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

I love this video of the Spatuletail Hummingbird!


http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8338000/8338728.stm



Very nice arbor Mrs Ed!!

Congrats Lily!
Nice Arbor Mrs-Ed!
Great video pelletory! Now that hummingbirds different!!
No hummers here yet, But, I'm expecting them anytime seeing I have some flowers blooming and the feeders are up :)

No hummers yet. How is it they can have been sighted up in Canada but seem to have skipped
right over my house?! Oh well, the azaleas & lilac have just bloomed, & my trumpet honeysuckle's
been in bloom for about 2wks. Temps have been all over the map - 50s to 90. Feeders been up
a week. Fingers crossed.

Hi Carol, It's because these are just the earliest of males to come up. The main number of them come up later.

I don't know if I'll see any of these early males either because I only have 1 feeder up this year.

Temp. has been pretty irratic here too, we had a week of Indian summer last week. This past few days it cooled back down as it should for an everage spring temp. I replaced my hummingbird feeder yesterday with fresh nectar. Hoping to see the pretty one coming back.

Wow Pelle...that Spatuletail Hummmer video is fantastic, what a display to attract a lady!

Lily love that setting, it is very inviting and I'm sure the Hummers will love it too!

I just cleaned the feeders and put out fresh nectar...DH is laughing at me!! Still no takers but I am going through the motions...LOL!!

I noticed my neighbour now has her feeder up! hahaha.. she certainly saw mine so I guess she thought it was time!! It's funny how she "copies" me.. don't get me wrong, I actually am happy that she does.. the more attractions the better! I planted red striped petunias with red geraniums a few weeks ago & also put purple allyssum with them & of course the planter is now next the them... hummers love petunias.. the red will certainly attract them. I am not a petunia fan so these are the only ones I have... since they have attracted the hummer I will probably do it again next year.

JulieQ, if you can get some red petunias that will be a start until everything else comes in.
MrsEd I like the red ribbon idea.. my honey suckle is ready to be staked & I think there are 2 flowers ready to bloom!!! hahaha

Hang in there ... the hummers are comin!!! hahahaha

My very first hummer perhaps returned briefly today. Saw it at the new nectar feeder while I was working out in the garden. yippie dooo!

Wonderful video Pelletory! Thanks for posting it!

No Hummers here yet, but according to the migration map, they've been just about everywhere else, including 6 sightings in Canada.

Congrats Lily...you're so lucky!

Hi Marilynbeth...nice to see you!

A friend of mine lives 8 miles from here and has had a few Hummers for almost a week. Very unfair...LOL!

See what I got for the little darlings!

Rose, is that the reflection of Redbud blooms in the precious feeder? lol.

It sure is Lily...I was surprised it showed up. All the Redbuds are blooming like crazy and they are just gorgeous!

I also bought this lovely fuchia for them!!!

putting fuchia on the list........bought 2 Pineapple Sage Plants for them......

Wooohooo, wondering how spring makes us so happy? Love that idea to have a feeder with the beautiful basket, Rose. Nan, I've noticed my Black and Blue Salvias have coming up nicely. Gotta check on the Pineaple sage, yes those little ones just love those flowers!

I've got 5 pineapple sage that I'm planting tomorrow in the backyard and have 5 more coming. Everytime someone mentions a plant they like I buy it! Also set out 4 coral honeysuckle. It looks like all the Salvias are coming up...good grief you'd think the Queen of England was coming to the house!! LOL!!

Rose,

Nice to see you too!

I bought between 4 to 6 of those new feeders like you have (the red and yellow ones) http://www.birdfeeders.com/store/hummingbird-feeders/b122tf

I had to take them back to the local Ace Hardware store because they all leaked.

I'd rather have the all red one like you got, but they didn't have them to sell. After I took them all back, I noticed another store in town (not Ace) had them, but since I had bad luck with the red/yellow ones, I wasn't going to take a chance, since they're all the 'same way'.

I ended up getting two of the Rose Petal feeders and a saucer 'hummzinger - like' feeder. Want to get another of those saucer feeders.

Marilynbeth..when I first put this one out it leaked so I brought it in to see what the problem was. It seems that I didn't have the two bottom parts screwed together tight enough. After I tightened them it seems to be working fine. I will check it in the morning and if it has leaked I will take mine back too. It is so cute I hope it does allright!!

Gorgeous plant Rose!!!

Just saw my hummingbird! Now I must go outdoor and chase it down for a pic. lol.

I went to a Lowes yesterday and boy are they stocked up with plants. Lots of blooming columbine that I thought about getting for the HBs, but I restrained myself. I'll probably pick up a couple of those annual red salvia splendens to tide me over. My Bleeding Heart is blooming though!

