The first reported sighting of a hummingbird was by Nancy Newfield on Feb. 26. Since then there have been numerous sighting reported along the gulf coast. Two have been reported at Dauphine Island, Ala. Get your feeders ready
This message was edited Mar 4, 2007 8:10 PM
Hummingbirds are Here
Thanks Mimidi!
I have been ready for a couple months, lol. Warblers and Kinglets have been enjoying the nectar as we wait on hummies to arrive here. I since added a few more feeders, making total of 4. Getting lots of nectar plants ready as well. Ready here!!
Deb
In Southern Cal - I saw two, but they don't seem to like my beautiful new fuschia...they keep going to the old, dilapated Bird of Paradise next door. Boo hoo! Any ideas on how to make them NOTICE my great big hot pink fuschia hanging from my patio rafter? Dankeshan.
RustyStar, I tied Red ribbons from my Christmas bow box out on my dogwood tree limbs. It works!...Neighbors probably think I'm crazy but who cares if I get hummers to come to my place first.
I saw the first ruby-throat of the season yesterday on my honeysuckle! Got the feeders out that afternoon. Laplace is 30 miles west of New Orleans.
Mark
My hubby saw our first one of the year last Wednesday afternoon. I saw my first one Sunday afternoon. He waited for me to take his picture. I was also greeted this morning with either the one from Sunday or another one. It is so good to have them back.
This message was edited Mar 20, 2007 10:09 AM
This message was edited Mar 20, 2007 10:10 AM
I'm still waiting :(
I just saw one today, they're here.....woohoo!
Oh! How utterly awesome! I am soooo excited for all of you! Happy Hummingbird Hunting! ♥
Becky, I know you'll see one any day now, I'm sending you hummer karma.
I sure hope your karma works. I have seen about everything in my garden except these elusive little birds! When I do see one, I probably won't believe it and think it is another moth. LOL!
I keep an eye on the hummer migration map http://www.hummingbirds.net/map.html - looks like they are almost to Tennesee! I have to wait quite a while yet up here in the not-so-frozen-anymore Northland...
i put my birdfeeder out this past weekend. when i see one then the other 8 will come out. i had so many last year i couldnt keep up. i love the little ones.
trying to find plants now
Waiting........
Cool Roanne!! If they are already there, I can epect them soon, I rather watch DGers in the thread than the migration maps now. It is the most reliable to me now.
Come on lil birdies!! I'm ready, and packing lotsa sweet nectar!!
The nectar I use is kind of epensive, so I only put a couple oz. in each of 2 feeders. It has to be changed every few days whether I get any takers or not. Orange Crowned Warbler still sips at them, and Kinglets are halfway to Canada by now, so I am ready and waiting.
Deb
Here is a male Orange Crowned, I finally saw one or 2 with the orange.
I had three males fighting at one of my feeders yesterday.
Hey Deb just mix a cup of water with a 1/4 cup of sugar and that is the cheapest and best nectar you can give them.
You guys are driving me crazy!!! Where are my little hummers?? According to the migration map they have been sighted all round me, and every day I anxiously watch the 4 feeders (and the reported sightings all around me) waiting for the first visit. Last year I didn't see any til late May--this year I got high hopes.
Seriously, it's great to read of the sightings and share the excitement! We've already had 88 degree weather and everything is bursting into bloom so maybe the wait won't be much longer. Last year, the first feeder I put up had a visitor as I was placing it up who SAT ON MY HAND and sipped; why am I complaining about the delay this year?
This message was edited Mar 26, 2007 8:57 PM
Sorry double post!!
This message was edited Mar 26, 2007 8:56 PM
Not to worry about double posting. It happens to me all the time.
Just keep those feeders ready and if you had hummingbirds visit last year they will be there this year. They do return to where they were bred.
Remember just use the ratio of 1 cup of water to 1/4 cup sugar in your feeders. I make up several gallons at a time using warm water to disolve the sugar. Then just keep mixture in the refigerator until I need it.
I don't have the number of humminbirds that others do but I was going through 3 gallons of sugar water a week last year.
Still waiting......
Wow! That is really weird Karen that you haven't gotten either butterflies or hummers yet! Very odd! I hope you are just missing seeing them and they are there afterall. I have no explanation for that if it is true. I hope the tornadoes didn't somehow destroy their natural habitat and run them off temporarily.
