Ruby-throated Hummingbirds

I was kindly asked to start this thread for all of us Ruby-throated Hummingbird lovers. Hope it will also help all of you who are tracking their migration. My female has been driving all the other hummers away so the rest of you can have some!

I thought I was seeing mating behavior today when I saw one flying backward and forward along the same track like sliding back and forth on a wire, but it turns out that could just be more aggression. She's quite the little vixen!

Hope to see your photos and hear your stories of Ruby-throated hummingbirds sitings.

Here she is again on her favorite perch. This photo was taken a few days ago, however, but I didn't post it anywhwere even though it just might be my favorite. What was I thinking! I'm hoping to see a male any day now either at my home or in one of your photos! Maybe we could fix her up!

For those who are unaware, this is a really neat website that tracks the spring migration of ruby-throats. Can give you a good heads-up for when to put out the feeders! www.hummingbirds.net/map.html (I don't know how to "activate" links on posts!)

Gosh, it activated automatically. Cool!

nifty, eh???

I wsh your female and my male were not so far apart.

Beautiful pics Elphaba!!!

Hi Frank, Very nice pic of the male!

Hi Hoosier, We also have that link in the Sticky called "Helpful Guides and Tips".

A link for rufous is there along w/ many others birds.

Pelle :-)

Still keeping my eyes peeled out for some here.

I noticed he has updated the map in the last few days.

Is this the kind of salvia that will attract hummers?

Are hummers attracted to wisteria?

How long will the male stay without a mate? A female has yet to be spotted.

Frank, I think they'll probably come to that salvia if they're passing by, but their favorite would be the red ones. I'm not sure if they come to wisteria or not. Flowers that are red and tubular are the best for attracting hummers. I bought some red verbena the other day and the male who's been visiting my front porch couldn't even wait for me to plant it before he partook.

I'm posting this pic to show the silly guy going for the verbena (and you can see the red salvia planted next to it which he had also tasted) but I'm pretty sure he's not a Ruby Throated. I suspect he is a Black Chinned, but I'm waiting for confirmation on that in the ID thread.

Yep, ditto to PeeperKeeper - anything with tubular red flowers will attract hummers.

Resin

I have Wisteria and they don't bother with it. They like the large flowered salvia
like Black & Blue or others similar to it. They also like Trumpet Vine but I wouldn't recommend that since its so invasive. They also used Lantana but it wasn't their favorite.
Heres a pic of the Black & Blue Salvia

Frank, If you talk to Rich_dufresne from the Salvia and Agastache forum (D mail him),I'm sure he could recommend some great large flowered Salvias for your zone.
He's also a seller who has the site World of Salvias. You could contact him at his site too.

I've seen mine visiting the Sweet Autumn clematis and the morning glories, so I'm pretty sure any salvia would be welcome. Last year they really liked my cannas too. I had really only planted them as sort of "runway lights."

Most of the hummer favorites that I have blooming now are yellow, and the hummers are fighting over them. I'm sure that y'all are right though that red is the best. I have a shrimp plant called Lemon Sorbet that they love and then the plant in this photo. I cannot remember the name of it. Next time I see one at a nursery, I'll have to write it down.

Peeperkeeper - your photo is hilarious! Feed that poor thing will you!

Oh, we have one in Tennessee now!! Great photos Elphaba!

Congrats on the Black Chinned.

BTW Frank, your picture of the bee in the wisteria is AMAZING! Love it.

Linth, I hope you have your feeders up their right near you now.

http://hummingbirds.net/map.html

OMG Hummingbird reported in NJ today close to the coast!!!!!!

GM, Do you have any feeders up??

Heres the map!

http://hummingbirds.net/map.html

This message was edited Mar 27, 2008 5:16 PM

Oh Pelle!! you are like a kid at Christmas. Hope you have one right away!!!!

ROSE!! one is almost at your house!!!

LOL, you betcha!!!

Yes, pelle the feeder is out!!!
I was checking the map all day today.. then finally.. in NJ!!!
Wow did I let out a yipee... even the dog looked at me!
GM

LOL, Yes I was excited too! I was telling the DH about it and I could just see that bored look in his eyes,lol.

hee. hee. So cute. I get that look in my eyes when the the DH talks about computer parts.

Have any of you ever successfully used the hummingbird nesting platforms? I put up two last year to no avail (didn't even see a hummer go NEAR one!). I've left them up - hope springs eternal. We are not even CLOSE to hummingbird season yet...siiiggghhh.........send a few up this way please!

I haven't heard of anyone that I know thats had success with them yet.

So far The neighbors and I have managed to keep the little male here. We have been showing our best southern hospitality to keep him here. Now we just need a mate for him.

Should be plenty of females coming along soon!

I have been showing him all the snow pics you-all have been uploading. I have been telling him that he does not need to go any further north. I think the cardinals in the snow may have convinced him.

LOL!! That's cheating Frank!!!

Did you tell how hot it is there in the summmer???

The Cuphea (Cigar Plant) & Fushia appear to be the flowers of choice in my yard.
I had the feeder hanging by the plants.
The hummer ignored the feeder, but seemed content with his "natural" food.
:o)

Nancy

Nice pic gabagoo!

I can't wait till they get here. I'd love to try the Cigar Plant!

Cool pic gabagoo!

I know they are getting close...I'm checking the feeders almost constantly!! Good grief I'd tell myself to get a life but this is my life!! Poor Dh, I think he thinks I've gone nuts!! I have my tripod all set up and aimed at the hummer feeder just in case! I'm going to put some red ribbons out tomorrow where the feeders are just so they don't miss them. I wonder if anyone is selling any hanging plants yet?

I didn't hang my feeder until the beginning of July last year which I know is very late.
This hummer didn't show up until Sept - probably on it's way back south.
I wanted to hang it earlier this year but I'm going away at the end of May for a 1 1/2 weeks & won't be able to refill the feeder.
I won't be able to get it up - or my garden going until the 2nd week of June or so.
I a bit bummed about it but we'll see how it goes.

Nancy

I am sure they will find you Nancy when you return...you have a good trip!

Nancy, GREAT photo. It seems to me that if you have plants that attract hummingbirds, they'll find your yard anyway even if the feeder isn't up yet and then when you put it up, it will just be extra incentive. My mom lives in South Dakota. She bought a fushia in a hanging basket and had a hummer as soon as she put it up. I don't know if it rains enough where you are to keep a hanging basket watered while you are away, but if it does, you could get something that is already blooming and leave it for the hummers so they'll stop and stick around.