I overwintered some pineapple sage in DDs greenhouse. Maybe it is warm enough to set it outside. We should see seasonal resident hummers in the next couple of weeks. April 24 has been a frequent date in past years.

Hah, too early to go for a wild-goose chase! My hummer wasn't anywhere to be found. Oh, when we talks gardening I've forgotten completely of our zones differences. Sunfarm, thanks for the reminder. Many half hardy perennials that are hardy here (such as pineapple sage) may not be hardy for many of my birding friends in the forum.

As far as color, Southern gardens are now equipped with lots of bright red that are provided by, at first Camellias, now there are Rhodendrons and Azaleas. Bringing/adding flowering plant that provide nectars is fun addition to our garden. I'm learning to incorporate nectar feeders with/along other brightly flowers to attract hummingbirds. Thanks all for sharing your ideas.

Like a kid in a candy-store! But unlike a kid wanting to grab a handful (of candies), I wanted so bad to catch a picture (or two) of my hummer. lol! While working out in my garden. I heard the usual buzzing noise of the hummingbird near by. I look up, and there the beauty was! Hovering about my nectar feeder a handsome lad! First time ever I've noticed the red throat on this tinsy bit little jewel! Have I a Ruby-Throat Hummingbird? They migrate all the way from South America to our neck of the woods? I'm speecless of my new understanding of the beautiful bird and its journey. Sorry no picture.

I've been busy out planting my hummingbird haven, so I haven't kept up, but it's good to see everyone's ideas, feeder pics and sightings. I noticed my honeysuckle has some buds and will soon bloom. I'm still waiting for the first hummer to arrive, but I've been keeping my feeders fresh nonetheless. I also have my garden cam set up just in case anyone tries to sneek a sip at the feeder while I am at work.

Thats great iflowers!! Keep us posted!

enjoying the posts and photos! Still no hummers here yet :(

love the new feeder Rose.... I noticed that hummers also like Mexican Petunias, & they are purple flowers!
My honeysuckle vine is blooming!! This is it's second year so I hope I get more blooms.. I know the hummers love it too..it's at the back of my house so they will have privacy!! hahahaha
I tried growing Pineapple Sage here but I guess it's too hot here in TX for it..though is can. I just persoanlly didn't have any luck with it. I also don't have luck growing tomatoes either..hahahahahaha go figure!

I have two hummers that regularly come to the feeder now. I was able to watch the female feeding today as I was pulling up weeds. They are so not concerned with you being there as long as you are very still.

My favorite thing - to have the hummers chase each other from the feeder. Cruel, maybe (for the other bird) but they are very entertaining to watch.

Hummers- like cardinals, make me happy!

Margui.. I love cardinals too.. there are a few in my area & I could just listen to them all day! Last month there were at least 4 males chasing 1 female... & I counted two females in the area!!! That's the most cardinals I've seen in my area!!!

Same here Margui! So glad your seeing a few!

Hang in there IRIS, and anyone else who hasn't 'seen Hummers yet.

There was no mistaking that distinct sound I heard this morning.......our first Hummer......and what a sight! A Male zoomed past me and went directly to one of the three feeders that have been hung in the same location for years. For three straight years, hubby's seen the first one but today was my lucky day! Wait til they find that lovely feeder my SIL gave me for my B-day and sip nectar of the Columbines blooming.

Congrats FOTV! And what a pretty feeder!

I was taking a short break a little while ago and the first Hummer of the season showed up. When he saw me he flew off so I came inside and when he returned he checked out the two yellow seed feeders before he used the Hummingbird feeder. He also used the one on the front porch so maybe he knows his way around and will be back. I need to walk the dogs and then will be on Hummer Watch until the sun sets!!

Congrats dellrose! Hope you seen him again after you walked your dogs!

Congratulations Rose!!!!

congrats. 4 days early! must be those warm south winds.

I've been so godarn busy, I probably had one and didn't realize it! I'll have to keepa better eye out! Do have some goldfinches, Housefinches, Bluejays, Cardinals, Doves, And Bluebirds though! :)

Congrats, Rose!

Ditto IRIS, I think they'd been here too, just hadn't spotted one before yesterday. We have many of the same birds in common. Others here so far are Eastern Phoebes, Mockingbirds, and Brown Thrashers.

Seeing a Red-tailed Hawk swoop down and scarf up a little Chipping Sparrow today just made me sick.

Yes we do, I got the Eastern Phoebes and Mockingbirds (forgot to add them) But, no Brown Thrashers yet.
I hate to see when the hawks swoop up there prey too, but, I know it's just part of nature, Though it's not a nice site to see.

My honeysuckles are the main attraction of these hummingbirds. I think. I saw the hummer briefly yesterday when I wore a red shirt outdoor. It darted near and checked me out, then flew off and I couldn't get a good look. Now, I can appreciate how difficult it's for those that could get a good picture of these elusive beauties.