|
07 May 04 - 11:02 PM (#1180844) Subject: BS: Hummingbirds From: Raptor Time to get yer feeders out! Don't use food colour! 4 parts water to 1 part sugar rolling boil for 2 minutes! Let syrop cool or you'll parBoil the little buggers! If you attract them as they fly by they'll stay, If you put the feeder up too late you'll never get them! Good luck Raptor |
|
07 May 04 - 11:08 PM (#1180847) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: GUEST,BirdMan And I thought raptors ate Hummers not cuddled 'em. Or are you jus a'fatten them up.... And remember to change the solution often to keep harmful fungi, mold, and bacteria from growing. |
|
08 May 04 - 12:33 AM (#1180881) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Stilly River Sage Now this is the kind of "hummer" I like to have around! SRS |
|
08 May 04 - 05:25 AM (#1180950) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Kim C Yes! It's in the plan to get the feeder out this weekend. :-) |
|
08 May 04 - 06:25 AM (#1180972) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Gurney Is it true that the little creatures nearly starve to death every night, and must imbibe early in the morning to survive? I read that somewhere. High metabolic rate or something. Hmm. Must get some yeast growing in MY sugar solution. |
|
08 May 04 - 07:21 AM (#1180993) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: GUEST,TIA Just saw one last evening! It's the earliest they've ever appeared here (central PA). |
|
08 May 04 - 07:43 AM (#1181000) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: AllisonA(Animaterra) Thanks for the reminder, Raptor, and for the recipe. I usually try to remember to put out the feeder by Mothers Day, even though around here they usually don't show up for several more weeks. I have a little garden plot under the feeder I'm planting with bee balm and other goodies. This looks like a good site with all kinds of advice for attracting the little buggers. Allison |
|
08 May 04 - 08:29 AM (#1181019) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Bobert They arrived this past Tuesday evening and went right to where the feeder usually hangs and werte righteously indignant that it wasn't waitin' on 'um... So I had it up the next morning but haven't seen them at it but somethin' has brought the level down by about 1/2 inch since then... Bobert |
|
08 May 04 - 10:10 AM (#1181063) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: 42 i have a couple of feeders in the garage. should I sterilize them before hanging? j |
|
08 May 04 - 07:56 PM (#1181427) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Raptor Yep! |
|
08 May 04 - 08:06 PM (#1181437) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: AllisonA(Animaterra) How? Mine would melt in boiling water! |
|
08 May 04 - 08:23 PM (#1181443) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Joybell Allison, Bleach should work fine, the mild kind used for babies' bottles would do. "Milton" or one of those. Great to meet you over humming birds and Spring sunshine. Love Joy |
|
08 May 04 - 08:33 PM (#1181449) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Joybell We have Honeyeaters here too. I've seen them hover like yours at times but that's not their usual way. Our biggest ones - Red wattle birds are falling about in our Eucalypts at the moment. There's always a type of Gum tree flowering. These are big bossy birds that sound as though they are coughing. Little New Holland Honeyeaters are more furtive. They hide in the Banksia bushes pretending to be flower cones. I remember visiting New Mexico and seeing big moths that looked just like Humming birds. Amazing creatures. Joy |
|
08 May 04 - 08:45 PM (#1181456) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Mudlark I have hummers at my feeders, also orioles. Don't mind sharing nectar with them but they are big and they don't hover. In consequence they try to cling to the feeder, sending it swinging, and hummer juice spraying everywhere. I just refill often, and move often to outwit the ants that also love to feed on this stuff. The orioles are just passing thru...who am I to refuse them a little sugar water? |
|
08 May 04 - 11:40 PM (#1181546) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: LadyJean Wear red or bright pink, and the hummingbirds will come up and say hi. The Detroit zoo has a hummingbird and butterfly garden. When I visited my friend Karen in Detroit, we went to see them. They hovered very close indeed. |
|
08 May 04 - 11:41 PM (#1181548) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: LadyJean Why do hummingbirds hum? Because they can't go to mudcat and get the lyrics. Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! |
|
09 May 04 - 02:52 AM (#1181584) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: open mike those moths are Sphinx moths a.k.a humming bird moths.. they are nocturnal and like nicotinia and other nocturnal flowers. http://www.desertusa.com/mag99/jan/papr/sphinx.html |
|
