Garden

[Mary Bailey]

Please share your experiences & stories.

I'm about 35 miles sw of Chicago. I have 3 medium sized feeders in my flower beds and a 2 small ones by windows. I make the nectar.

We've named two of the regulars. Dinky (small tail & beak) he's not scared of us. He will feed on the feeder closest to the patio, even when we're sitting there listening to music. Flutter, doesn't sit long at the feeders. He flutters down, takes a hit then flutters to the next hole or feeder.

One of the little feeders hangs in front of our family room picture window. We can see them up close! DH has been seeing them for weeks, today was my first day. LOL Guess who watches more tv. The other small feeder is by the kitchen picture window. I've been eye-ball to eye-ball to a single hummingbird.

I've rarely seen two, even rarer three hummingbirds at the same feeder. It's usually just one at a time, at multiple feeders.

I read in a book that for every hummingbird you see in your yard, there are probably at least 6 more visitors.

[chessylady]

I have a hummingbird feeder on my front porch and on my back deck. There are regular territorial fights at both feeders.Yesterday one of the hummers went to the empty feeder then got about two feet from my face as if to tell me to fill up the feeder. Most of the hummers in California are Anna's hummingbirds.

[Foggy morning]

Well, I had to buy a bigger feeder! I've never had so many hummers stop by. Right now they're going through a quart of nectar (I make it myself) a day. The new feeder has 10 feeding spots and I've counted 8 hummers feeding at he same time. The feeder is on the second floor porch adjacent to a large oak tree. You can sit 4-5 feet away and watch.

[Harpa]

Awww, so cute to name your regulars!

I goofed this year...? I put the hum feeder (just have 1) next to the peanut butter sammys I have in a suet cage for my year-round regulars. I guess it's because of that...? the hums don't come around until the cage is empty, which means by midday.

Last year, though, that did not deter the little guys & gals. So, I don't know what's up now.

It's been less activity this year than last. I was thinking maybe they are taking advantage of the flowers from the trumpet vines & other things around the neighborhood.

[Lady Lassie]

We love feeding our hummers but lately some visitor comes around during the night and must rock the feeder so nectar is almost gone by morning. We have the feeder on a tree so any suggestions on what to do?

[Lorik62]

I have two of the humdinger brand feeders hanging from shepherd hook type hangers that attach to the railings on my back deck. Each feeder has a spot for 6 hummers but I have only ever seen two feeding on opposite sides at the same time. The feeders have a well in the center for regular water to keep ants from getting into the sugar water. I noticed that the sparrows were coming to get a little drink out of the center well, so I have stopped putting water in the center because they were scaring the hummers away. I have a little male that is there all the time ( or at least I think it's the same one! ) and I call him Englebert!

[JeanLouiseFinch]

I live about 45 miles, or so, SE of the Chicago city limits, in NW Indiana. DH and I were enjoying our patio yesterday when a lone hummingbird stopped by and buzzed around one of our flower pots for a few seconds. I have a feeder in the garage that I haven't put out because it always seems to attract bugs more than the birds. Maybe I'll get it out and set it up this week.

[jackthebear]

We have 2 feeders on the window,they are long casements in the kitchen so the cat can watch them. Well the new thing is they watch each other, Hummy taunts my cat by flying down to her level.

When the cat isn't there it just goes to the feeder. So fun to watch

maybe we are imagining this but it's fun and they are so cute,

[Lilysmom]

Lady Lassie, put your feeder on a very small long branch out toward the end of the limb. Pick a limb that can't be reached from the ground. That way, larger critters can't get at it because the limb won't hold their weight. We have three hummers this year. They flit around me when I am in the garden, especially if the feeder is empty. They seem very hungry this year. The feeders always seem to be empty. Just refilled them them today after taking them in for Hurricane Arthur. Love the hummers! LM

[sugarflake]

I have been feeding humming birds for 15 years now. I have at least 3 each time take turns, however there have been times when I have had 2 feeding together. My problems is ants. They just bombard the feeder. What a mess to clean up.