A Gardeners Forum Forums Members History Forum Life 2005 Where's the hummers???????

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!

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!

I just hate that! I miss my buddies really bad! I was so thinking that I had done something wrong....

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

HI ALL the hummers have been here but just a few.but now they all have returned i do belive. i have abought 15 or so coming to two diffrent feeders.i am so glad there back i have missed them little frinds.good luck to evryone else on getting theres back to.your friend in gardening.mike57

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.

No hummers yet, But I haven't filled my feeders yet. It's the 4th. Time to fill 'em up!

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!

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?

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.

Thats a long, looooonnnnngggg way to go for a good bagel (LOL)

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!

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!

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!

No, and she'll ALWAYS remember your yard and feeder for as long as she lives.

I took these today...
...it's so hard to get a good photo because they move so darn fast!

Those are great pics!

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!

Got my first Ruby-throated Hummingbird of the year today!