I knwo this may sound really juvenille , but I am tickled peach cuz one of my hummers came to me today. Only problem is I don't know what it was tryign to tell me.
As I walk the yard and mess with the flowers, I usually go and check and make sure the ants stay off the feeder. When I do that I usally get buzzed by one or both of them.
About three days ago, I was checkign some plants and looke d up and here was oen of the hummers, about 10 feet from me. I just froze. I held my breath. Dummy me didn't even look at it good, I was afraid of even blinkign for fear of distrubing it. it hoovered for about ten second s then flew on. Then I starte d breathign again.
Today, I was out working on my seedling area which is way far away from the hummers, but not so far that I can't see the feeder . I was sittign under a piece of shade cloth workign when I heard buzz. At first I thought oen of the bees gatehrign pollen was getting to clos e to me, but when I lifte d my head, ther e was the one hummer.
Way over by me, looking straight at me and just fluttering right in the same spot. I must admit I got a bit misty eyed that it seeme d to like me, but I had the weirdest feeling it was tryign to tell me something or ask for somthing and it bugging me cuz I don't know what it might want.
So if anybody can speak hummer and tell me what my baby might be tryign to convey I would appreciate it.
Anybody speak hummer?
Well, do they seem happy with whatever you have for them...the nectar plants or feeders? I've heard they do have to feed themselves pretty darn often. Mine have been doing those aerial chases today. Hummies chasing hummies. I guess they're territorial.
starlight.... I have a hummer that does the same thing. Three times it has came anywhere from 5 to 10 ft away from me, and just hovered for about 10 seconds. Like it is checking me out, or wants something. It's cool isn't it? : )
~Lucy
wonder if maybe a nest close by???
Donna... in my case, I don't know. All 3 times were in different parts of my 2 1/2 acre yard.
I have heard sometimes, they like to build nests on limbs that hang over water. There is a wooded area with a little pond right across my property line. It is either a female or a young male. No red throat. I think it's a female.
I see her sitting and grooming on a favorite limb (twig actually) of my Chinese Elm, alot.
She just watchs me , I think......and then comes by and takes a closer look. lol
I'm gonna start taking note of what I have on when she hovers in front of me. Maybe it's a color thing.
~Lucy
I don't think it is a case of a nest either. Mine have basically trees that kinda form the corners on a square that they constantly hang out on. Although one they don't us e as much now that the squirells ar e back. ugggggggggg. The squireels disappear to someplace in the spring and summer and as soon the hickory nuts are ripe , they are back. Ya can't under or aroudn thos e trees without gettign hit in the head with the nuts and shells they drop. from now til evry nut if of f the trees I wil listen to nut s being droppe d on my roof all day and night. gets abit nerve racking at times cuz the tree overhangs my bedroom which hears the loudest noise.
Not sure it is a coloring thing either , but ya never know. Cuz the sketter s are so bad here and i don't think it such a good thign to be covere in deet from head to toe s evryday , I have taken to just wearign a white , lightweight mans shirt. Ya sweat a bit more , but then onyl have to worry about hands and face not gettign bit.
Soon as the water cools , I need to go out and change the feeder. Having a problem with keeping them darn big black ants of f of it. I even coate d the pole with baby oil, but it hasn't stoppe d them.
I have noticed lately that several wasps have been hangign aroudn the feeder too. I don't know if they are tryign to get a drink or what, but surely it not good for them to be near the hummers?
I hope my hummer lets me a closer look again and this time I hope I can get the camera out in time. It just so cool being so close to God's little creatures. : )
Are you wearing red? Hummingbirds don't have any sense of smell -- they go entirely by color, which is why feeders are often red. :)
They've been known to check out people when they're wearing the color red.
Marilee
Marilee, nope but ya know just a bit earlier I was out in the same away place and it flew up to me again. Didn't stay quite as logn as yesterday, but I wonder. Do hummers have a good sens e f smell.
I got to thinkign what had a done different or was it just beign friendly. I did remember that I switche d hair cream rinses since I had been using the same one for the past several months and thought I'd go back to my old regular brand for a bit. That when it showed up. Can they smell shampoos and cream rinses , but it so hot outside and I a massive sweat bucket that I knwo my hair sure can't smell nice by the time it comes to visit.