09 May 04 - 07:24 PM (#1181869) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Joybell Thanks open mike, I'll spend some time at that site. I fell in love with the American desert. The mountains are wonderful too, of course. We have moths of the same family as the Sphinx ones but their noses aren't so long. Joy |
|
09 May 04 - 08:28 PM (#1181905) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Stilly River Sage Our sphinx moths come out just at dusk, and hover in the salvia and other red and pink flowers with tubular corollas. They dart their long proboscis into each flower. They even have eyespots on the sides of their heads and will fool the casual viewer. But they are moths, and they're quite amazing. I've seen them in the Sonoran desert out during the cool days of spring. SRS |
|
09 May 04 - 08:35 PM (#1181913) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: artbrooks The hummers have been back here for about 3 weeks now, and I just got my feeder out. I'm afraid I may have missed them...I had 2 pair all last summer, but they have probably found someplace else to hang out this year! |
|
09 May 04 - 09:14 PM (#1181934) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: pdq I recall sitting outside a small motel in rural Arizona, probably near Wickenburg, many years ago. Some of the other guests and I were admiring the several species of hummingbirds tending the flowers. One oldtimer spoke up, saying that we ain't seen nothing yet. Seems there was a hummer that was not only larger but faster than any other known. Found right there in Arizona. Trouble is, it's so fast no one can see it. 100 miles an hour, maybe 200 miles an hour, no one knows because you can't see 'em. The oldtimer said he had secured the only known specimen. Yep, the normally sure-flying bird had made a bad turn. There he was, beak embedded 3 inches into the trunk of a ironwood tree! |
|
10 May 04 - 06:19 AM (#1182148) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Hrothgar Not much left after you pluck and gut 'em. |
|
10 May 04 - 06:55 AM (#1182171) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: GUEST Where's El Ted when you need him? |
|
10 May 04 - 10:36 AM (#1182214) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Kim C Got the feeder out! Haven't seen any birdies yet though. |
|
11 May 04 - 12:00 AM (#1182741) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Raptor I had my first Migrant Female today! |
|
11 May 04 - 01:40 AM (#1182793) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Stilly River Sage I put my feeder out but haven't had much leisure to keep an eye on it. I don't have flowers (yet) in back where I placed it, another drawback (no place to hang it out front). SRS |
|
11 May 04 - 10:24 AM (#1182835) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: AllisonA(Animaterra) My one hummingbird feeder is attached by suction cup to my kitchen window over the sink. Yesterday I bought a geranium in a pot to put on the windowsill in hopes that the bright red color would attract the hummies! Allison |
|
11 May 04 - 10:30 AM (#1182842) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: EBarnacle Unfortunately, here in the tall concrete, if I were to put out a sugar mixture, the Flies would get the mix. The hummers don't come to this neighborhood, although they do go to Gateway National Park, a few miles away. |
|
11 May 04 - 10:34 AM (#1182850) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: GUEST,MMario if I remember correctly it isn't actually the red coulour that attracts the hummingbirs - but actually markings on the flowers that are visible to the hummers but not to humans - I think visible under ultra-violet but not sure. or was that bees? |
|
11 May 04 - 10:38 AM (#1182852) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: GUEST,MMario intersting bit of info I just found: Another way to get hummingbirds' attention is to festoon (be tasteful, now!) your feeder with red or orange surveyor's tape, available in hardware stores. It is thought that hummers are sensitive to ultraviolet light, which these fluorescent tapes reflect in abundance. Regardless, if you hang a feeder, sooner or later a hummingbird will come to investigate; it has been conjectured that, in a given year, not a square meter of the U.S. or southern Canada goes unchecked by hummers in their relentless quest for food. |
|
11 May 04 - 07:45 PM (#1183291) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Joybell Our nectar-rich native flowers attract small mammals as well as honeyeater birds. Honey Possums and native mice and rats small enough to climb the flower-stems swing about sucking nectar. Here we have Kootas (Aboriginal name for the Native Swamp Rat), Ringtail Possums and Fat-Tailed Dunnarts. Joy |
|
12 May 04 - 12:40 AM (#1183475) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: LadyJean I have seen a hummingbird fly up and intorduce himself to my friend Marion's magenta sweatshirt. It had no stripes. So, I think it was the color. |
|
