BS: Hummingbirds

Subject: BS: Hummingbirds
From: LilyFestre
Date: 02 May 06 - 10:26 AM

Because I have enjoyed the link to the live webcam to the eagle's nest, I have been looking at other bird sites. The link I am posting is not to a live webcam site but it does link you to some really nice photos of hummingbirds from egg to tiny bird. :) Enjoy!

Baby Hummingbirds


Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds
From: gnu
Date: 02 May 06 - 10:47 AM

I can hardly wait for their arrival in the next few weeks. On Sunday, I straightened up the post by the apple tree and made room for two more feeders... a total of five feeders.

Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds
From: gnu
Date: 02 May 06 - 10:51 AM

Around here, we get these ones.

Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds
From: kendall
Date: 02 May 06 - 12:59 PM

It always distresses me to see hummingbird feeder left out in early fall. You may as well shoot them as to keep them here until the first cold snap kills them.

Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 02 May 06 - 03:43 PM

not about Gibson guitars then....

Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds
From: LilyFestre
Date: 02 May 06 - 04:34 PM

We have hummingbirds every summer. We hang 2 or 3 feeders from the porch roof and are always amazed that they will come so close to us. Many times we will be sitting out on the porch and they might flutter at the feeders and sometimes they chase one another and it feels as though we might just get dive bombed as they race over our heads! We've also identified their landing space...they don't perch when the drink from the feeder but instead, take sips and then fly to a nearby apple tree to rest.

:) Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 02 May 06 - 05:59 PM

"It always distresses me to see hummingbird feeder left out in early fall. You may as well shoot them as to keep them here until the first cold snap kills them."
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I don't think there is anything to worry about. If they show up at my place at all, it is in early fall. They stoke up at the feeder for a few days and are gone.

I bet if you checked the literature, you would find that they migrate in response to weather and day length.

Given the destruction of food sources prevalant today, any help they can get on their arduous journey is going to be a help.

Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds
From: gnu
Date: 02 May 06 - 06:47 PM

Well, now... I would heed Kendall's advice. When you said, "I bet if you checked the literature, you would find that they migrate in response to weather and day length.", you are almost 100% correct. The same should apply for ducks up here in the Great White Frozen North, right? But... since people in our area have been feeding them daily, they stay all winter.

Here's what I do.... I up the sugar dose when the males leave and take down the feeders two weeks later. I also look at day and night time temperatures and the cycle of the moon, but that's a little much for the average birder. I have 40 years of experience in this, so, I am right almost 50% of the time.

BTW... I do up the recommended sugar a bit, especially early in the breeding season. But, don't tell my neighbours... they think we get the majority of the hummers because of the apple tree.

Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 02 May 06 - 11:47 PM

What is believed to be a representative photo of our most common "hummer" is shown here in a rare photo, at rest. The correspondent who submitted this unusual shot apologized, with comment "they're danged hard to photograph in flight."

This appears to be a small one.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 02 May 06 - 11:58 PM

Some years ago, on a whim, I planted seeds for what the package said was a "Cardinal Climber." Unexpectedly it grew fairly well, to about 8 feet tall on my trellis; and for about 3 to 5 weeks the red flowers attracted about 5 (I think) hummingbirds for regular feeding.

While hummingbirds are not exactly rare in the area, they aren't often seen unless someone makes a deliberate effort to attract them to a good viewing site; and far more people try than are successful.

Since it was an annual plant I tried again, each of the succeeding 5 years, with fresh seed for the same plant; but could never get the *^@#!$ things to grow again.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds
From: gnu
Date: 03 May 06 - 07:12 AM

I had a PM this AM asking about water to sugar ratios. I thought my reply might be of help to anyone just starting the use of feeders. Ah, in addition to the reply, don't buy large, fancy feeders. $5 or so for the 8" (approx.) plastic ones is all you need. They will last about 4 years. Yes, you can boil the glass portion of the expenive ones but you still can't boil the plastic bottom, so....

Here is my PM reply :

4 to 1 is recommended. The experts say that much above this will not attract more birds and might even be harmful for them.

However, there is a lady in western NS, name of the town escapes me, who has upward of two hundred at a time. Her house is covered with feeders... even "sucker" stuck to every window, which experts also tell us not to do because they might try to fight with their window reflection. She hasn't noticed any problems with her 1 to 1 mix.

My mix is usually about 3.5 to 1, 3.0 to 1 in September. And, I NEVER use the store bought "Hbird Food" because it has colouring in it. Just water and sugar. And, I never fill the feeders to the top. I only put about 1/3 of what the feeder will hold and I change the food at least three times a week in the warm weather. This prevents fermentaion and mold, and helps keep hornets and the like away.