Garden

[MoJoV]

I was so happy to see the hummingbird post. We have a few of them here in the Chicago suburbs around our feeder. A small one and a larger one. I worry about them, it's going down in the high 40's tonight. I hope they will be okay, I enjoy them so much. We haven't had much action at the feeder all summer, but we moved the feeder and bang there they are. We also feed all the other wild birds. Love them all. Thanks for the hummingbird post!

[Campion]

How lovely! Thanks for a beautiful "blog" about your hummingbird experience.

I am a lifelong birder and my late husband took up my passion with me. We don't have migrating hummingbirds here on the Midatlantic coast, but we DO have Spring migrations of water birds. Quite exciting.

I used to log the birds I'd see in my backyard in New Hampshire (we moved down here a decade ago) and I got up to 42 birds in my yard. Incredible.

Since the banning of DDT decades ago, birds have made a comeback. We see BALD EAGLES almost every day and one flew over my car last week.

If you are a birder, you know how exciting the OP's experience can be.

Thanks for posting that! I envy you the migration.

[jackthebear]

I think my little friends have made the move too.

[cah]

I've been feeding and bird
watching for over 50 years now.
I never tire of it.
I have hummingbirds return year after year and they're
so used to me they eat from the feeder while I'm trying to
hang it up!

It's so good to see so many who love it also..

[Stepping stone]

Thanks, Susan, for such an informative post. We only have Ruby throated hammers in my area but I really enjoy them. There's a large porch around 3 sides of our house so I have multiple feeders. Supposedly the hummers all gather at the Natchez Trace close to here and make their way South. I've not seen them don't know for sure. Have you heard of this? Anyway thx for your post, I've enjoyed all remarks from you others as well.

[gonnab]

I live in southern Connecticut and the hummers are still at my feeder but their numbers are diminishing. I have a feeder on my porch and at times, I felt I was in the middle of a fighter plane battle - they was diving and fighting for that feeder!!! So fun to watch them. I've noticed that they have personality too - some are very aggressive - others more tolerant. There is one little female who is so nosy - she will chirp and hover around me and watch me while I sit and read - I'm sometimes tempted to hold out my finger for her to perch. I expect them to leave soon - probably this week or next. I'm not very observant to notice exactly when they leave or return - it just seems that all at once, I notice that I don't see them any more. Will miss them until next year when they usually appear in May.

[luvmyteddy4]

I saw my first hummingbird yesterday on my butterfly bush right outside my front door. I use to have a feeder that never worked, who knew, all I needed was a bush.

[PilatesLover]

KJPA what type of feeder are you using? Mine will only feed from the inverted bottle type feeder shaped like this. The particular one that mine like is made by PerkyPet. I had purchased a flat, dish-shaped one made by Droll Yankees called the Hum-Zinger or something like that, and they adamantly refused to use it.

My Product Recommendations

Pinch Waist Glass Hummingbird Feeder

[geezerette]

KJPA:

I’m not a bird expert by any means, but I think Susan Louise is right about location, location, location. You either got it or you don’t as far as the birds are concerned. Actually, your hummingbird environment sounds a lot like mine as far as hanging on hooks, by my west window. But by observation and trial and error over the years I’ve found a few things 'my' hummies prefer.

Mine do not like to be near other larger types of birds. I keep their feeders well away from the seed-eating birds. Hummies also tend to be wary of bees and wasps, too. Mine will tolerate the wasps—they just back off the feeder and hover until the wasp moves, then go back to eating—but my hummingbirds absolutely will not stay around if their feeders are anywhere near anyplace that larger birds congregate. I also make sure that the hummies have a direct path (about 50 yards or so) to the woods from the feeders so they can get to safety and shelter quickly and easily.

My hummingbirds also like to sit. Not only do they prefer feeders that have perches so they can feed while sitting, they also like to have a place to perch above the feeder to guard it. If you can get one or two of the more aggressive birds to feel that your feeders are their territory so that they want to guard them, they’ll stick around. My hummies won’t stay long around a feeder where they have to keep hovering to eat. Others like to perch on the shepherd’s hooks, or even the wires that hang from the feeder hooks. And try putting up multiple feeders, rather than just one. When I have just a few hummingbirds, they prefer not to have to use the same feeder. Even if you only have a few birds, if you can get them to perch, you can see them better!

As for your question regarding sun/shade: I find that the cold weather bothers hummingbirds more than really hot weather (at least what I consider really hot!). When the temperatures are 90s-100s here during the summer, there will be just as many hummingbirds drinking from the feeders in the sun as those in the shade. However, early and late in the season when it’s cool/cold (say, in the 50s or so), they frequent the sunny feeders more than the shady ones.

As Susan has said, you might just be in an area where hummingbirds don’t breed so no matter what environment you give them you might not ever have a bunch at one time. My sister lives up north and is quite a birder, but if she gets two or three hummingbirds during their summer, she considers herself lucky. I’ve lived in areas like that before. But that makes it even more exciting when you can attract even one or two than if you get bombarded by hundreds each and every year! Good luck!

[gacat123]

Love the hummingbird stories and suggestions! I have a perky pet feeder outside my kitchen window and screened porch. I also have an ant guard upside down cup thing that keeps out the ants. The mix ratio is 1part sugar to 4parts water, feeder cleaned once or twice a week. The feeder stays up until Thanksgiving here in SW GA.

Last winter we had a family of Great Horned Owls move into the backyard! The babies make this horrible screaming screech to be fed and are very demanding. Hope they come back to nest this winter.

I have a squirrel proof bird seed feeder with cone shape baffle below to keep out pests. The birds enjoy the bird bath and adjacent sprinkler when I have it on.

The screened porch has a small table top style fountain on it which I enjoy very much.

I keep binoculars within reach and love watching the wildlife!

CAT