12 May 04 - 08:33 AM (#1183707) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: GUEST,LadyJean Maybe it has stripes in ultra-violet? Seriiously - they have done studies using apparently white or colourless targets that in the ultra-violet range are either bright or have attracting patterns. |
|
12 May 04 - 09:44 AM (#1183802) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Kim C I saw the first one today! He was resting on the fence by the feeder. |
|
12 May 04 - 01:31 PM (#1183989) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Hollowfox I don't put in red dye, but I use three parts water instead of four. I get lots of hummies. Perhaps they like the cuisine. |
|
12 May 04 - 06:29 PM (#1184219) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Deckman WOW!!!! All of your comments reminded me of a girlfriend I had in high school! True! (O.K. O.K. you don't have to yell at me. I'll just try to find my coat and sneak out the back door)! HER NAME WAS HAZEL!!! CHEERS, Bob |
|
12 May 04 - 07:37 PM (#1184259) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Deckman I just re-read my last posting, and I'm so ashamed!!! But, and I can't help it ... all your comments ALSO reminded me of another girlfriend I had in college! Her name was "Jamie." And she was simply womderful. And, just as your posts suggest, I could always attract her with anything red: Merlot, Cabernet, Dago red, whatever. But, that's very understandable as she came from Canada. And she loved anything sweet. I think I'll try to save what little honor I have left and close for now. Question: If I loose my mudcat membership, will I ever get a refund on my un-used hours? Bob |
|
17 May 04 - 01:30 PM (#1187327) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Stilly River Sage I bet Bob thought he'd killed off this thread with those goofy girlfriend remarks. Not so! I have been keeping an eye on the level of the water in my feeder, and it hasn't dropped at all so I'm assuming the hummers haven't noticed it yet. In the event that it takes them a little while, I'll ask this question. How long should I leave that water out there before I change it? And if I make extra and keep it in the fridge (having boiled it for a little while, as suggested above) is it healthy for the birds to fill the feeder from the fridge or should it be newly cooked sugar water each time? SRS |
|
17 May 04 - 05:21 PM (#1187437) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Chief Chaos We've only seen one so far this year. It sees to like the white Jasmine in back and the Lantana out front. I think it was a ruby throated hummer but I'm no professional. We've got a feeder (I got it for my wife, don't remember what I did that I felt that guilty). I think it might have been a birthday gift but we haven't put it out yet. |
|
17 May 04 - 05:45 PM (#1187443) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Blackcatter Deckman, It's eventually had to be said. I particularly like "birds" that hum. Here in Florida, my feeder is out year round. Saw a hummingbird on the Winter Solstice last year. By the way - I don't think it was said yet - but don't use honey in your feeders. You can give the HBs some growths on their beaks. stick with sugar & water. |
|
18 May 04 - 09:27 AM (#1187639) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Raptor The experts say change water every 4-5 days but I've also seen studies that say once a week is fine and so I change every Sunday morning religiously so I don't forget! And cooking a big batch is a good idea to save time and electricity, Just make sure you don't get growth in the batch.If in doubt... My oriole feeder is also getting good business! Happy Birding Raptor |
|
18 May 04 - 01:06 PM (#1187755) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: AllisonA(Animaterra) I've had a couple of ruby throats this week but the strangest thing has been going on since yesterday- one lone hummer- no red on its throat (femal?) has been sitting on one of the perches, absolutely still, except for an occasional blink of an eye or cock of the head, for the longest time! She seems to be sitting there for hours, at least she's there whenever I look, and she seems to know I'm there, but if I move slowly or stand still she just sits there- not eating, just sitting. If I move suddenly she flies away, then comes back when I'm out of sight. I've never seen anything like it in my life! Remember, my feeder is attached to the window, so she's only inches away from my face. What an honor! Allison |
|
18 May 04 - 01:09 PM (#1187758) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Blackcatter She's probably a spy. |
|
