I had not got my feeder clean enough when I changed the nectar out, that or the birds or bees & ants contaminate it somehow ??? The Hummers do not seem to mind it though---

I only live a several hours from Mary, & I have been having a LOT of Hummers lately too. just today, I had like 9 or 10 hummers areound my one feeder---that has 4 stations on it. It holds about 1 qt of nectar & lasted about 3/4 of the day. I have 2 feeders outside & I keep both going.

I dont really know what is going on either, but the Hummers are here full force this year--I have had a lot of trouble keeping them out of my garage as well...

I could swear I got my recipe here on the forum.

I take 4 cups of water to 1 cup of sugar. In a pot on the stove, I stir to mix in the sugar, bring it to a boil, boil for one minute, then let cool before putting it in the feeders, or before storing it in the fridge. Last time I made a double batch, they were eating it so fast.

I do mine the exact same way Carol

Just blame the cloudiness on the barometric pressure.
I blame everything on the barometric pressure.
Hair doesn't look right? Barometric pressure!
Sinuses acting up? Barometric pressure.
Dog bites mailman? Barometric pressure.
Hummingbird food cloudy? Barometric pressure.

Works for me---LOL

I haven't changed my "formula" at all, so I think the fact that they aren't here as before has to do just with the fact that things come and go and come back again. It seems as I get older I do learn nothing is always great or always terrible and life is ups and downs and back ups again. Anyway, without being too melodramatic, I've also been told that the hummers usually nest during June so they taper off, sitting on nest, but in the past I think I had so many, I didn't really notice. They say around here that they nest in June, come back off nest with little ones July, get really heavy August and into Sept, feeding to leave out Oct, I think.

Well today I can gladly report they are swarming, most I've seen all year. I can see them out a window at the end of my bed in the mornings hovering around the place where their feeder should be...I have to take them in every night because I have coons that will drink the food and empty them every night. So, I see them hover, because they know their feeders are usually there. I get right out of bed and that is the first thing I do, put the feeders out, so I can watch from bed while I drink my coffee. Often times, I will be hanging the feeder and they are swarming me. I have even stopped and been real still and they will sit on the feeder while I am holding it and eat for a minute or two. Really cool.

that would be awesome!!!!!!

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Diane, I was just thinking that as I read her post----

Mine do that, too...can't even get the feeder hung up before they are on it. It makes me really nervous when I am filling the feeders, because they swarm me so bad several times one has gotten caught in my hair. I'm afraid one will get in my hair and hurt itself, so I try to remember to put my hair down the back of my shirt when I fill the feeders.

PS...I put this on facebook but don't think I put it here for my friends who don't do facebook.
It's a video of a hummingbird trying to figure out which hole the food is in...at an empty feeder.
(Don't worry...it didn't starve very long...I filled the feeder as soon as I took the video).

Hungry Hummingbird Video

Cindy- first thing, that hummingbird video is really cool, comical too. I looked at your others and love your cats...I've always been a cat person, so really enjoyed them.

Thanks for that!

I just bought this new contraption to keep ants off my hummingbird feeders. Has anyone used these before? I've only had them out since yesterday and so far no ants which is a record. Think they might work? I hope so...here is a pic.



Also, got this shot of a hummer, so glad I have hummers, but Cindy you are sooo lucky to have so many to watch!

Oh, also, I think why my hummers will light on the perch to feed as I hang it, is because they are so used to seeing me bring it out every morning. They hover around the hangers and wait and when I get outside with the feeders, they are impatient little boogers and just don't wait for me to hang them up. If Cindy is filling hers up 2 and 3 times a day, they are used to seeing her with it. Just sayin....

I haven't seen that ant contraption thing before, but I don't get out much...especially to stores. I can't see from the picture how it works. Does it just confuse the hell out of them then they go away? I have had ants so bad...finally got rid of them by spraying Pam cooking spray on my poles that hang down from the gutters that I put my feeders on. Now my big problem is hornets. There are black and white hornets out there all the time. When I have to put more food in it scares me to death, because I am very allergic to bee stings. I have an epi-pen handy, but would still have to go to the hospital. Guess there's nothing I can do about those.

A little hummingbird was right at my neck this morning and out of reflex I almost smacked it, thinking it was a hornet. I'm so glad I didn't. If I hurt one of those little birds I would feel so bad.

Oh my goodness, yes I know you would feel bad as would any of us! But if you are allergic to bee stings you better be careful. Don't wear perfume or bright colors when putting out your food. I find that the bee's and such are more attracted to me in brighter clothing and perfume brings them on too.

Yes, I think it might confuse them...the top is like an upside down cup and hanging out of the middle of it is that plate looking thing. I'm sure if one of them ever finds the way, the rest will follow. Something like that show..." build it and they will come" !

yes those ant guards do work, awesome pictures Mary! It looks so relaxing there at the lake.

mj---I have one of those ant guards, but I thought we were supposed to hang it with the open part upright & filled with water ???---did yours come with instructions ?? mine did not, so I could well be mistaken.

I have a big swam of hummingbirds--I have bene filling the 2 qabout teice a day---and the Hummers will fly close to me, but not real close---

Carol, mine did not come with instructions, but I'm sure I looked at the picture, I think. Now I'm not sure?? Well if it doesn't continue working like this, I will try it your way!
Diane, yes it is nice here, but so far away from my kids and grandkids, I would rather be with them than here without them...but I am grateful for my surroundings.

Carol I will try to find a picture of those ant gaurds on line and get back to you on it. I'm probably totally wrong in how I hung them. I bet the ants are sitting on the deck laughing their little antenna's off!

Carol, I did find my ant quard on line and the picture shows it hanging just like I have mine, but I also find some that are a little different from mine that you hang upside down and put water in. Not sure if I have misinterpreted the picture or not and I can't show it to you because all of a sudden I can't get into my photo bucket account. Which is very aggravating. I asked for help on another account and I think they are confused. Oh well, not sure if I can post a link to the website with my ant gaurd on it here or not, so I won't, but will get back to you when I can access my photobucket account.

Good night to all...

You can post the link. I might want to order a few if they aren't too expensive.

Thanks mj---now I am going to have to hunt down my ant guard----a person should never move when they are say over 50. I can tell you where something was when we lived "out at the farm", but I can't tell you where it is here, or even if I kept the item...

Here's the link to the one I bought...it is 5.39 on this website, but mine was 4.99 at an Ace Hardware and it is red...it works great so far...this is really good night now. Got up to let the dog out and thought I would check on everyone, you guys are honestly like that energy bunny that never stops. I'm going back to bed. Goodnight Irene!

http://www.petmountain.com/show_pro...m_term=11442-520770&utm_campaign=PPC

thanks for the link--Yep, it looks like yours goes in the direction--

I was looking around--I LOVE the 30 oz feedeer--gonna buy one....or 2..LOL

I see how it works. It has insecticide in it. That would keep it dry and the ants never make it to the feeder.

I have tried spraying ant spray on the pole, but the rain just washes it off, and it freaked me out thinking it would drip down onto the feeder and hurt my hummingbirds.

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yes I saw that--I guess next year I will need to buy a few of that kind.

wow, it has insecticide in it??? I didn't even notice that, probably would not have bought. I guess it is ok because of the way it can't get wet and drip down. I read that you shouldn't put anything on the feeders, pole or where you hang it, such as vaseline or whatever to stop the ants...wow, did not notice it had insecticide in it. I think I need to be a little more observant! Makes me wonder, what did I feed my husband for dinner last night...Hmmmmm?