#130770
June 23rd, 2005 at 02:29 PM
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Wild Woman
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OP
Wild Woman
Joined: Apr 2004
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Last year we had 7 hummers all summer...pretty good for the first year of feeders. In April they were coming back and then dissapeared for a few weeks. Mr.Bill said it was maybe due to our crazy weather this year and the flowers not being in bloom yet. Well, they did come back...and I added 2 new feeders. For some reason they are gone again...haven't seen one hummer in almost 2 weeks! What's up with that? I miss my little fine feathered friends!
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#130771
June 24th, 2005 at 02:43 PM
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Junior Member
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Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2005
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Don't feel bad. I've only seen 1 this whole summer. My feeders remain lonely, my flowers are untouched...my garden sprinkler, however was a lovely shower to one little rascal last week. i dunno where they are or what they're doing...they're not here though!
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#130772
June 25th, 2005 at 08:19 AM
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Wild Woman
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OP
Wild Woman
Joined: Apr 2004
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I just hate that! I miss my buddies really bad! I was so thinking that I had done something wrong....
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#130773
June 25th, 2005 at 10:00 AM
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Official Problem Child
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Official Problem Child
Joined: Mar 2004
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I don't know what's up with them. I have tons of them constantly...my dad hasn't seen any at all. Maybe it's my yard...with all the flowers. He put his feeders out the same week I did (April 14), changes his nectar all the time to keep it fresh...and not one hummingbird.
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#130774
June 25th, 2005 at 11:21 AM
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The Bird Man
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The Bird Man
Joined: May 2005
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I think they will come around the 4th of July. That's when I usually start getting them back to my feeders after they finish fledging their young, which is what they are doing right now. Also I do not have goldfinches yet either but have several hundred sunflower plants of various varieties growing and blooming around my house right now so it shouldn't be long until the Goldfinches arrive.
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#130775
June 25th, 2005 at 11:57 PM
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Junior Member
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Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2005
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I too had a similar experience with the hummers. I saw my first one around Middle of May and they were here for a couple of weeks and then NOTHING. I even spent xtra $$ on buying different feeders. I couldn't figure out why they were missing. I was deligent about keeping the feeders clean and refreshed and nothing, but now they are back thank god. I was missing them as well. I think that Thornius' theory that the hummers were busy with their nests and babies is the only explanation I can figure and makes the most sense. At least in my case. I live in Norhtern NJ but wasn't sure when they started nesting. Anyway, Hope the hummers come back to you real soon. Glad someone posted this, I don't feel so wacky.
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#130776
June 26th, 2005 at 11:14 PM
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Heaven's Gardener
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Heaven's Gardener
Joined: Aug 2002
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Boy, I thought I was the only one with hummer problems. I've only seen 3 of them. I'm hoping there'll be more in July when the babies start flying. I wonder if they had trouble migrating this year. The weather HAS been wacky.
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#130777
July 4th, 2005 at 01:03 AM
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Wild Woman
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OP
Wild Woman
Joined: Apr 2004
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Well, you all were right (again!) Here it is the 3rd and I have HUMMERS!!!! What a welcome sight! I made fresh food last night and so far we have seen 2 this morning.....I am sure their buddies aren't far behind! I feel better now!
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#130778
July 4th, 2005 at 02:01 AM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Nov 2004
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#130779
July 4th, 2005 at 05:31 AM
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Junior Member
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Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2005
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I am soooo jealous that you have more than 3 or 4 hummers... I can only figure that I have 2 males and 1 female... I think I have more feeders than hummers... but I guess I should be glad I have some.
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#130780
July 4th, 2005 at 06:05 AM
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The Bird Man
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The Bird Man
Joined: May 2005
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No hummers yet, But I haven't filled my feeders yet. It's the 4th. Time to fill 'em up!
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#130781
July 4th, 2005 at 07:46 AM
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Wild Woman
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OP
Wild Woman
Joined: Apr 2004
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I have had a HAPPY day watching these little guys! I still only see 2 but I know there will be more..I just know it!
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#130782
July 10th, 2005 at 08:34 PM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Aug 2003
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I am surprised in your southern zones the hummers are latw when in New Jersey they arrive in May. I thought you had them all year round and they came North from your areas. Where do they start out?
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#130783
July 10th, 2005 at 08:52 PM
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The Bird Man
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The Bird Man
Joined: May 2005
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They winter in Central and South America. Ruby-throateds cross the Gulf of Mexico in a single 12-24 hour flight, nonstop, staying about 5-10 feet above the waves. They do not eat during this period and gorge themselves just before making the flight and once they arrive. We get a few Western hummingbirds that winter over in the Southeast U.S. but only a few (Maybe 2-3 BIRDS per state) most of these birds are Rufous Hummingbirds. For that reason, many of us birders leave our feeders up all year with fresh sugar water.
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#130784
July 11th, 2005 at 12:57 AM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Aug 2003
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Thats a long, looooonnnnngggg way to go for a good bagel (LOL)
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#130785
July 15th, 2005 at 10:10 PM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Jul 2005
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Wow, you guys are lucky to live in some places where there is more than one kind of hummer. We only have the ruby-throats... I love them to death and even have a hummingbird tattoo. I got it in memory of my grandmother, as she has always loved them as well. That's where I got it from!
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#130786
July 17th, 2005 at 02:10 PM
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Wild Woman
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OP
Wild Woman
Joined: Apr 2004
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I have a very LARGE work building in my back yard...today one of my hummers followed me in the building and wouldn't fly low enough to get back out the door! Scared me to death! I tried everything to get it out!!! So, I just left the door open and as it got dark in the building I was hoping it would go to the light outside. I have checked and it doesn't appear in the building when I turn the lights on inside...I am sure praying that baby got out! They have never appeared to be the least bit afraid of me...maybe because I am outside all of the time...and always have on a red bandana. They have landed on my head several times and zoom very close to me constantly...but I never thought about one following me inside!
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#130787
July 19th, 2005 at 11:15 PM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Jul 2005
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That is funny! I've never had any up-close experiences, but I've heard many fun (and a little scary) stories. WE FINALLY got a hummer to come by our fedder, a little female we've seen before in the yard but she never would eat. Well now we've seen her 4 times in the last 24 hours. HOORAY They don't hate us after all!
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#130788
July 20th, 2005 at 05:30 AM
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The Bird Man
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The Bird Man
Joined: May 2005
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No, and she'll ALWAYS remember your yard and feeder for as long as she lives.
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#130789
July 20th, 2005 at 09:42 AM
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Official Problem Child
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Official Problem Child
Joined: Mar 2004
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I took these today... ...it's so hard to get a good photo because they move so darn fast!
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#130790
July 20th, 2005 at 09:52 AM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Aug 2004
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#130791
July 20th, 2005 at 07:21 PM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Jul 2005
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Yeah those pics are really good even though the hummers are so quick! We also saw a male at our feeder yesterday, didn't eat, just seemed like he was checkin out what the female was up to. I know he should be feeding soon as well. I'm a bit worried about the location of my hummer feeder, it's about 5 feet from the regular bird feeder and I hope we don't get too many hummers cuz they might chase the other birds away! I really don't wanna move it either though, they are both in perfect viewing locations. Guess I'll wait and see what happens!
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#130792
July 29th, 2005 at 12:51 PM
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The Bird Man
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The Bird Man
Joined: May 2005
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Got my first Ruby-throated Hummingbird of the year today!
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