18 May 04 - 02:56 PM (#1187849) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Stilly River Sage My routine was interrupted this morning. I had my second cup of tea after dropping the kids at school. I was out watering some new plantings before heading to work. A blur of color came along side, and I realized it wasn't a butterfly but a parakeet. This hungry little guy had honed in on the only human in the area, and after walking right up to him and doing a little dance up and down the top of the fence pickets, I caught it and took it into the house. He/she hung out in the back bathroom, sitting for a while on the little hand-scrubber brush by the sink, and later perched on the toothpaste tube. I drove over to a pet store and got some food, and this little guy dove right into the little butter tub as I filled it. I had first called the garden center nearby because they sell wild bird food and keep several larger birds. They didn't have the right food, but the woman I spoke with said she'd take the bird, since her daughter wants one. Perfect! I have cats, and think the temptation to misbehave around a cage would be too great for my two fe-lions. I picked up a loaner bird cage from the garden center and delivered him, all within about an hour of catching him. Yes, I know he was someone's escaped pet, but since he is a bird, he could have traveled a fair distance before he got hungry enough to attract my attention. Putting out "found parakeet" signs just seemed a bit of a reach, but if I hear of anyone who lost one, I might direct them to the garden center. Where a happy 12-year-old girl will have bonded with her new bird, brought home by her happy mother. Interesting morning. My kids are going to complain that I didn't keep it for them to see, but they'd have fallen in love with it, and I already have enough work just keeping the cat boxes clean. SRS |
|
18 May 04 - 02:57 PM (#1187850) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Stilly River Sage I wonder if I turned the water off after the bird distracted me? |
|
18 May 04 - 07:11 PM (#1188069) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Raptor What a wonderfull story thank you! Allison it's definatly a female and not that uncommon for them to take to a favorite perch! Enjoy! Raptor |
|
18 May 04 - 07:44 PM (#1188090) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Blackcatter SRS - thanks for saving the parakeet, I had one as a kid and after 9 years of living with me, my parents decided that it was time not to have pets anymore so they gave it to another family without telling me. You's didn't happen to answer to the name Misty did it? |
|
18 May 04 - 08:05 PM (#1188106) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Big Al Whittle This is rubbish. I thought it would be about Gibson Hummingbirds.... |
|
18 May 04 - 08:29 PM (#1188121) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Blackcatter Hence the concept of the "BS" But feel free to add to the discussion - What's a Gibson Hummingbird? |
|
18 May 04 - 08:41 PM (#1188129) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Bobert Well, our humming irds are nesting so we don't see much of them, but they are around. They love manarta (bee balm), cleolme and red honey suckle which will all be in bloom soon... they grow in a bed right outside our bedroom so we'll be waking up to them buggers fliting around it... Good on you SRS... God keep track of those kinda things... Bobert |
|
18 May 04 - 08:42 PM (#1188132) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: GUEST,Peter Woodruff The little hummers showed up yesterday when Maggie put a red flowering cactus out on the deck in the rain. When I noticed the female ruby throated hummingbird sipping from the flowers, I immediately went to look for the feeder. I washed it thoroughly first, mixed up some feed and hung up the feeder under the eves of the porch. Within a half hour the female was back, this time at the feeder. Peter |
|
19 May 04 - 05:59 AM (#1188327) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: GUEST Sweet story,, SRS! Thanks, Raptor- I'm glad I've got her favorite perch. But I do worry- maybe Blackcatter is right and the CIA have implanted a tiny camera- she can see everything that goes on in the house! Allison |
|
19 May 04 - 06:09 AM (#1188333) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: GUEST If the feeder has been out for several days and the level has not gone down, check to make sure that the spout has not crystallized. If it has, take it down and clean it with warm water. In re bleach, the proper mix is no stronger than 1:20, bleach to water. Using this mix and air drying after washing thoroughly will clean it to medical standards. |
|
19 May 04 - 06:13 AM (#1188340) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: AllisonA(Animaterra) Took me long enough to realize that I lost my cookie- GUEST 5:59 AM was me. Allison-wh-cleaned-the-feeder-yesterday |
|
19 May 04 - 06:39 AM (#1188363) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: 42 a gibson hummingbird is a guitar. Watched the feathered kind grazing through the blossoms on my cherry tree this morning...totally ignoring the feeder I had so carefully sterilized and filled. whodathunkit? j |
|