Either that or I gettign a good chewign out for something. LOL
No, hummers have no sense of smell whatsoever, starlight. So it couldn't have been your shampoo or cream rinse. :)
Marilee
Maybe it's fashion sense was offended...you're supposed to wear red in its presence.
Cocoa.... Your so right. I was caught off guard this morning. Had just checked the feeder and went and sat on my stool and there the one was again. it just so cool. But I was facign the wrogn way to look at it, so I doubly tickled when about ten minute s later and it came back again.
I did notice that it goes to one of the big old hickories behind me, so maybe it has a nest or just checking to see what I up to for the day.
it so quiet out here and now that I moved the feeder they about 30' from wher e I sit and work and I got to hear them chatter for the first tiem this morning. It was sooooooo cool!! : )
Marliee. Thanks for that info. Ziltch the shampoo idea then. But whiel I was sittign and I usually always have one with me, I had taken a cup of cofee out with me, Cofee cups are permantely attache d to my hands. I use 4 and 1/2 tsp. of sugar in every cup of coffee and I usally carry it around in oen of them brown to go cups that has a white stripe down it on the seal. Could it wanting to share my cup of coffee possibly?
Viburnum.... LOL.. I sure wouldn't be surprised if I am being scolded. if the fashion police handed out tickets , I would have a mound of them. Maybe it don't like my socks and sandles combo ya think? : )
Ella - My bet would be either a nest or it was wanting food! Either way .... it is chatting it up with you! LOL! Too darn cute! I so envy you having these newest visitors come set-up home in your yard! They sound absolutely charming! :-)
My husband and I maintain a few feeders close to our kitchen window, and the show is always great. Yesterday I was "buzz-bombed" several times over the course of five mins, until it dawned on me that I was quite close to the feeder next to a hydrangea I was pruning. I guess they were annoyed that I was hanging around in "their space." Maybe the heat and humidity has them a little cranky, too? Good thing I don't startle easily. When a hummer flies right past your ear....they get your attention real fast!
Now that I think back, it was probably just the busy activity right next to their feeder that had them "cranky." Usually, I sit on a bench three feet away and watch them come and go quite happily. Other times, they've approached me elsewhere in the garden, so they could have a closer look at me, but then they'd be off again looking for nectar...not to return.
Ants used to be a huge problem until my son told me to try putting a thick ring of Vaseline jelly around the metal post (I use shepherd hooks to suspend my feeders). Also, keep the feeders and supports away from shrubbery, so the ants can't use them as ladders to get onto the feeder above the Vaseline. Ants are always thinking, and you have to get up pretty early to stay ahead of them. Them and squirrels; but that's a post for another thread, and another day.
Rose
This message was edited Jul 30, 2007 12:59 PM
Well, I am in trouble. I think I have the problem figured out. It's in the high 90's and would ya belive her e in the heat of the day we los e all electrical power for almost thre e hours. The thermostate in my trailer only goe s to 90 and that got buried , so I went otu to sit on my seat under a tre e to try adn stay cool.
While sittign there, I heard the familiar buzz. I turned my head slowly and what did I see? The hummer that been talkign to me. At first he may have been sayign hello, but figured out it been scoldign me.
The other day when I trnasplante d more seedlings I need more room on the pallets, so I moved a bunch of hosta pot that are in bloom. I moved them about thre e feet away to the pallets behidn me. Well, I gues s I shouldn't have doen that without askign first. Shame on me.
When I didn't move the hummer looke d at me and then proceeded to vistit a couple of the hosta blooms. I figured I probably was beign checke d out and scolded at the same time, cuz about a week ago from that same table I had to move a bunch of Salvia pot s that were there and unfortunately had had to get move d closer where the feeder and the others hummer s territory is now.
Hopefully today or tommorrow another feeder will arriv e so they each can have one. Sure hope this " I see you.. Do you se e me" hummer gets more comnfortable aroudn me cuz I can't change my tiny work area and sure don't want to mov e the hosta's again.
So glad I hopefully got it figure d out, cuz red is not my color. : )
Rose... I'll se e if I can find some vaseline and giv e that a try. LOL don't even start me on squirrels. I spend everyday and wil now til every nut is of f the trees pickign the bit s and piece s out of my hair from the one s here throwing it down on me.