Hummingbird

I was thrilled yesterday morning at what I saw. I was sitting in the little side yard in my wheelchair which made me eye level with the Jacob's Vine and cannas. I looked up a little and there was the sweetest little hummingbird about 5" from my face drinking out of the flowers. It made my day.

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Mz,
They are the cutest things. I am going to get a hummingbird feeder and see if I can get them to come more.

This would be a great time for attracting hummers as they are starting to migrate south already.

Put up your feeder and fill it with one part sugar to 4 parts hot water.Let the mix cool and hang your feeder. In this hot weather...change water every 4 days to avoid fermented food. Just rinse with hot water,no soap.

Tie Christmas poinsettias in your bushes to help attract them too.In IN,you should have loads of them for at least another month.

I too had one of those moments not too long ago - then I went out and bought several hummingbird feeders - but have seen only one hummingbird - and it wasnt even trying out the new feeders, it was at the fuschia hanging basket....
I keep changing the water in the feeder in the hopes that I will get more.

We just put up a Hummingbird feeder about a month ago and we're already on our second pint of food for them. One thing that seemed to help draw them out was hanging a regular bird feeder in a nearby tree. That's drawn what seems at times to be hundreds of birds and I think the Hummingbirds come over to see what the commotion is all about and then find their feeder.

Hummers are the greatest! We have 3 feeders so I can see them from our kitchen table, the back deck and out in the rose garden. They are not shy in fact they will attack each other fighting for the food. My Grandchildren love to see them. Here in Ga. they send out their scouts about April 1st and then we have them til the end of September.

Several years ago, Johnny Carson showed a film that he had made of a nest just outside his kitchen window. There was a mother bird feeding her little ones, really neat.

I would love to have a nest of hummers I could see. We did have a small rosey finch make a nest in the hanging plant on the porch. She raised her little family and when they flew away it was really nice. I was always afraid some darn kitty would get them.

Honeybee, If you put up a feeder and then put it out early next spring. (Here in mo. I put it out in march already.) They will find it scouting for their nest areas next spring. Just put a small amount in until you see one (don't want to waste it) I mix a 3 to 1 early in the year for two reasons. one is that they have had a long flight from the yukatan (sp?) and two to show them this is the best yard to come to! LOL One year when I was really not able to get around at all I had two feeders right on my outside window sill. After a month I could sit right next to the window and see them up close. (In one case was not good, saw one stab another over the food. They are agressive!) But overall they got me through a really rough summer.

Ozarksue,thank you for the tip' I purchased another 2 feeders this week and hope the "squabbling for food" abates,lol'Sis'

Sorry folks..squabbling will only get worse as you put up more feeders. It's their nature. I was at a hummer workshop one fall and Bob Sargent (high guru of hummers) told us ..and this is a direct quote "If hummingbirds were the size of crows.We'd all be dead"

The more agressive ones are the ones that can withstand the long trek across the Gulf 2 times each year. So if 'your' birds are especially feisty,take heart. The 'bird Maker' made them the way they are for a purpose.

There is a workshop near to where I live and every Aug. experts come from around the country to band birds and to give lectures. You can actually HOLD a hummer in your hands!! They let the public release the banded birds. Their little hearts beat about 250 times a minute and so it sorta 'buzzes' in your hand even tho it's still.

If I get some response,we might have a DG group to meet and take in the lecture together.It only costs a dollar.Entrance to the banding area is 5.50 and the hummers are as thick as bees! It's well worth the trip.

Melody, I would be very interested in that. When is it? I hope it's before I go back to school (about the 2nd week). If it's on a weekend, tho, I could still come. GL.

Hi GL! You should be able to make the Hummer Fest with no trouble. It is always the first Sat. in Aug. That is the day that the public is invited. They band birds a few days after also.

It is in The Land Between The Lakes,formerly under the direction of the TVA,but now the Forestry Service has taken it over.

People come from all over to see it.PBS stations from all over the country and lots of sightseers. I had some cyber friends meet me there two years ago from MA and we had a great day.(incidently,I tempted them here with promises of sweet corn and home grown tomatoes!)

We'll keep this thread bumped to the top every so often so people can think about doing this. Hope to see you there!!

Thought the hummers were gone,not' Instead of feeders,I'm adding more nectar plants,so many now,few more can't hurt,ha'My nicotianas are one of their favs,so will plant more for them' Sis'

Here in Z7a we have hummers till about the 10th of Oct. I've seen them just about every year till then.The latest I've had Ruby Throats is the 13th of Oct. The Roufus will hang around somewhat longer. Some say they stay all winter in the lower AL,GA area.

You're very lucky' Weather is changing quickly here and looks like an early winter for us.
I'm winterizing now,got caught off guard last year and nearly froze in Tn.last Oct. It was 19degrees with a strong north wind. We were camping in a 5th wheel and had to put wind breaks all around the base of it,to keep the pipes from freezing'Our pipes froze here while away. Sept. is usually one of our hottest months here,not this year,burr,40 this morning'

I had one at my feeder who decided to take a rest on one of my plant holders (plastic coated ones that hang over the deck.) Never thought I'd see one sit still. It sat for a bit and then drank and then sat again. That was really cool. They are so small.

Great little things just to catch a glimpse of them makes my day too' Has your weather changed much in the past 24hr.northernskyes??