Hummingbirds and Gessies

So, really this is off-topic for this forum, but I'm gonna put a spin on it to make it relevant. ;o)

I'm feeding the hummingbirds for the first time this year. I cleaned and refilled the feeder yesterday and as I went to hang it back up, the hummer was there chattering at me. I grabbed the camera, held the feeder out in front of me, and here are the results! Very exciting for me! :o) (Ignore my dirty fingernails, please. I worked outside all day.)

Now, to make it Gessie-relevant, will hummingbirds visit blooming Gessies? I've got that Aeschynanthus 'Black Pagoda' that I could put outside, and the Columnea (that's never gonna bloom anyway) could go out there, too. They're not blooming now, but I wonder what would happen if they did. As I've been watching Strep 'Bristol's Tropical Twister' open, I wonder if hummers would visit it if it were outside. It's such a beautiful, deep red color! I wouldn't put the one that's blooming now outside, but I'd sure propagate one to hang out there next year. Ki has been talking about putting Kohlerias and maybe Sinningias outside. S. cardinalis sure might draw them in. Anyone have thoughts or experiences with hummers and gessies?

Now for my pictures! ;o)

Here's another. I've named him Henry. ;o) Drives my kids nuts to hear me call him by name! LOL

And one more. I posted several more here: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/717700/

How cool are those pics!!!!!

I don't know if they would go to the gesneriad blooms? I know that that Henry is so adorable. I've tried so many things to get hummers to my yard with no success. I've had feeders, crossvine, cardnial flower, monarda jacob kline and humminbird vine. They are known not to visit long island like they do other parts of the country. Something about their course that takes them away from Long Island. I've heard of people sighting them in their yards, but not like several at one time. :-(

Please ask Henry to come visit me, I have lots of yummy flowers for him.

Your pics are outstanding. I called my son over to the computer to see them. You can actually see the blur from his wings moving so fast. He must be one of those 'ruby throated' hummers..

So are you holding that feeder and the hummer is coming right up to it while your standing there? If so wow, how did you train them to do that?, lol

You should see my kids' eyes roll when I call out, "Hi Henry!" ROFL They think I've gone completely mad! Well, I couldn't just keep calling him "that hummingbird" now could I? I do think we'll limit it to Henry and Henrietta when we get more of them though... LOL

Hmmm Maureen, I'm pretty attached to Henry, but I'll tell him to send a few friends your way. ;o) I found a map somewhere of where they usually go and when. I'll see if I can find it and post a link for you.

I don't know enough about Gessies in the wild to know if they're anything that would be appetizing to a hummingbird, but some sure do have pretty red blooms that might at least get their attention.

Best I can tell, he is a male Ruby-throated hummingbird. There's a female out there, too. I think I've got a picture of her somewhere. I'll look for it.

Yes, I was holding the feeder in my hand and he was drinking to his little heart's content! When I carried it back out from refilling it, he was hovering by the door, chattering at me. Fussing, I guess, because it had been gone for a few minutes. As I went to hang it, he came and hovered right by my hand. I ran back inside, carrying the feeder with me, grabbed the camera, and went back out. He was still there, chattering, so I just stuck my hand out, holding the feeder, and he came right up and drank! My son came out with me a bit later to see him drink while I was holding it, but Henry wouldn't. He hovered several feet away from us, but never would come to me. He's used to seeing me out there all the time. My son is usually way out in the yard, not near the feeder at all. And I'm one of those crazy women who talks to her animals. Not that I consider this or any other hummingbird to be "mine" at all, but I do say "hi" when I see them. (My husband just shakes his head. Poor man...LOL) And usually when they chatter at me as I'm hanging the feeder back up, I'll say, "Just wait a minute, I've gotta have time to hang it up!" I guess they are just used to me being right there close to their feeder and they've decided that I mean them no harm. I was standing in the doorway talking to my son, who was out in the yard, the other day. One of the hummers came and hovered right in front of me and chattered. I guess it was telling me to go in or out, but pick one and close the door, because the feeder is hanging by suction cup on one of the french doors and it vibrates when the other door is closed. They don't like that. LOL

lol, that is so cute. I think I need a hummingbird feeder too now!!

Maureen, here's that map and a couple other links I found that you might like. Google hummingbirds long island, ny and there are quite a few links you might find interesting or helpful.

http://www.hummingbirds.net/map.html

http://www.newsday.com/other/special/naturalworld/ny-d3166969mar16,0,4500353.story?coll=ny-nw-nav-promo

http://www.libirding.com/Backyard.html

Thanks RainGazer, I'm feeling more hopeful now. Maybe I should go get a hummingbird feeder and put it out now?? I would be so happy to have one of these critters hanging out in my yard.

Yep, according to that article, you should have them out in April. :o) I sure hope some hummers find your yard! You have to send pictures if they show up!

How I love those darling birds. Yes, they will visit gessie blooms particularly the red/orange tubular ones like episcia, etc. With any luck, they will pollinate the flowers too. Thanks, raingazer for these photos.

Great photos!I love watching these little birds. I had one go on the ep.Kee Wee today.

jannich....keep you eye out for a possible berry to form on your episcia Kee Wee. How exciting!

yup, sinningias are hummer flowers. There are some seeds listed somewhere called "hummingbird mix" (meaning pollinated naturally and fathers unknown). I don't think streps are, though - you want mostly the tubular flowers.

Gessie flowers alone are often not enough to attract them if you don't have them in the neighborhood, but if they are already visiting, they will probably like the flowers too.

I didn't know you were such a lover RainGazer!!! Those sites are so much fun to see.

Do you mix your own food or buy the pre-mix?

I think you are asking RainGazer......but I just use 1 cup sugar to 3 cups water....bring it to an almost boil....let it cool down
If you make more, keep remainder in refrigerator and feeders need to be cleaned once a week is my understanding..