19 May 04 - 11:25 AM (#1188528) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Stilly River Sage I told a friend at work about my morning adventure--she keeps love birds, and she agreed that this little guy couldn't have fed himself. I caught the parakeet by putting some sunflower seeds in that butter tub, but the bird would pick them up and toss them out! I reached in and picked up a couple of seeds and crushed them between my fingers then dropped them back in. The bird hopped into the cup and ate the seed out of the husk--he as quite alert to what was going on. My lovebird friend was in stitches when I described the two of us at one point, the bird perched on the cup and me reaching in for seeds, biting them to break them open, and dropping them back into the cup for the bird to hop down and eat. I realized he'd starve before I could bite open enough seeds, so that's when I just put my hand over the cup on his next hop in and took him into the house and went to buy bird food. Now there's an elegant little dove (almost looks like an Inca dove) hanging around out back next to the house and under the pottery stuff. I wonder if she is looking for her parakeet friend? I guess maybe this is when I go and buy a bird feeder and some seed. . . SRS |
|
19 May 04 - 12:07 PM (#1188561) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Blackcatter Hummingbirds - nature's Stadycams. SRS - goodness the story get's more and more charming. I'm half expecting that next oyu'll tell us you two sung a duet. Thousands of parakeets are lost every year, most don't survive, and rarely just because of the coming of winter. By the way - I'll slip in a little music connection here: You probably know that the fans of Jimmy Buffett are know as Parrotheads. Know that whire kids are called? Parakeets. |
|
19 May 04 - 12:52 PM (#1188591) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Stilly River Sage I took a good look at this bright neon-green and yellow guy to be sure I had a domesticated escaped one, because we have a colony of the larger Monk's Parakeets that live in the neighborhood to the north of us. They've colonized a couple of pecan trees and have built numerous nests the size of milk crates. The people in the house have feeder boxes hanging on their cyclone fence and it's a sea of green activity out there. No songs, Blackcatter, but he did start chirping at us at the garden center and he hopped around between the food and water and side of the cage to investigate the retail countertop. The staff at the store had happily cleaned up a spare cage so Emily could take this little guy home on her lunch hour. Like me, they weren't responding because of the price of the bird, he wasn't particularly expensive (the pet store said they start at about $20) but because it was a happy occasion to have rescued and found a home for the bird. They keep several large birds in the shop, and had all been saddened a few weeks ago when a feral cat got in and reached through the cage bars to kill one of their parrots. My kids were understanding also--I told them that I didn't want us with a set up where if the cats accidentally killed the bird they'd be sad about the bird and mad at the cats. It worked out well for all. And I will go get some seed and a feeder, because we really have enjoyed the regular bird activity and inviting them a little closer will be interesting. No signs of hummers at the feeder yet, but I did plant some red flowers in the back last weekend, so I'll clean out the water this week and try again. SRS |
|
20 May 04 - 12:29 PM (#1189793) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Blackcatter SRS - where do you live? It's an interesting garden center you have there - spare birdcages and all. A wonderful story that once again makes the BS section of the Mudcat a treasure to visit. |
|
20 May 04 - 12:40 PM (#1189813) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Stilly River Sage I'm in Fort Worth, Texas. It's not uncommon to find pet birds in places like this, at least not around here. They live in the greenhouses, and are moved indoors when it gets too hot or too cold. I put up a bird feeder in the back yard this morning. Several visitors have checked it out, but I haven't seen anyone eat at it yet. The news is getting around. Blue jays, cardinals, and lots of little finches and such. A dove sat on the little roof looking down at it for quite a while before leaving. The feeder and the food are for smaller birds. It says "squirrel proof." Ha! I won't believe that until I see the squirrels make a try for it and fail. They're fearless around here. SRS |
|
20 May 04 - 03:58 PM (#1189995) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Stilly River Sage We have ignition! (tiny text for the tiny little hummingbird that I just spotted at my feeder!) The syrup level is down, so I think they've been out there all day. They do come and go so quickly! Thanks for the initial post and getting me started with the feeder this year, Raptor! We've always had a few hummers around, but now we'll see many more. SRS |
|
