Favorite Ruby-throated Nesting Trees/Habitats?

Does anyone have personal experience with favorite Ruby-throated Nesting Habitats?

I have read that they like to nest out of the wind, about 10 to 20 feet up, in large leafed trees, near water.

Has this been your experience?

And do Ruby throated use the Hummingbird nesting platforms I have seen advertised? I have heard western hummingbirds will.

Tabasco,

The ruby throated hummies in south Texas nest way, way...wayyyyyy up high in the oak trees in my yard but I've never been able to see their nests through the foliage.

I've tried a variety of nesting platforms, houses and hidey holes but nothing lures them closer in regards to where they will build their nests.

They do get close and up into my face when they are waiting for me to fill up the feeders - zipping and squeaking and looking awfully cute :o)

So far only one lone hummie has remained in my yard for the Winter...that one did not migrate. I keep a feeder up for the little piggy. I've seen others at a local butterfly/birding park - many more plants flowering there to keep them fed.

~ Cat

Thanks, tpp-- I was wondering how effective the nesting platforms were, so your info is good to know...they say the ruby throateds don't care for them much either.

I was hoping that I could provide the kind of tree rubythroateds liked to nest in if anyone knew what it was! I have heard broad leafed trees such as maple are popular...

I've also heard that the western HBs liked to be higher than the rubythroateds...

I want them to come early and make nests and stay--not just migrate through...and am trying to put together just the environment they thrive in...don't know if that's possible though...

Do you have 'water' to attract HBs in your yard?

I have had ruby throats nests here - 1 about 25 feet above the ground on a small pine limb, 1 about 15 feet up on a small sweetgum limb, and 1 about 10 feet up on a small redbud limb. All of these were within 50 feet of my house, and on understory limbs. They seem to love to play in the misting system I have for my orchid garden. When I turn it on, the hummies fly through the mist almost constantly. I have, in the past, seen them fly through water from a lawn sprinkler. So yes, they love the water, but the more misty type as apposed to droplets the better. The mist doesn't harm them at all. The larger drops are more likely to chill them as their blood supply can't regulate too much body temp quickly enough. They know this and will avoid heavy rain (or sprinklers ) as much as possible and only play in the outer areas of spray.

Just my observations.
ginni

tgif-- thanks for all the good info. I have red buds and pines already-- am not familiar with the Sweet Gum but will look it up. It's a wonder you could see the nests so high up! I understand they are teeny tiny.

Interesting about the misters, too. I will get one set up for the HBs...I suppose I could get a simple mister at Lowes or HD.

Mmmm...now what else? Am I forgetting anything?

Thanks for all the good tips on building up my Humming Bird population ...hope it will be lots of fun this summer.

tabasco, I don't think the type of tree matters as much as location. If you don't have sweet gum in your area, I don't recommend getting any just for the hummies. They aren't the safest trees on the market. As they get older the tops die off and it doesn't take much of a storm to put that tree top on your roof! Their fall foliage can be breathtaking - just put them well away from buildings.

One thing you might try is to put out the odd orange, banana or other fruit that will attract fruit flies and other small insects. Hummers love those little bugs and can go into a feeding frenzie the likes of which you never saw! This will also be greatly appreciated when they are feeding their young and need all the protien they can find for the babies and themselves. And, yes, both parents are in on the feeding and care of the nestlings. I watched a tiny male hummer stand off, back down and put into full retreat a full grown male cardinal that got too close to the nest!

They are such fasinating little creatures. I have on several occasions had to capture one to get it out of my greenhouse or the screen porch. I have found that once you have it secure in your hands, they go totally still. It is so amazing to hold such a tiny bit of pure energy all warm and still in your hand. As soon as I got outside and opened my hands, the little thing looked around and then took off, headed for the nearest feeder.

My brother had a feeder hanging under a patio umbrella in his back yard to keep it shaded - net result, the hummers kept getting "trapped" and had to be captured to get them "free". When they get into a situation like that they only know to go UP, never figuring out that a little downward swoop would have them free. Lesson there, hang your feeder in a free access area.

Don't put out a lot of feeders either. This source of food is more of a booster than a main diet, and too many feeders will only wear you out. I have only three feeders located on different sides of the cabin. I can see one from my bedroom, one from the east end of the great room, and one from the west end (outside the window in front of my computer desk) and those three provide all the entertainment and food needed to keep the hummers and me happy.

Sorry, didn't mean to hog the thread - I just love hummers and wish everyone the best for having them around!
ginni

Good info, as always, ginni.

We do get a nice steady stream of Hummers coming through from late May until September, but I would like to get some really early ones to visit and also get them to stay late into the fall. We usually try to keep three or four HB feeders going (on an acre).

Last year I planted some nice HB plants/flowers but I noticed the flowers started blooming late in June and went dormant in August when it got so hot and humid so I am trying to make adjustments to bloom times and flower varieties for a longer HB season.

I wish I could find the HB nests in our trees--I'm sure they must be there somewhere but my eyes aren't good enough to see the tiny things. How did you find your nests? With binocs?

Thanks again for all the good tips. t.

Yes, binocs after watching flight patterns. Once you see a particular direction of flight, you just start following that path. The first one we found was because of the stand off between the hummer and the cardinal. We figured there had to be a nest near by to cause that attitude from the hummer, and sure enough, the nest was only about fifteen feet from where the fight was. But I still didn't see it until I actually saw the female go in to feed the babies. From there on, I watched thru the binocs. The other nests were closer to the ground and in areas I was in often, so I could hear them as well as see their flight into the nest. The pattern I saw was that the female would go in first to feed and clean, then the male would follow as soon as she left. (the wife seemed to be the one to clean the diapers!) There were times that I saw the male come close first, but sit about 10 feet away and wait for the female to come in to feed first. I hope to have more nests this year, so I can watch and pick up more of the behavioral patterns.
ginni

lol at piggy

Hi Tabasco! I'm intently reading your posts with TGIF about the Hummingbirds. You posted that they start arriving in late May? I'm going to get my feeders ready! I only saw one last year and it hovered right in front of my face for a second and then POOF! ...it was gone. I got a late start last year but this year I'm ready for them!

Hi, MsMolly--

FYI the local birding society told me they arrive late May but I noticed on the Hummingbird Migration map that someone spotted one around here on April 9 last year. So have to get busy!

I hope I will have lots of Hummingbird plants/vines from my Wintersowing seeds this year to share with you.

Someone somewhere said to get some (temporary) early spring red annuals to plant out in a container to attract the scouts to your place...so I went to Lowes and picked up some snapdragons and nemesia today. Probably will get caught in a freeze, but I'm determined to get some early HBs!

I'm sure you'll get a nice HB population this year now that they've found your pretty garden! t.