Garden

[MoJoV]

I'm wondering about the progress of the little flying jewels.  I look forward to putting my feeders out (NEVER use that red stuff please) every year. 

We're just outside Chicago and we had snow and wind a blizzard the other day. I haven't seen any hummingbirds yet. Any in your area?

[morganjen]

Yes, I switched over to the homemade hummingbird food last year. I am in south central Missouri, and I have seen two hummingbirds so far.

[tipsy]

Yes, I am in southern CA so I have them year round, although some do go to Mexico for the winter.  I also get orioles from Feb to Sept/Oct.  This year the female orioles are preferring the hummingbird feeder to the oriole feeder for some reason, even though I make the same sugar water for both feeders.

I found out something really interesting last year about the Allen's hummingbird & babies.  The female usually lays 2 eggs, a boy & a girl.  The girl will jump from the nest first, a few days before the boy.  The baby will hang out on the ground for 2 days before it can fly, & during that time mom will come & feed it.  She knows the baby's location by the chirping.  I found all this out when I thought I had an injured hummingbird & took it to a wildlife center...they told me it was just a baby & to bring it back to my yard & put it where I found it.  Then make myself scarce & watch to see if mom makes contact with the baby within 15 minutes.  This all happened exactly the way they described it should & I was so happy!  Then a few days later baby brother jumped.  I heard his chirps & saw him on the ground.  The hardest part was making sure my dogs didn't step on the babies or that the gardener didn't mow over them!  This happened last July so this year I will know to keep an eye (& ear!) out for the babies on the ground! 

[Sweetbay magnolia]

They're around my place in VA, have been for about a week, week and a half.  There hasn't been much activity at the feeder, so I figure they're nesting, or it's just early stragglers coming in.

I have though had the "get out of my way" posture from an incoming, while I stood near the feeder.

Good info, @tipsy.  What a miracle that these creatures survive.

[jackthebear]

not yet, but they might need a raincoat for down jacket, its cold again here 

[Mary Bailey]

@MoJoV  I'm outside Chicago too.  The neighbors have up their feeders now. 

Last year I put mine up last week of April and didn't see any till mid-May. 

I'll probably put them up next weekend (unless they buzz the window sooner)

[Anniedog]

Here in the Seattle area we have Ana’s hummingbirds which stay here all year round. We had a very cold and snowy February but the Ana’s were still here and very hungry. We keep feeders up year round and they had to be filled every other day because the Ana’s had to drink so much to keep warm. We also have Rufous hummers which do migrate and we saw one about 2 weeks ago. We love hummers.

[SunnysMom]

I am in Spring Hill, KS...just south of Olathe...I have had only one and just in the past seven days...our weTher is chilly and rainy 

[wagirl]

My hummers are year round and are draining the feeder a few times a week. I'm in western WA state.

[hayseed00]

@MoJoV  I live in Western NY, and just had my first Hummingbird.  This is the earliest I've ever had them.  Something just told me to put my feeder out, and so glad I did.