I know this isn't the hummingbird/butterfly forum, but thought I'd have a better chance where more Texans hang out. :) I've put my feeders out. (I'm in the Sugar Land area.)
Anyone see hummers yet?
I've seen a few--off and on--since mid February.
Thanks!
I put out a couple feeders last weekend but haven't seen anything yet. I am not home much during the day but feel that with things starting to bloom, there will be some in the vicinity.
The guy at the Wild Birds Unlmt store said Mid-February is the time to put out hummer feeders here. I put mine out about a week and a half ago. My DH said he saw one around that time, but it was before I put out the feeder. I still haven't seen any. :o(
I don't remember exactly when they show up here, but it's too early now. By the time the penstemons bloom, they will be here.
I've had a hummer resident for at least a month. She was chasing away every other hummer until last week when she made a friend. They both look like females though so I was puzzled by it. I see hummers almost all year round. I had a migrating rufous in December.
I don't do feeders though and I guess those of you who do, don't want to hang them until a lot of hummingbirds are passing through? I read about a feeder fungus that can kill hummers and I didn't want the responsibility of maintaining the feeder so that wouldn't happen. I decided to plant things they love instead.
Since you live near me, if you don't already have abutilons, you might want to get some. They're gorgeous, bloom all year, don't sustain any freeze damage in our climate (although they freeze completely in zones 8 and lower and don't return), and hummers love them. The first time I saw a rufous, we'd had a bad freeze just a day before and most of the things hummers love were dead, but the abutilons weren't and he went to every one of them. Here's a pic of one called Canary Bird with a tall peach one visible in the background. The more bare branches to the right are turk's cap which is similar but freezes.
FYI, I wasn't saying anything against having feeders. I think I'm just too irresponsible to have one. I also have the alterior motive of trying to get everyone in our zone or higher to buy abutilons, so that there will eventually be greater selection and availability!
They do make a pretty container plant also.... I was admiring them in the last Logees...
I may be mistaken about the zones. I was thinking of a friend of mine in northern Florida who told me that hers froze and didn't return, but I believe that one of Dave's subscribers said that she grows them in Austin, so who knows! Mine are completely unaffected by temperatures in the upper 20s.
My albutilon froze and didn't return.
The one I tried looked like a little miniature maple tree. It was variegated with tangerine blossoms. Beautiful! I really hated that it didn't survive. :(
There are miniature ones for pots. I think those are the Bella series? I'm partial to the tree form ones because when it's tall you can really see the flowers which often nod. It's weird how it freezes completely in most of the country but doesn't even lose a leaf here when it freezes. If you can grow it, it's great for hummers.
Here is the current hummer migration chart:
http://www.hummingbirds.net/map.html
I'd better get my feeders out!
=)Necia
Cool link ~ thank you Necia... I would love to be able to report hummers but they are already north of me and I haven't seen any yet! Just washed and refueled the feeders. pod
FINALLY! Tonight I saw the first hummer! A cute little male. Have kept the feeders fresh and an eye peeled. Worked outside all day yesterday ~ but NOOOOOO!
I just happened to glance at a feeder this evening and there he sat! Hooray! Summer is on the way... 8 ))))
It seems later than last year, I will have to see if I made of note of when they arrived in the past. Sending them your way... LOL
Saw the first one Sunday .........was trying to eat from an empty feeder ....... cleaned and filled the feeders Sunday and he has been at them everyday since.
Wow ~ they must be on a different route this year... to get to your area earlier than here. Do you have a lot blooming there right now?
We have two tree swallows roosting on the porch. We think they arrived over the weekend. No actual hummer sightings but we did wash out all the feeders and hung one last week. DH thinks that the 'nectar' level is slightly lower today than it was yesterday. It may be wishful thinking but last year we had one hummer at the house much earlier than any others. He must be a scout. We work all day and travel some weekends to make deliveries so its hard to say if the lower level is really a hummer or just wind and evaporation.
Saw my first Anna's 3/21, rubythroated 3/23.
Earthtiller, thanks for posting that migration map - very cool. I was suprised at the number of hummer reports for the Dallas area though - I don't usually see any until June here in Plano. Guess I need to get the feeders out!
Yes, we have hummers in the Magnolia area. Saw them yesterday for the first time.
Hi EVR1 !!
I have seen the hummers for about 2 weeks now. I have my feeders up , but don't have that many yet. Hope they tell the relatives to "come on down" !! "LOL
Saw my first hummer today. Put my feeders up last week. I think that south wind really scooted them up my way, as it is awfully chilly today!!
Debbie
Saw our first ruby throat this afternoon...we have our hummer feeders out everywhere but he preferred the oriole feeder. That happened last year too. Maybe I should just replace our hummer feeders with oriole food!! =)
What do you fix for oriole food? Do you get many in your area?
I live with my MIL and she just hangs the prepackaged oriole food. It looks just like hummer food only it's orange instead of red. We've lived here for 3 years now and I've never seen one but I think they used to come through here on their way to wherever. I think she hangs it hopefully more than anything else. We mainly have rose finches, house finches, sparrows, hummers, cardinals, blue jays and wood peckers. Occasionally something cool and exotic but they don't stay very long.
I've seen a few orioles here in an open orchard. They are a pretty bird. Up north, my Mom feeds orioles with halves of oranges and also puts some grape jelly on a jar lid or plate. They seem to like that very much. SIL has orioles eating from the hummer feeders.
I just had to retire an old hummingbird feeder. I noticed one kept loosing its' feed on the ground. When I went to refill, I found the top had a crack. It prevented a vacuum and let it all run out. I hate that as it was an old and favored feeder. Easy to clean.
Anyone have a favorite feeder? And why do you like it?
Hey Podster, I'm pushing the abutilons again! LOL!
Saw my first hummer Thurs., March 27th. Can't wait for it to warm up a bit so I can plant seeds and put out hanging baskets.
i know this is Texas forum but i have seen no hummers did not last yr. either. i have 3 feeders out though hoping. Hi everyone ,bye now.
Hope43 ~ I am hoping your hummers haven't gone the way of the bees... Wishing you all the hummers you can feed this summer! Please, join us at any time. The more the merrier! pod
I saw one little hummer on my pink Salvia Greggii this morning! It seemed smaller than normal, so maybe it was a young one.
=)
Necia
Sunday, we received 12+ inches of rain. While it was pouring, there was one little guy sitting on the feeder and to were tucked in the cover of the Confederate jasmine vine by the house.
I am so glad they are back. To me, the hummingbird heralds the beginning of spring. The pecans have budded out also. They are a good indicater of no more frosts. YES!
Saw first hummer yesterday buzzing by the honeysuckle - he didn't stop because I was there, when he made a second pass I went inside. Only a couple blooms open on honeysuckle.