Let's Talk about Hummingbirds and Their Migration Vol. 2

If you would like a look back at the old thread, here is the link.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1077903/

Lets continue our talk about those wonderful Hummingbirds.

I just realized I used the same photo as the last thread. :-)

ha. no problem!!!

A nice reminder, pelletory, for those of us who still haven't seen any.

Elphaba, what neat observations today.

I don't mind seeing it again, It's a beautiful photo!!

For those who haven't bookmarked it, here's the link to the current migration map: www.hummingbirds.net/map.html. Still haven't seen any scouts yet.

Thanks Sun but that link is not working.

Here is the Hummingbird Map (and others) in the sticky thread.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1077643/

I finally saw two hummingbirds yesterday! We had just put up a couple of feeders the day before, so they found them fairly quick.

No hummer yet but I did report my first sightings of Barn Swallows that I saw yesterday!

Congratulations Happy!

I haven't seen a hummer yet but one was reported on the Cape yesterday. Unbelievable! So, I have my feeders out and am waiting.....

I haven't seen the chippers or tree swallows yet either. But I can enjoy everyone else's photos while I am waiting. :D

no MI sightings yet just OH so far... hopefully they will be here soon ^_^

That link would have worked except for the period at the end.

Well I hung my feeders yesterday. Don't actually believe i'll get any for a few weeks yet, but two feeders are up.

Thanks for the correction on the link. The dot was supposed to be the period at the end of my sentence, I didn't notice it had been made part of the URL. It seemed easier to go there directly than have to go back to the previous thread here. If the hummers are already being sighted in MI, why have I seen only wasps at my feeders so far?

Well these are just the EARLIEST males being sighted. The regular ones will be up later. :-)

It would be interesting to see if the early male scouts always stop at the same place every year.

My feeder has less than half the amount of nectar that it had this morning....could that much have evaporated today???? I have never seen that much 'disappear' before over the last 3 years.

Bats?

No nectar drinking bats here....and this is the one I have to bring in at night. It was very warm here yesterday...in the 80's so it probably just evaporated.

This message was edited Apr 7, 2010 10:40 AM

Nan, I've a nectar feeder, this one here. Due to gravity pulls, sometimes in a just-right position, it can empty in a hurry without any help from the birds or any one. lol. Other time it doesn't. Go figure. BTW, I've yet seen a hummer here. But I noticed my Major Wheelers honeysuckles are making lots of buds....it's getting close. (I hope).

All of my feeders lost a lot of fluid yesterday due to the insane wind. By now, they are probably empty. I will have to refill them tonight if it's not storming still or again when I get home!

Nanny....I noticed that my feeder in the front yard has gone down quite a bit. Even during the summer when I know the hummers are hammering it, it doesn't go down that fast. Weird!

There have been 2 sighted on the Cape but I haven't seen one yet. I did see my first chippie today though. Yippee!

I have put out a new feeder, I felt the one I had was not big enough as it didn't have a perch & only one tube. I bought a cheap one from Wal Mart but if I am getting the hummers I will buy more.
I heard where it is not neccessary to have red coloring to attract the hummers to the feeder as they can "smel" the sugar water. Plus, if there is enough red color around the feeders, such as in plants etc, then they will find the feeder.
I have nectar that can be made from cold water instead of boiling it... I find it a lot easier & I will change it more often this way.
Thanks for the info on the hummzinger's.. I am going to have to check them out.
Also.. I was not aware that Red dye #40 was made from coal tar.. I am a big advocate against Mountain top removal coal mining. & this will be interesting to tell.

The first hummingbird sighting for me was on April 4, but they could have been here earlier, as I was on vacation. Generally, I see the first one around March 15, but I moved last year and it took them until May to find my feeder, so I was happy to see one on the 4th. I'm not in the best location for the little birdie's -and have a courtyard instead of a yard-and wonder what I can do to increase exposure of my feeder to my little purple-chinned friends.

I finally saw one yesterday for the first time this year! Yay!

Wooohooo, they're here? Gotta check on the nectar feeder. Thanks Julie, I'm so glad they're in our State.

Congratulations Margui and Julie!!!

Margui, Do you have room to possibly plant some vines like an orange or red Honeysuckle?

I saw one, pretty sure it was a Ruby-throated Hummer, yesterday at the feeder, no pic though. But I did see one earlier, around 3/31, at the same feeder.

Hack

Congratulations Hack!!

I got a real treat this morning as I was opening my blind.. there was a hummer at my new feeder!!! YYYYYEEAHHHHH!! Of course I did a little "happy dance".. I couldn't tell what type of hummer it was but I am hoping it was one of the black chinned from the fall returning!! I scared the little fella off as I opened the blind! I was just as happy that my new feeder worked!! & so soon too! hahahahaha

Woohooo! Congratulations Cindy!!!!!

Thanks Pelletory.. you can now be assured that I am going to be keeping this feeder filled all year! If I am lucky I may even be able to get a photo!!

Found some Crocosmia corms today so I planted 2 groups of 5 in different beds. They are supposed to realy like them.

Before sunrise, I was greeted by a hummingbird! Yes, a hummingbird! Wooohoooo! I was away all day, I was happy to learn that it did hang around the garden in the good part of the day from my hubby. The nectar feeder is up, I'm looking forward to see more of the visitor this growing season.

I've a few plants that would attract hummingbirds, include croscomias "lucifer" I've noticed they enjoyed my red honeysuckle in years past. Those are in buds and about to burst loose here. Their timing is just right !

Congratulations Lily!!!!

That's great news, Lily. I don't have anything blooming except dogwood and columbine, and tons of wild violets. Not sure if they like those. Azaleas should be open soon.

Congrats LL!

My feeders went up a few days ago, but I got my streamers out today! LOL. I had to tie up the honeysuckle to train it to the arbor, so I figured I might as well use plastic red ribbon!

Hey congrats Lily!

I put some petunias in planters out on the porch too today....here hummer, hummer.

Congrats Lily! Nice arbor Mrs. Ed...I would stop if I was a Hummer!

I bought a fuchia plant yesterday to hang by the feeders that have been out for a week!! Still waiting impatiently!! Last year they didn't show until April 18th so probably have at least another week. I did plant some Coral Honeysuckle today and Bee Balm and a bunch of other stuff for them. Also have some Crocosmia Lucifer on order and lots more stuff to plant for them. I think I've spent more time preparing for the Hummers than I do when my own family comes to visit!! LOL!!

Thanks all. I'm one happy camper. Mrs_Ed. Nice arbor. Oooh yah, I would stop too if I were a hummingbird. Love that creative idea with the red ribbons.