Hummingbird in Trumpetvine

I was hoping to get some different pics of Hummingbirds today in a different location but unfortunately the weather isn't cooperating; too dark and rainy out.
Here are ones I took yesterday.

5 Pics

#2

I love the way they can sit on the flowers.

Halfway in the bloom. :-)

Hovering

Last one.

gorgeous pictures!! That is cute how they can sit on the blooms!!

Thanks lily. That perching always amazes me too.

How wonderful and great pictures.

Next year Trumpet Vines will be planted here!!!

I know just the spots; sun and close enough that I can see them.

gg=alice

Warning Warning- Trumpetvines are VERY invasive. My closest one is 40 feet from the house. It has climbed up an arbor my Husband made that is 8 feet tall and blooms above that. I just pull up a chair close to the arbor and wait for them to come.

You could do the same even if its not on an arbor. As long as you sit fairly still and are not making any fast movements they won't have a problem with you.

Thanks pelle, maybe that's why I've refrained from planting (What, me remember what I was thinking even yesterday???) them but I do have a spot I could possibly contain them. It's bed at the end of the pool that drops off about 7 ft and then tapers on down the hill. There's a space about 10 ft wide between the butterfly bushes and a fence for them to climb and hang over (I have Pentas in containers there now but they can be moved out to the decking). Just over the edge of drop-off is shaded and covered with vinca year round. They probably wouldn't want to wander down there because of so little sun. The wild part of my property starts just a few feet from the drop-off with only a small path that the dogs keep bare of vinca, with a little help from the lawn guys occasionally. I had triple yellow Daturas in the bed that got huge last year but haven't put anything in this year. (See Frank.... I do wait too long sometimes to find plants I want.) I'll bet it's not too late to put some in since it stays somewhat summer through November here, if I can find them. Of course the hummers will be gone by middle of Oct but maybe I can find some blooming now to plant there.

gg=alice

I have those trumpet vines here, and that is where the hummers go. The bad part is they are 35 to 40 feet up in the trees. Most of the blooms I see have fallen to the ground. I do see the hummers up there, but way too far for pics.

Great series pelletory!

How old does a vine need to be before it has flowers on it?

I honestly don't know Frank because all mine were in bloom when I bought them at different nurserys. I have heard some people say up to 10 years (from a small plant or from seed) but I don't know how true that is. Maybe Resin would know.
I have Yellow and Orange ones, the hummers use them all but the orange seems to be their favorite. My orange ones are called Madame Gallen, I don't know the name of the yellow ones. I can say that I never had Hummingbirds until these were planted. Last year I had about 40 Hummingbirds here, this year a lot less and I think its due to all the bird feeders and having way too many small birds (mainly House Finch) cruising all through the Trumpet vines. The arbor is one of their favorite quick fly to spots. Maybe next summer I'll leave the seed feeders down and see if that helps my Hummingbird population. :-)

What are peoples reasons for taking seed feeders down in summer? I'm afraid the Cardinals (and others) will get ticked off and not come back nor show their 2-3 broods per year how to eat from the feeders and use the birdbaths. In winter I sometimes stop counting at 30 Cardinals out there at feeders or trees very near the feeders. It is surely a sight for sore eyes to see all those beauties especially on gray days.

Pelle, I haven't noticed any differences in hummer population since our house finch population increased. Up until a few short years ago I don't remember ever seeing any HFs; only purple finches and gold finches in winter. I think last summer 06 or maybe 05 was the first year the HFs stayed at feeders during the summer. Half the hummer feeders are under the house eave away from the seed feeders. Several others are hanging pretty far away from seed feeders and only one is about 6-7 ft from a hanging safflower tray feeder where the house finches hang out some and about 3 ft away from the hanging bird bath that the HFs, others, and hummers use.

But as I said in another post the other birds seem to get along fine and fend for their positions at feeders despite the HFs.

How many seed feeders and types do you have? I have several different types, multiplies of some, spread along 60 ft of two edges of the deck.

OMG, I can't believe I just wrote out a long reply and somehow deleted it.

Anyway I think most reasons for people taking down their feeders in warm weather is that they know ( or hope) that their are plenty of natural food sources for the birds.

The only reason I usually do it is because of enormous numbers of awful nuisance birds like Starlings, House Finch and House Sparrows. Now that the Starlings have left I have so may HF & HS that the few Chickadees and Goldfinch I have don't stand a chance. Its also not pleasant to see them getting attacked and chased all the time.

My pole feeder system is right smack in the middle of the yard. The arbor w/ 1 of the Trumpetvines is to the left and the apple tree to the right. It looks like a busy airport runway but in fast motion. I can't put the pole system anywhere else due to trees and other structures. Yesterday I counted over 50 House Finch and when I got to over a dozen House Sparrows I stopped counting. I will leave up the Peanut Silo and the Suet. The Cardinals, Chickadees and Woodpeckers all like at least one of those things. I will leave up the thistle feeder for now and plan on ordering those Upside Down Thistle feeders that House Finch can't use.
Next year I'm sure my Hummingbird numbers will be back to normal. :-)

This message was edited Aug 20, 2007 8:52 AM

Thanks pelle, I'd better be thankful that I'm not over run with HFs. I certainly see your dilemma.

I wonder (just wonder because I don't really know for certain) if taking feeders down to encourage the birds to hunt is based on beliefs or fact. Hummers are not as dependant on feeders to survive as people "believe" and get their protein, which they have to have, from bugs supplementing their diet from flowers and/or feeders, moving to areas that offer better/more "nectar" when needed, or so I have read from "experts".

My birds surely do a lot of insect hunting as evidenced by lack of bug damage to most plants (no herbicides and rarely any insecticides on my property unless Neem for Brugs and a very rare use of others on a specific plant but usually Neem and soapy washes work well enough when rarely needed) and seeing them catching or with insects, even though they have lots of "free" seeds, nuts, berries, suet year round at my feeders.

If I lived in an area where lots of insecticides were routinely used I would certainly want to discourage the birds from insect catching if that is even possible.

gg=alice

LOL, I'm sorry GG. When I wrote about people taking feeders down I was strictly talking about seed feeders.

pelle wrote:

Edit:

See, don't ask me what I was thinking yesterday; I can't remember.

I think I meant to say something like "I understand what you were implying and thanks for the clarification as some others might be confused....."

My "senior moments" are starting to run together. Or on the positive side, years of practicing "clearing trash" out of the mind to "live in the moment" is working. (grin)

gg=alice



This message was edited Aug 21, 2007 9:01 AM

LOL,GG what were you trying to say?