Hummingbirds are so entertaining.

Frank is living proof men can ALWAYS find a use for duct tape!!!!!!!!!!
Too cute!
You need a hard hat to get in my backyard these days!
My aunt in Missouri and her neighbors feed hummingbirds like crazy and my aunt told me last night her neighbors have gone through 80 POUNDS of sugar this summer feeding the little snots, and they're not done yet!
They're taking over, people, and we're helping them do it.

bookworm, it was nice taking to you through D-mail. Judy, that's a lot of sugar. I don't know how much we have used, but not nearly that much....and we have a lot of hummers here, tho get ready, I think they are about ready to head south. We will have a low temp tonight of 48 degrees.

Yeah, 80 pounds is nearing obsessed with hummingbirds! These people have a really large yard, lots of shaded space where it's cool for the hummers to feed and a business that they also have several feeders at... and they clean and change the goo in their feeders religiously when it's so hot.

I visited one of my sisters yesterday and she had hummers swarming like bees. I was there late and the feeders were in the shade of her back porch. She lives next to 660 acres of woods ans she has let all but two acres of her 10 grow wild. While the three feeders would be full with other waiting their turn; others would be waiting in the crepe myrtles or crab apples. I got some pics but none real good.

If anyone likes to have certain plants around to attract the hummingbirds, here is a great one - there are no birds in the pic, but let me tell you, they are swarming this plant all day!

It is a lipstick vine, I got it at Home Depot (exotic angel plant) I am not sure of the exact name of this particular variety, but it should be an "Aeschynanthus" of some sort - the foliage is green with goldish variegation. It took a year or so to bloom, but loves lots of sun, tolerates a little neglect, and blooms like crazy when it gets around to it. Definately a hummingbird favorite!

This message was edited Sep 10, 2007 12:58 PM

Hummer's back

That is a lot of sugar! I went through at least 5-6 pounds in a week, but now that the main crowd has moved on, I've only filled the feeders once a day for a couple of days. Right now I only see two or 3 at a time.

One thing I'm wondering - we are due for our first cool front this afternoon, the big group would've left us well ahead of the front, but maybe they felt a boost on the way and left us. In that case, I'm anticipating a new wave of hummers when the front arrives. It should "cool us down" to the high 80's in the day to the low 70's at night! Wow, Brugie it's already in the high 40's where you are? I'll be ready for the cooler air and the hummers!

Beautiful vine, Bhavana, I've not seen that one. The nectar plants here are as busy as the feeders. It's fun to watch.

I've definitely heard of the Lipstick plant and that hummers love it.

Bhavana- does it overwinter here? It looks almost tropical.

Nevermind I just looked it up in Plant Files and got the info. It can be brought indoors to overwinter.

Very beatiful plant!

All the males took off today. I saw some of them at the feeder this morning.... must have been having 'one for the road' before they left. Females still here but only 3 or4 right now.

I'll have my feeders up for them, Nanny56! Just a fun thought... My big crew is gone as well. I had 5 or 6 at the feeders this evening - where 3 nights ago had 25 or 30. There are huge hummer festivals in south Texas, (Rockport) close to Mexico, so they probably wanted to get to the festival on time!

Please do bookworm28!!

I imagine we will have more pass through as they head your way. At least I hope we do!! I'm not ready for them to be gone yet...

I guess it has been slow everywhere today. One of my guardian males is still watching his feeder. He is not getting much action today.

We had a cool front blow through today - a high of "only" 89 where I am.... I know - not much of a front! But the wind is blowing from the north for the first time since April, probably. I'm hoping for a new group of them tomorrow. Will let you know.

Should the suger amount be increased at this time of year?

I heard a speaker from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. last year and he said you could raise the sugar amt. a bit during migration. He said it shouldn't be too much, or it would be too thick for them to drink. I've actually not increased the sugar but just a bit, but increased the size of the feeders and the all the current feeders have 6 ports.

Down to 3 or 4 today. We have a tropical storm coming in to the Galveston/Houston area, so they may be hanging back north and west until it blows through. We had a huge migration in October of '05 AFTER Katrina and Rita - they seemed to know to wait. It was amazing. Wish us luck!

Yes I always go to a little stronger mixture during migration (3-1).

We're down to just 3 or 4 here now. I'll miss them.

Good luck bookworm and anyone else in that area.

I'll kick up the sugar, Pelletory. I want the late ones to have lots of energy! I miss them when they are gone, also.

It seems the storm is heading eastward of us. We dodged a bullet. It is heading eastward to east Texas and Louisiana. There are lots of hummers and migratory birds there now. I'm praying for the people AND the wildlife.

Still flooded with the little buggers here! Am looking forward to the weekend when I can sit outside and enjoy the little peeps and flutters of hummer wars!
I, too, up the ante with the sugar at this time to fatten 'em up for the haul.
Hard to believe the season's about over for them... but their departure brings the fall/winter to my yard so I'm happy for that as well.

Have not seen any hummers for the past two days :( Of course all my feeders are up just in case! :)

... "so, why isn't this thing full???"

Grandmaggie, I thought mine were gone yesterday too then this morning I saw 2 fat sausages (lol) at the Trumpet Vine and other plants. I certainly don't expect they'll be here much longer.

It's really interesting to get your reports! Cute caption, Indianalily! We don't have huge numbers like the first week of Sept., but consistently 4 or 5 that I can tell.

I have only eight today, but a couple of days ago, I thought they were all gone.

wow - 8 of them still!

Yes...and I had to make more sugar water for them. After our cold night tonight, they will probably head south real quick.

I put up a new feeder today. It took less than 5 minutes for one to find it. I have seen four since I got home from work. We had two days of rain. It started clearing a little this afternoon. Maybe some from up north will start stopping by this weekend.

fchisolm - you got the hurricane/tropical storm, didn't you. I hope you needed rain. It missed us at the last minute, thank goodness - but bad for the east Texas folks.

We have northerly winds again today - Brugie - your cold weather means high 80's for us and lower humidity, and probably more birds of all kinds. I've been seeing more of our winter birds lately, and it's been fun to have more time this year to watch for them.

We got around two inches here. It came at a good time as people are planting fall gardens. It looks like our resident hummers are still here. The male that sits on the tomato cage to guard his feeder was still doing his thing yesterday afternoon.

Yes pelletory you are right! I had one only one yesterday.

My hummers are still here even after getting a light frost here last night. I thought they would be half way to TX by now.

Hi Brugie, Do you notice their starting to look rotund? I'm still looking for mine today.

They sure are and when they puff up a bit, they look like little round balls of fluff on feet. When I was out earlier checking the feeders, it appears that some migrating hummers have stopped off to bulk up along side the regulars. Had a dozen or more at the feeders. Either that or some of ours have been hibernating for a few days, and they woke up. LOL!

I just saw 2 new skinny ones in the yard today!

My remaining guardian hummer met his match and has been replaced by a juvenile.

Oh,, the power of the Young!

I must have one of your northerners here the last few days. He puffs himself up, grooms himself, flaps his wings and chases the others mercilessly. He has a personality, and I will know when he goes. The others just fight over the other feeders and share when they have to. We have a wonderful north breeze today - wonder if they'll head out, soon.