topic Re: SOMETHING GETTING INTO HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS ... in Garden

SOMETHING GETTING INTO HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS ...

Dazlin — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 18:16:15 GMT

Noticed the lid was slightly off, so I snapped it back on yesterday. This morning it was completely off and all nectar was gone. I have this particular one hanging from a tree. We are setting out a camera and a trap tonight. Last week there was a racoon near my house...I have no idea if a racoon would climb up to drink sugar water. It's hanging from twine on the branch of the tree.

I have 2 other feeders on Shephards hooks and those have not been disturbed.

Re: SOMETHING GETTING INTO HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS ...

On It — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 18:23:41 GMT

A raccoon sounds like the culprit. They are devious creatures. I have seen a photo of a bear drinking from a hummingbird feeder, but it was intact.

A word of caution is we are being asked in our area to not feed or attract birds to a common food source. A bird flu is spreading, and it seems safer to let the birds stay scattered in the wild to avoid infection.

Re: SOMETHING GETTING INTO HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS ...

Catiele — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 18:26:49 GMT

My hummingbird feeder is on my deck. I am still waiting for them to arrive. Not able to put them in the yard because of squirrels.

Re: SOMETHING GETTING INTO HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS ...

Tinkrbl44 — Sun, 24 Apr 2022 07:44:14 GMT

@Dazlin wrote:
Noticed the lid was slightly off, so I snapped it back on yesterday. This morning it was completely off and all nectar was gone. I have this particular one hanging from a tree. We are setting out a camera and a trap tonight. Last week there was a racoon near my house...I have no idea if a racoon would climb up to drink sugar water. It's hanging from twine on the branch of the tree.
I have 2 other feeders on Shephards hooks and those have not been disturbed.

@Dazlin

Don't know where you are, but I'm in SoCal and thought I'd share what we deal with. Every Spring we get what appears to be Baltimore Orioles that get nervy and drink on our hummer feeder. They are about 4 times larger than a little Hummer.

They are quite greedy and I'm surprised they can get anything out of the little feeder holes! They aren't here for the whole season, but I can tell they really upset Fritz, the hummingbird that lives in the ficus next to the feeder. Fritz thinks that feeder is HIS, and he is clearly quite upset when those bully Orioles stop by for a drink.

Re: SOMETHING GETTING INTO HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS ...

Jk9 — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 19:02:46 GMT

I suspect the raccoon is your perpetrator. A bear tore down our neighbors bird feeders (including hummingbird feeders) and was seen doing it.

Re: SOMETHING GETTING INTO HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS ...

Mz iMac — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 20:17:39 GMT

Squirrels are pretty smart too (except when knowing to cross a street=road kill)!

Re: SOMETHING GETTING INTO HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS ...

Kachina624 — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 21:07:51 GMT

I can assure you raccoons do have a sweet tooth. We had a pet one once that would come running when we shook a box of candy. Also, they are the only creature in the garden whose paws are dexterous enough to remove a lid. They are like little hands plus the animal is super smart.

Re: SOMETHING GETTING INTO HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS ...

Spacrazy — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 21:31:38 GMT

The squirrels around here drive me and my little dog crazy. I quit trying to have bird feeders.

Re: SOMETHING GETTING INTO HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS ...

Dazlin — Sun, 24 Apr 2022 12:16:23 GMT

Camera is set and nothing came around. The feeder has not been disturbed. I'm keeping an eye as much as possible.

Re: SOMETHING GETTING INTO HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS ...

eaesquire — Sun, 24 Apr 2022 16:11:49 GMT

@Tinkrbl44 I used to have the same problem with Bullock's Orioles here in Southern Colorado. They dominated my hummingbird feeders until I got them one of their own. It has a cup in the middle for grape jelly (which I water down a bit with the hummingbird nectar = sugar water) and prongs for orange halves. Over the winter I bought a second Oriole feeder that includes a reservoir for nectar. I haven't put it out yet because I can't remember where I put it... but maybe it will come to me before they get here.

Re: SOMETHING GETTING INTO HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS ...

Tinkrbl44 — Sun, 24 Apr 2022 20:04:36 GMT

Question for the Hummer experts here .....

Our primary hummer, Fritz, sits on the ficus most of the day, just about 4 feet from his feeder, probably to guard it more than anything else. It appears that he spends the night in another larger tree about 20 feet away, where he can see his feeder at all times.

We have noticed a couple times that Fritz will show up around 1:30-2:00am and have a drink at the feeder, then go back to his nighttime tree. Isn't that UNUSUAL ? It seems rather dangerous that a little hummer would be flying anywhere at 2 in the morning ... I think.

Have you ever noticed a hummer coming in for a nighttime snack? I've never seen this before!

Re: SOMETHING GETTING INTO HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS ...

Dazlin — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 23:48:20 GMT

@Tinkrbl44 ...im not up checking at 2 am or so...but sometimes I have a camera set and never picked up any bird feeding at night. It's said Hummingbirds will feed until dusk and return at early dawn to replenish themselves. If it's still rather cold out, they'll feed consistently in the early morning to fight cold they may feel. Only if there are lights outside during the night, they may come out to feed. That's all I really know based on some research I've done.

Re: SOMETHING GETTING INTO HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS ...

Tinkrbl44 — Mon, 02 May 2022 01:10:01 GMT

@Dazlin wrote:
@Tinkrbl44 ...im not up checking at 2 am or so...but sometimes I have a camera set and never picked up any bird feeding at night. It's said Hummingbirds will feed until dusk and return at early dawn to replenish themselves. If it's still rather cold out, they'll feed consistently in the early morning to fight cold they may feel. Only if there are lights outside during the night, they may come out to feed. That's all I really know based on some research I've done.

@Dazlin

I think our little Fritz must feel very, very secure that he can travel over to the feeder and know the food is always there for him.

I can't imagine any hungry bird would go out in the middle of the night to search for food. Our feeder is a Sure Thing and open 24/7 for him, and he knows it.

Re: SOMETHING GETTING INTO HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS ...

RedTop — Mon, 02 May 2022 04:13:58 GMT

@Tinkrbl44
My husband is up and down all night long due to pain in his feet and legs. During the summer it is not unusual for him to go outside on the front porch and sit until he is ready for bed again.

Our hummingbird feeder is hung on our front porch, and the birds are used to feeding while my husband is out there. He says they come to the feeder all night long. We are anxious to see if that holds true this year, as in October of last year we were forced to take down the 122 year old tree they have always called home.

Our front yard is well lit, and the tree was only 10 feet from the porch, so it was easy and safe for the birds to get a drink all night. We only have a lilac bush left in the front yard now, which seems to have several robin and wren nests in it already, so am not sure where our hummers will nest when they come, which should be anytime now.

Re: SOMETHING GETTING INTO HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS ...

Tinkrbl44 — Mon, 02 May 2022 07:20:14 GMT

@RedTop

Really! Well, I have been wondering about that ... never heard of hummers out at night. If you don't mind me asking, what part of the country are you located?

Re: SOMETHING GETTING INTO HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS ...

RedTop — Mon, 02 May 2022 21:39:25 GMT

@Tinkrbl44

I am on the southern end of WV.