This is our 1st yr. putting up HB feeders. We did see HBs in our yard last yr. And HB moths. Are there any suggestions you can give us on how to get the HBs to notice our feeders? And are HBs being sited in Ohio already? Thanks! Denise
New to Hummingbirds
Head over to the birdwatching forum.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/843035/
Yes, Ruby-throats have made it to your area.
http://hummingbirds.net/map.html
I put red ribbons on my feeder. Others put out hanging plants in red, etc.
Thanks for the info!
You are most welcome. I'm told that hummingbirds can see red for a long way, so perhaps that's enough. I've had two sightings, but neither of these have stayed yet. Just a stop on the trip up north, I guess.
Well, the spot I have our HB feeders has my husband's red truck close by LOL. Next time I'm at the store, I'm going to get some ribbon or something. I have flowers that they like but not many are blooming right now.
Anything red, really. The ribbon I have on is that plastic ribbon for Christmas time. No fading and can get wet.
zville, you are in prime hummingbird territory over there in Southeast Ohio. And the HBs stay late in the fall there too because of a certain wildflower (whose name slips my mind right now) blooms late into October in the hills.
We have had HBs here since April 20th or so, but they are elusive in springtime darting in and out of the trees looking for insects and not often at feeders. The experts say that their diet is about 75% insects and the rest nectar, and when they are breeding they really like the protein.
We have a number of HB feeders up, and not too many red flowers---only the geraniums I bought at HD a month ago and put into hanging baskets around the feeders. I use red bows and cheap fake flowers from the dollar store in early spring time as lures to get the HBs to stop here and hopefully nest too. I am not sure it works, but we have seen at least 10 HBs at the feeders at a time here in the hot summer time, so some must nest around us.
Good luck with your HBs. We will want to see some pics later on in the summer!
You can see my one feeder decked out in fake flowers...I use the red plastic feeders usually, but this year I picked up a couple of the colored glass ones at Lowes. I think the feeders with little perches work well, but I notice none of these in the pic have them...
Tab, That feeder with the fake flowers is glorious! I love it so much! I am going to Michaels to see what I can find!
I am also glad to hear the hummers might be here, just not at the feeders, though I see your post was 10 days ago...so is it still true? I haven't seen the hummers in quite a while.
Butterflies are no where to be seen, either. I don't understand this at all...I saw plenty about 3 weeks ago. One of everything. Then pouf! Nothing! I factthat's why I logged onto the H&B forum. To see if anybody else noticed it.
Suzy
Yes, it's a wonder what you can pick up at the dollar store to glorify the garden, isn't it?! LOL And my neighbor just loves it, too!
About the butterflies, I believe they have 'flights' or fly in waves, according to their migrations, breeding habits, what's in bloom and the weather patterns.
We had zebra swallowtails come visit about a month ago. And then we won't see them again until July or so. Same thing with mourning cloaks and several others.
Here is a link to the Ohio Lepidopterists 'species' pages. Have a look at the graphs of when the specific butterfly 'flights' occur. I am sure our timing is very similar to yours in Indy and this info may give you an idea of 'high' butterfly season in your garden.
http://www.ohiolepidopterists.org/bflymonitoring/species/tiger.htm
http://www.ohiolepidopterists.org/bflymonitoring/species/photos.htm
We have had a few butterflies, but it seems unseasonably cool and clooudy (and rainy) here, so not such good weather for most butterflies to fly. (They have to have a certain body temp to be able to fly I guess.)
Well, I haven't seen HBs at our feeders yet (that's not to say they haven't been), but I did see a female HB at a relative's house not far from here. It checked out the feeder briefly but didn't seem overly interested in it. It perched on a fence and was checking the area out.