20 May 04 - 04:23 PM (#1190029) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: GUEST,Blackcatter Anyone have a suggestion as to homemade hummingbird feeders? |
|
20 May 04 - 06:25 PM (#1190184) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Stilly River Sage Blackcatter, where do you live? If you go to someplace Big Lots (I'm not sure how far and wide this chain extends), a discount clearance kind of store, they have loads of them for just a dollar or two. I think you'd spend more time and money trying to figure out an alternative (and testing it) than just buying one. SRS |
|
21 May 04 - 12:13 PM (#1190830) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Blackcatter Yeah, I know, I'll get to it some day. I have to remember to pick one up when I go out to do some shopping. I'm biking it these days and the discout stores aren't terribly convienent. By the way I'm in Orlando, FL. Few people here have feeders - probably since birds are common year round. We have a flock? of peacocks in the part of town I live in. Probably 25o or so - there's a fancy neighborhood about a mile away whenre they mostly live (cause everyone there puts out food) but they wander around. One male was in my driveway last week. Having a peacock stare at you is interesting. We have herons and ibis and anhingas and more around. There's 3 lakes within 3 blocks of my place tso I see them all the time. |
|
21 May 04 - 12:21 PM (#1190850) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Kim C Stilly, we used to have a budgie. His name was Cactus and he lived about 8-9 years. One day he just up and died, which is pretty much how little birds do. We haven't had any more birds since, but we've talked about it, since we liked his chirping. I'll admit, though, he was sort of messy. We had two cats at the time, and they never bothered him. We hung the cage where they couldn't get at it. Even when I brought it down for cleaning, though, they weren't too interested. Saw another hummer this morning. :-) |
|
21 May 04 - 12:37 PM (#1190872) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Stilly River Sage I saw Emily at the garden center this morning (I'm finishing the bed that I was working on when the parakeet arrived). Her children are very happy with the bird, and she described his new cage and the playful bird-toy features that they added to it. Though my cats don't often get the opportunity, they're both hunters. Clementine once killed a tarantula that got into the house, and they regularly corner the little house geckos that slip in under the doors. If they're lucky we can catch and release them before they become kitty snacks. SRS |
|
21 May 04 - 11:11 PM (#1191266) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Celtaddict We have ruby-throated hummingbirds here each year, in the plants (chosen for them and the butterflies) and the feeders, back and front. One we call Backyard Bird has been here for several years. I have no doubt it is the same bird. In general they are quick and fearless but Backyard Bird not only chases away all others she catches (as many do), if the feeder is low she comes and fusses in my face, and follows me right into the kitchen to watch me refill. This year she was back before I had the feeder out. I was on the back deck and she came right into my face, to the feeder hook, to my face, to the hook, chittering furiously, until I went to get it. She sat composedly while I filled it and was down for a drink before the nectar stopped moving when I hung it. Blackcatter, a reasonable feeder can be made of a smallish (8 ounce or so) glass bottle, with a cork or rubber stopper to fit, and a plastic drinking straw, the kind with pleats so it can be bent. Cut a hole in the cork, put the straw in and cut it off flush inside, so the flexible part is an inch or so outside the cork. Cut the straw again about an inch beyond the curve and bend it. Put this and the bottle in a pan and boil it. When it is cool, fill it. Use coat hanger wire around the neck of the bottle and make a hook to hang it up, with the cork end down, or use a string to make a big loop over the "bottom" of the bottle (now the top of the feeder) and wrap duct tape around it. Red tape, plastic flower, or a bit of red ribbon around the straw will get the attention faster. Remember to boil the cork and straw when you refill, because the pleats and the natural cork can become contaminated. |
|
21 May 04 - 11:49 PM (#1191279) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Stilly River Sage My son told me today "that syrup in the feeder is sweet." "How do you know that?" I inquired. He told me he bumped into it and got some of the water on himself and tasted it. I read him the riot act about tasting old sugar water, and about the contamination that can happen for both he and the birds. I'll clean it and refill the feeder tomorrow. We had finches at the seed feeder this afternoon--looked like one of a couple of different types that the bird book says don't occur here. This won't be the first time the book was wrong. I'd also thrown some dried bagel out on the lawn for the grackles, and they picked up the pieces and soaked them in the bird bath before eating. So now I'll also clean the bird bath tomorrow. SRS |