BTW - The ginger that you sent me is coming up. I saw it sprouting through the soil yesterday! :-)
Unfortunately, the raccoons trashed my water garden and knocked all the pots into the water. Those pesky critters have apparently been doing that for months. (I only recently figured out what was causing it. I was blaming the poor squirrels and the wind!) I think the Papyrus that you sent me is toast because of the abuse and constant submersion of the pots that the raccoons had been doing. But .... I broke down and bought one! They are so expensive! But I'm excited to still have one in my container pond. They are so unusual looking. On the bright side, I think I have stopped the raccoons from coming into my backyard. (Fingers crossed!)
I hadn't thought about the tornado as a problem in my yard, but could be. I wonder if all my neighbors using pesticides is making a difference :-(
gessieviolet, I know how you feel, I'm from SC also, And the map show's that they are all around us, But, I have not seen one yet! Anxiously waiting though!
i havent seen any yet either and i am here too in Sc. i fianally saw a few butterflies around. i think its the wacky weather we are having.
still looking though
NOW OPEN
The Golden Eagle Hummingbird Feeder
And Truck Stop.
The perfect feeder for the hummingbird on Migration.
When flying through Smyrna, stop in for some of that
sweet nectar.
Hey, could not hurt to advertise. Now only if HB's could read :)
This message was edited Mar 27, 2007 2:01 PM
Iris and imzadi, I'm not that far from you here in Ga. and I have not seen any either. As with you they are all around on the map but I'm ready to put my little red dot on the map.
-Greg
I wonder how many of those dots that are there now are actual sitings, or itchy fingers. Big difference than the years before
I just emailed the assistant curator of the Gainesville Butterfly Museum to ask why the BF's are not here. If he responds I will let you all know.
We saw our first Ruby Throated hummer Sunday afternoon and I just saw him again ten minutes ago. We've had Monarchs and two small butterflies I don't know the name of. Each is only about 1 or 1 1/2 inches. One is a pretty periwinkle color. The other appears black from a distance but has brown when seen close up. There are hundreds of them around the water puddles in the gravel road.
Debra
fleursdefouquet, Congrats on seeing your first hummer Sunday! And your butterflys!
imzadi, Greg2007, Lets have a contest and see who gets to add there dot first! LOL! My niehbor said she saw a hummer at her feeder a couple weeks ago but she didn't have any food in the feeder and has not seen it since. ~I'm also a little surprised that for all the sightings that are on the map, That when I go to the nurseries and other places that are loaded with flowers that I never see a hummer zinging by anywhere. Anyway's , I hope we all see one soon!! On another note, I have seen a few really pretty butterflys!
I Saw one today. i am so excited!!!!!!
imzadi, Congrats!! How exciting!! Sure hope I get to see one soon!!
i was so shocked at first because i was putting the feeder on the garage and he scared the life out of me. he was up in my face chirping . my husband who was with me at the time said i scared him worse.
he came back about 2 hours later unless he was at another feeder( have 2 acres) so it was possible he was at another. but he came back and i was so thrilled. he wouldnt hold still for a pic though. maybe tommorow
Wow, I know that feeling when they come right up to you fast like that and your not sure of what it is at first, bug or bird!!! So happy for you that you you have one going to your feeder!! Hopfully you can get a pic of him, Would love to see it!!
Congrats Debra and imzadi!!! It is exciting to have them back!
Mimidi,
I just bought a feeder yesterday, thank you for the recipe that clearly spells out the ratio. All I knew was 4:1, but I didn't know which was sugar and which was water until your post! LOL! Can you say sugar syrup? I truly thought it would be the other way around!
Are you supposed to cook the nectar? Not cook it, but bring it to a boil or something? Seems odd that they'd sell somehting that is so easy tomake.
Suzy
imazidi, I forgot to mention. You won the contest! You were the first one from the area to see one!!! lol!
Illoquin, I bring my sugar water to a boil, stir it, And let it cool, Then fill the feeders, ( When the water just starts coming to a boil, I stir it and remove it from the stove)
During migration time I use 3;1 ratio then go back to 4:1 until the next migration south.
Good to boil the water Iris, because of bacteria in it...however it needs to boil at least 5 min to actually kill said bacteria and keep the nectar pure longer. Then add the sugar after taking it off the burner too cool.
Good ratios Pelle!
Deb
Thanks I actually learned that from Nancy Newfield. After their here and settled they don't even bother with the feeders they just stay with Trumpetvine etc until it gets close to the time they leave.
They are such a joy to watch!