I've seen videos of feeders with many hummingbirds feeding at the same time. Why then, does this little bird spend all day chasing everything away from our feeder? Is it territorial, maternal or what? At the end of the day this little Buff-bellied hummer looks exhausted as he keeps vigil over HIS turks cap patch and feeder. The back yard is very shady and I'd like to plant something else at the other end of the yard that will attract humming birds and do well in shade. Any suggestions?
The humming birds are soooo territorial! If you have a feeder with 4 founts, they dont want anyone to feed except themselve. They get into fights over "rights" to the feeder.
I don't know the trick to getting them to share- tho my mom had 4 or 5 feeders hanging off the glass and under the house overhang where she could watch them from her bed, she could recognize them each as they fed and you would see 5 or 6 feeding at one time, she said they chase each other still, but there was enuff food so many came that chasing each other didn't do much good. More flowers and food is probably a good thing, that way the guy that does alll the chasing won't wear himself out while the others take turns while he's busy chasing.
I spread four single hummer feeders on all four sides of the house. That way if one bird becomes territorial, the others can eat elsewhere.
I use single stage feeders. I went to them as only one bird eats at a time and these are easy to clean. They empty them quickly but I change them every day or two anyway so the feed doesn't sour.
I'm not sure what type of plant suggestions you are looking for but these are a few hummingbird blooms that are loved here.
Any of the Agastaches and salvias.
Dicleptera suberecta http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1274/
Hamelia patens http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1844/
Those are just a few suggestions, I'm sure you will receive more ideas. I've noticed the hummers will go back to these plants repeatedly. Other blooms barely receive a passing glance.
You may not have a lot of blooms from plants in deep shade. Mine get afternoon/evening shade which they welcome in summer.
We have one who does the same thing. We call him Napoleon--he has issues ☺! We now have several feeders throughout the yard.
Great question about hummers! The only time I've had them "share" was after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, where there were suddenly huge numbers of them. I think they were all starving, off course and didn't have any other choice but to share! Thought I had a pic but can't find any :(
Ours sit in the trumpet vine that is strangling the pine tree, watches the adults chase each other then drops down and gets his drink, then retreats back into the pine. They get upset their feeder needs burped and they'll come get you to fix it, chuckle.
Fpr starters, hummers are
most attracted to the colors
red, orange, purple and
stromg (hot) pink.
They love tubular shaped blossoms
(works best with their beaks).
Amd OF COURSE flowers MUST
have good and viable nectar or they
wont even bother with them - after
all, nectar is their main food source.
Here is a pic of Aloe mzimbana
flowers. a popular plant with
hummers
Aloe mzimbana (60 cm) with dense
and curved flowers
Aloe mzimbana fleurs 1.jpg (67.47 KiB) Viewed 281 times
Aloe mzimbana plante 1.jpg (133.78 KiB) Viewed 281 times
Regards
Philippe Richaud
Le Cannet
France
This message was edited Apr 30, 2012 8:45 PM
Podster, I'll set out single feeders like you suggested, the one I have is a quad. And I definitely have to plant more nectar flowers. Thanks everyone!
Peace
Another hummingbird bloomer that would probably like your zone is Firespike. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1854/ http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/62195/
And it might prefer a bit of shade.
This message was edited Apr 30, 2012 10:17 PM
Yes Podster is correct - we had fiirespike
at Daddys house on Vine in McAllen ,
and I personally observed hummers on
many occasions enjoying them.
Hummer males don't like to share their feeders in the spring and summer. During fall migration I have seen 8 on one feeder and 6 on the feeder next to it. Females seem to share all year long then comes along a little boy bully bird they all scatter.
My hummers like all of the above. I haven't seen kniphofia mentioned. They really like that at my house, too.
Kniphofia is one I need to consider.
In my experience, I've had best luck with hanging the feeders near the woods. Seems they like to have a place to escape to and the shade keeps the feeder nectar from souring too quickly.