|
21 May 04 - 11:59 PM (#1191285) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Blackcatter Thanks Celtaddict, but that's way too complicated and would make me go to the store anyhow. I'll just get a good old Chinese one tomorrow. |
|
22 May 04 - 12:03 AM (#1191288) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Blackcatter By the way - how does one cook the little buggers. |
|
22 May 04 - 01:50 AM (#1191323) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Stilly River Sage Cook what? We've discussed several things that could be cooked (maybe I shouldn't let the cicada thread influence me here) including hummingbirds, parakeets, cats, geckos, tarantulas, bottles and corks. SRS |
|
22 May 04 - 02:15 AM (#1191330) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Blackcatter Oh sure - confuse the issue. I can't think straight - it's 2:13 AM here. |
|
23 May 04 - 08:20 AM (#1191934) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: GUEST I could use a good tarantula recipe. |
|
23 May 04 - 03:59 PM (#1192135) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Blackcatter No such thing - not enough meat on them. I used to raise them - even the fathers had to eat 30 or so of his babies to fill up. Stick with lobsters - the mutant cockroaches of the sea. |
|
03 May 05 - 10:57 AM (#1477041) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: gnu A public service refresh. I've got mine up. |
|
03 May 05 - 05:46 PM (#1477369) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Stilly River Sage Your tarantula feeder? |
|
03 May 05 - 06:01 PM (#1477378) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: open mike oh goody--good reminder..and good habit to have feeders up by mother's day or maybe even earlier here...in calif. Unfortunately i found a dead hummer in a house near here...flew in one nice spring day when the door was open to air out the house,,and could not get back out in time to get food I guess...sad. bbut its feathers are as electric hot pink as when alive..maybe i will skin it and stuff it...i have done taxidermy on great blue heron..this one would be the other end of the scale!! |
|
03 May 05 - 06:11 PM (#1477392) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: gnu No tarantulae around these here parts. However, if there were, I would feet them. |
|
03 May 05 - 08:20 PM (#1477503) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Donuel They will fly indoors to get to a feeder, at least they did at the farm. Warning NEVER mix honey in with the feeder sugar water. It will kill them |
|
03 May 05 - 09:49 PM (#1477543) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Raptor I got mine up again! Raptor |
|
04 May 05 - 12:59 AM (#1477596) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Stilly River Sage That's nice Raptor--now what about your hummingbird feeders? :) |
|
04 May 05 - 01:37 AM (#1477599) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Sorcha OK, why no red dye? There are hummers here, but we've never had a feeder. And, those lovely Synphix moths turn into tomato hornworms. Eat nasty holes in tomatoes. |
|
04 May 05 - 05:48 AM (#1477678) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: AllisonA(Animaterra) Mine's up but it's still too chilly for the hummers! |
|
04 May 05 - 11:27 AM (#1477908) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: MaineDog We don't have hummingbirds in Maine, but, due to the consistent efforts of local evangelists, some of our smaller mosquitos have converted and changed their eating habits and learned to hover around the funny little feeders we put out. MD |
|
04 May 05 - 01:23 PM (#1477998) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: heric Googling around I don't see writings about visual attraction to shapes or patterns or ultraviolet. I do see that while the birds can see well into the ultraviolet, so do most insects, so you can attract more relatively more hummers than insects with red, as the latter don't do well in that range. My preference is agapanthus (light blue, long bloom, very hardy), because I have an aversion to feeders, just as I wouldn't feed Kool-Aid to my kids. (None of the professionals seem to share this aversion.) But this interesting page says that different plants are more attractive to the hummers in different regions. |
|
04 May 05 - 03:23 PM (#1478095) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: RichM A Hummingbird story: When my aunt and uncle lived in the country near our cottage,they fed all kinds of birds, and encouraged them to nest. They had a colony of bluebirds, among others---and a couple of dozen pairs of hummingbirds. On the way to the cottage, my wife and I stopped to visit, with our shiny new RED canoe on top of the van. Well the H-bird tribe must have thought it was the motherlode of feeders! For a while it looked like an aerial dogfight, as they descended and swooped around the canoe. Cranky lil buggers that they are, they spent as much time swearing at, and chasing each other away. Until they realized it weren't really good to eat. |
