I received from UPS today two more of the Aspects Hummzinger 16 oz hummingbird feeders. This gives me one of the 8 oz and three of the 16 oz. I really enjoy these feeders. In a place where we have problems with ants, they have ant moats. We are supposed to have a storm tonight that will rain until Monday and they have four overflow valves on each feeder so the hummingbird food is kept undiluted.
However, I have only seen three hummers today in the backyard. These were only there for twenty minutes or so. I guess word will get out (I hope anyway) and soon all the hummers that The Boss (dominant Anna's Hummingbird male) has driven away will come back (or at least some of them...LOL).
Has anyone else had this sort of experience when adding feeders?
Thanks,
Chuck
Adding Hummingbird Feeders
Chuck - What I have read and am coming to understand is that you have to kind of spread the feeders out around the yard so that the dominate bird can't see them all from where it is perching. That way other hummers can get to some of the feeders. Often different hummers will dominate different feeders. I have heard that during times of scarce food, that the dominate hummer will allow other hummers to the nectar plants and feeders. But otherwise, they will fight off any intruders. And if they are mating, they will allow the mate to the feeders. But most of the time they don't like to share. :-/ Which is why I probably won't ever have more than 2 or 3 hummers in my yard.
Beckygardener, I am used to two hummingbird feeders that are used realistically by five or six hummers most of the year around. I guess the addition of two more hummingbird feeders, a bird tube feeder and a thistle sock for goldfinches has disoriented the hummers. So far today all I have seen is two hummers fighting over one of the feeders. My backyard is full of wild finches and sparrow songbirds but no hummingbirds. I hope I haven't permanently scared the hummers away.
What I did to situate the feeders is to make them different heights from the ground. My backyard (not counting the sides) is about 65 feet by 23 feet (a lot of this is concrete patio). I have three fruit trees in this backyard. Ordinarily during the other seasons, you can't see from one end of the yard to the other where the feeders are situated. However, this is winter and the leaves are off on two of my trees (all except the orange tree). Anyway you can see almost everything from one end of the yard to the other.
HAVE A GOOD DAY!!
Thanks,
Chuck
Chuck - I now have finches and sparrows and pigeons and blackbirds/crows in my backyard as well ... and also in the tree that my hummer perches in. She still visits every day, so I doubt the other birds have scared yours off. Maybe you just aren't seeing them come to the feeders or maybe they have left temporarily. I am sure they will come back!!
Sounds like you did some major cleaning out there so that you can see the yard from all angles. Good luck with the hummers and placing your feeders!
We have alot of birds in our yard as well and they don't scare the hummers away.
I had the same problem with the dominant bully Anna's scaring off the others... I have put up more feeders for a total of 3 in front and 4 in back. And there are 2 male Anna's now co-existing in the back - they each guard their own feeder on opposite ends of the yard (and chirp at eachother all day long) and together they protect the "other" feeder closest to them. They have decided to get along.
The front yard also continues to my side yard, so its easier to put some out of sight . One hummer stays in the biggest tree - but often when he flies after a visiting hummer another visitor will swoop in and get a good drink. I actually think they are working in twos to get the male hummer out of the yard for a minute.
The 3 that are here all the time seem to be tolerating eachother, and with so many feeders I think the females are getting a chance to drink. (I think I'm the crazy bird lady in our neighbohood tho lol )
Were you effected by the storm that hit us? Probably afterwards, we will have lots of hummers!! Often I noticed that it looked like two or three hummingbirds will work on The Boss so that the hummers left behind will get a good meal while The Boss is flying after another hummer.....LOL!!!
Thanks,
Chuck
Actually yes we did get some of the storm, lots of wind & rain - but not nearly as bad as CA got hit. *Strangely enough, my DH was down for a job interview in Santa Clara, he did not think he would be able to fly out, but his flight was fine.
Our ground is saturated from November - May here - so the topsoil doesn't flow away as bad as where its dry most of the time.
Chuck, I totally think they double team the dominate hummers, I watch them go at it all day long back there, no wonder they have to drink so much for energy - it's a constant job defending their food source. I hope they nest here, we have more this year (well, I've given them so many flowers & feeders to choose from : ) - we may be moving to California, I hope the next people take care of my little feathered friends.
I think I know how you feel about moving to California. We have been keeping an eye on a half acre site in Beaumont (California) We would like to build a house on it but the size of the lot would help us in our gardening, too!!! However, I don't really want to leave the house (here in Perris, California) that my three youngest children grew up in. Also, I have a lot of time, effort and money into planting this yard. I have learned a lot. So we will see whether we move or not. I need to tell you that our youngest daughter has bought a house in Beaumont so the decision is tougher than ever. The two towns are only about twenty miles apart.
Thanks again,
Chuck
It is awful thinking of leaving all the "babies" in the garden, and I have had successes & failures, but that's how I seem to learn : ) . You sound like you have put many years into your garden.
Does this youngest daughter have a baby yet? lol, that seems to get the grandparents every time !!!! Just teasing, it is a very tough decision to move; a half acre sounds very fine!
I've been "priming" my son's room today (it was a dark blue) trying to get everything back to neutral colors... my right hand is tired.
Dear Red,
My youngest daughter doesn't have any children. However, our all of our three youngest children live in the Loma Linda area. Beaumont is just a couple of minutes to Loma Linda especially compared to the distance from Perris to Loma Linda!!! The other three kids are spread out in the Southwest. If we do purchase the lot and move there, then I am going to bring as many of my plants as I can...LOL!!
I did check with Sunset Western Garden Guide and Beaumont (even though it is further east from Perris) has the same planting zone as Perris.
Take care,
Chuck
Becky, It doesn't matter how many feeders you have. I have had three up and had over 30 hummers. As one leaves to fight another one moves in. If all your feeders are occupied then stand out there with a cap of sugar water and let the other ones drink from your hand (lol).
Since I last posted on this thread, I have learned a lot about birds and birdwatching. The smartest thing I have done is to join the San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society!! The hummingbirds seem to come at dusk when The Boss (the dominant Anna's Hummingbird) allows them to settle on all four feeders. There are quite a few actually (yesterday at one of the feeders there were six hummers).
Thanks,
Chuck
Oh fantastic ! What kind of hummers were they - all Anna's?
I believe they were all Anna's Hummingbirds as they looked like males. I can't tell the difference between females of different species so when the Backyard Bird Watching Count happens this weekend, I am going to report only the hummers that I am certain of.
The hummers were all back again tonight. I am changing the feeders every three days. Is this about right?
Thanks,
Chuck
Chuck - Yes, every 2-3 days depending on how hot it is. The sugar water tends to spoil faster the hotter the weather. That's so awesome you have so many coming to your feeders! I can only dream of such a sight! :-)