The FIRST Ruby-Throated Hummingbird of 2007 was reported yesterday near Baton Rouge, Louisiana. This year it is two days before last year's first sighting and in the same area. Do I sense a trend here?

I have been counting the days!

Mine always get here on April 15th.
That's weird how they always come on the same day.....

I got a hummingbird feeder two weeks ago, and so far only one hummer comes, but then it's been raining alot.
The tube is red. I wish more companies would make red feeders so that people wouldn't add red food coloring.
One time a hummer was on my lavendar penta plant for a few minutes, which was on the patio table, and was sitting still. I had never seen one so close and stay still for so long.
It was so cute, and looked rather like a tiny penguin, standing up the way it was. It was fun to sit quietly and to see a hummer so close and for once, sitting still.

Thorny, do you have the link to the hummingbird arrival map that we all drooled over last year! I'd love to have it in this post. I can't WAIT to have those little guys back again!

Found it!

Hummingbird migration map! Yay!

You mean this one right here, only six topics below this one????

Yep, I guess it would be that one!

I guess all the posts in this one should've been in the other one!

I was thinking the same thing, Loz!

It's THORNY'S FAULT!!!!!!

AWESOME!!!

Blame Thorny! Well nobody was looking at the other post so I started a new one!

Deborah, you don't have the Ruby-Throated hummers in Cali.,but you have at least four or five different species, maybe more. The ONLY Hummer species we have EAST of the Mississippi River is the Ruby-Throated, except for an occasional straggler Rufous or Annas Hummer in Winter. AND hummers DO sit still, sometimes for VERY long periods to conserve energy due to their HIGH metabolism. I have watched one stay utterly motionless on a tree branch for 30 minutes at a time.

Oh, I can't wait for my hummers to get here. They are such a joy to watch and now I've got another new feeder to put out this year. I bought it when they were closing them out this past fall and I got it real cheap since it was 50% off!

I cant wait to see them here....its still far too cold but soon

Penny, look for them the first to middle of April in YOUR area.

Thorny, the one I have coming to the feeder also comes at sunset and drinks for a long time.
I thought maybe it's fueling up for the night?

I believe they do fuel up for the night to keep themselves warm.

I live in the St. Louis area and I thought mine started coming around the first of April last year, but I can't really be sure. Anytime they want to come is fine with me. I can't wait!

Thanks Thorny.....I'll do that, cant wait to see them back at their feeder!!!!

Hummers do fill up for the night to have enough food to sleep on, and tank up again at first light. Just before migrations across the Gulf of Mexico, Hummers glut themselves to the point of Hummingbird super-massive obesity in order to cross the Gulf of Mexico non-stop in less than 24 hours. A few DON'T make it, but MOST do. As soon as they arrive on whichever shore, they desperately look for a food source to replenish their exhausted reserves.

There's been 2 more sightings, both in Florida! I still have about 5 weeks to go before they show up here.

That is very typical this time of year.

I JUST bought 2 new hummer feeders at Big Lots an hour ago for $2.00 a piece. They have a teardrop reservoir and hold about a quart each. I will get them up in about a month.

Ohhh, Thorny, we have a Big Lots here, so maybe I need to check these out. I haven't been there yet this year to see what they've gotten in for spring. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: I always find a lot a great gardening and birding supplies there.

i bought one of those big lots feeders last year
and while im not knocking thier usefullness,there
is one thing ill mention.
i have downy woodpeckers all over the place here.
they have taken to feeding at my hummingbird feeders. they totally wrecked the one i got at biglots. i guess thier larger size may have been the root of it.(xtra weight on the perches?)

and patches,im right across the river from you and i usually see my first hummers the first week of may,they may be here earlier but this is when i see em!

Here is a picture of my NEW Hummer Feeders ( Now available at Big Lots for $2,00 a piece!)

ONE QUART HUMMER FEEDERS

Downys apparently have quite a sweet tooth. I have had reports on birding forums, of people seeing Downys punching holes in the base of Trumpet Creeper blossoms to drink the nectar, and then they pull the blossoms off the vine. After hearing Downys calling around my Trumpet Creepers, I went out to find dozens of blossoms on the ground, each with neat round holes punched in the base. I have PERSONALLY witnessed Downys drinking from Hummingbird feeders myself, as have several other birders I have talked to.

Porter, that's probably when mine come around too, but I like to get my feeders out a little earlier just in case there are some "early birds".

I don't think I've seen anything else eating at my humminbird feeders, except for a few Bumble Bees.

I'm retired and at home most days I keep a close eye on my feeders.