I just put up a new hummingbird feeder and was wondering about how long it usually takes them to find it? can they detect nectar from far away or do they sorta need to be regulars in the area before they find it?
How Long For Hummers To Find A Feeder?
I hung a feeder out after we finished building our current home about 5 years ago. It took about two weeks before I began seeing a hummer or two at it. They seemed to slowly spread the word as I had several before the end of the summer. Now I get several dozen at a time and have had to hang out three more feeders. They will buzz around like a swarm of bees while hubby and I are sitting in our chairs which are located very close to the feeders. The only time they pay us any mind is if one of us has on red or bright orange--then they will hover right in front of us trying to decide if we're a flower. Our grandkids make a point of wearing red or orange so they can sit out on the porch and try to entice one or two hummers to come and watch them. Hummers are so much fun!
Aww, thats too cute.. but a great way to get a close up view of the hummers!. Thanks for the reply, now I know about how long to expect to see them... and prepare to purchase a few more feeders for when they bring the in laws...LOL.
I use the hummer feeders that have red tops and bottoms since they attract their attention so much better (they have little yellow "flowers" for the feeding holes). Wal Mart has them and last year they were still under $10. About four years ago I found the prettiest feeder made with muted coppery colors and couldn't resist buying one. Glad I only bought one--it was pricey and since it didn't have any bright colors on it, even though I hung it out with my Wally World feeders, the hummers never touched it all summer! It was a sad waste of money :-{
maybe you could hand paint some red flowers on it to attract them? At least get some use out of it. I bought a $10 feeder thats a red plastic bottle in the shape of a wine bottle with little red flowers shapes at the feeding holes... hopefully it will attract them, the entire thing is red...lol
That ought to get their attention!
I hung my frist Perky Pet feeder during the summer 6 years ago. I had a hummingbird feeding within minutes. That started my addiction. Along with my flowers I also hang 10 feeders. I have the Perky Pet, First Nature, and saucer types. All are used but I tend to lean to the old Perky Pet. I guess because it was my first feeder.
When hubby and I lived in a subdivision it didn't take long at all for hummers to show up at the feeders. Out here in the country though they have so many wildflowers that attract them so it took a little longer for them to find the feeders.
Mimidi--Perky Pet is what I use too. They work great and the price it right. Hubby and I love to sit on the porch and watch them. My grandkids have gotten hooked now too so hopefully I'm helping create another generation that will keep the little guys well fed. Almost every flower I plant will attract hummingbirds and/or butterflies--I love to watch them all.
When my brother built a new home and moved in I gave him a few tiny feeders I'd made. He had no landscaping what-so-ever and there was nothing growing in his three acre plot that would provide food for them. It was a new developement and even the neighbor's didn't have much in the way of blooming plants.
He put them up and withing half an hour he said a hummie showed up. About ten minutes after that he had a good two dozen fighting for the feeders!! Must say I was quite shocked since they were tiny feeders but I guess those hummies can spot a splash of red or yellow from far away :o)
This is a sample of the tiny feeders I gave him. Barely two inches in length...and holds only 12ml of nectar! Amazing little birds!!!
~ Cat
We are fortunate to live on a family farm. There are so many native flowers around for the hummingbirds. They have always been here but after I started hanging feeders and planting flowers for them they started visiting me. I don't think the feeders are needed but they bring the hummingbirds closer.
Hubby and I too love to sit on the back porch and watch them. Saturday when he came outside where I was sitting I told him to just sit in the rocking chair next to me. He replied, "you have seen a hummingbird". I told him I had. It was so nice Sunday morning watching the hummingbird visiting my Goldflame honeysuckle.
I started planting flowers for the hummingbirds and got lucky and the butterflies joined us. A cousin told me to plant some bronze fennel for the butterflies to lay eggs on. This started something else. Host plants for the butterflies. The host plants have been a wonderful science lesson of my grandchildren and their friends. Like you NaureLover I hope I have started another generation. A few weeks ago I had one of my granddaughters with me riding in the hayfield looking at the wild violets. I told her that years and years from now when I wasn't around I hoped she took care of my hummingbirds and butterfliesl. She told me she would. I gave her a big snuggle and hug.
How nice Mimidi. Your granddaughter is lucky to have you as her teacher for wildlife matters. My granddaughter is more interested in the birds and butterflies then my grandson. April likes to take my little digital camera and go to the woods with me to take wildlife pictures. She's nine and so funny to watch trying to chase a butterfly down the road trying to get a picture. This year I hope she will have enough patience for me to teach her the fine art of stalking a butterfly. Every year I plant more flowers for the hummers and butterflies. This year I have several herbs I'm putting out for the butterflies to lay eggs on. This is all so addictive! And with all the sterile flowers being planted these days, it makes me feel good to put out nectar plants for the hummers and butterflies (and a wheat/clover food plot for the deer and rabbits).
I have found that my grandchildren made better pictures than I do. I have two things I want to get. A couple of paw paws and spicebushes. I tried both a couple of years ago and lost them. There are so many native hosts growing around me. Living in the country has its perks.
How ironic! I'd like to add both the paw paw and spicebush to my collection. They are both good butterfly plants. Paw paws grow wild around here and I have a few Zebra butterflies that come to my butterfly bushes but I'd like a tree or two in my yard for them.
Nature paw paws have to be growing around me somewhere because I see Zebras every year. Just not as many as I would like.
I have a Carolina spicebush. Oh how i love the fraspring fragrance of the tin flowers. If you send me a self addressed envelope i will forward seeds to you when I get some there.... may be a few pods still that the birds have not eaten.
My addy is in the address forum, but DM me if you can't find it
Sheri
Bluebird I will get with you next week. I would love some seed!!!! I am at Orange Beach right now so when I get home I will take care of getting some of those seed.