|
04 May 05 - 04:19 PM (#1478154) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Once Famous Gibson Hummingbirds are really nice looking and sounding guitars. |
|
04 May 05 - 11:30 PM (#1478496) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Raptor Red Dye causes thinning in the egg shells and babies will die! They don't need the red to find the feeders anyway! If you have the feeder out soon enough you will get them! Raptor |
|
05 May 05 - 12:07 AM (#1478507) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Dave'sWife I was wearing a red cotton blouse today and the Costas Hummingbirds that hang out by my Salvia hovered around me as I trimmed my rose bushes! Funny! My Dog sometimes wears a red bandana and they come over to him and hover. He's learned to just stand still until they figure out he has no food. I have hummingbirds year round but this is the time of year I have many more than usual. They can get as far north as Maine. My Great Aunt Alice used to have regular visitors to her garden and she was just south of the Candian Border in Way Upstate NY. If they can make it up there, they can make it to Maine. |
|
05 May 05 - 06:53 AM (#1478635) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: gnu They make it a lot further north than Maine. |
|
05 May 05 - 02:46 PM (#1478849) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Once Famous this thread makes me think of that shitty song by Seals and Croft. |
|
05 May 05 - 03:22 PM (#1478875) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Kim C I saw my first hummer of the season yesterday evening. :-) |
|
05 May 05 - 03:31 PM (#1478880) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Once Famous Why are most Hummers yelow? Why would anyone buy one when they get about 7 miles per gallon? |
|
07 May 05 - 04:05 AM (#1479891) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: dianavan I don't have a hummingbird feeder because I heard that the sugar water is false calories and that once they are in the habit of the feeder, they don't go to the flower nectar which they need to sustain them. Is this true? I love hummingbirds and don't want to hurt them but I would like to have a feeder if I knew if was safe. |
|
07 May 05 - 04:37 AM (#1479897) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Liz the Squeak Who knows.. soon we could be having an 'obese hummingbird' crises, with all these "empty calories" they're being fed with sugar water... I wonder if they see feeders as their own brand of McDonalds? We don't have hummingbirds here in the UK, but we do have tits which are much more acrobatic and just as colourful, if not so shiny and miraculous. I've got a couple of nests in my shrubbery so I put out a seed feeder for them yesterday. Can't wait till they discover it and start doing acrobatics over the garden again. LTS |
|
07 May 05 - 03:39 PM (#1480162) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: gnu LTS: "...much more acrobatic ..." Obvoiusly, you've never seen them in action. I've had them hover about a foot in front of me (perhaps looking at their reflection in my sunglasses) and just that is impressive. When they start fighting it's amazing. Your eyes can barely follow them. And, watching them beat up on a cat is unreal. A pair will fly in figure eights at right angles and, when the cat is distracted by one, the other will peck the cat on the top of the head. I watched one of my cats hug the ground under such an attack for about two minutes before making a run for it. She licked a bunch of blood off her paw that day. And she avoided that lilac bush for the rest of the summer. |
|
07 May 05 - 09:26 PM (#1480310) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Liz the Squeak but can they do it upside down and hanging by one claw? LTS |
|
08 May 05 - 05:10 AM (#1480412) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Liz the Squeak And would they get arrested if they did.....? LTS |
|
18 May 05 - 12:15 PM (#1487295) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: MaineDog I did see two of those suspicious critters buzzing around the feeder today. They were almost as big as the ones that carried off Paul Bunyan's shed roof a few years ago. MD |
|
18 May 05 - 12:50 PM (#1487324) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Ebbie Interestingly, this is about the time of year that we take DOWN our humminbird feeders. The sugar water attract bears so it's an official No No. Alaska has only one kind of hummingbird - the Ruby-throated - but there are a lot of them and they feed on all kinds of flowers and blossoms. A friend of mine has a regular colony of them and he says they are aggressive to each other and fight all the time. I once found a hummer in my sun porch. It was a very hot day and the wee bird couldn't find its way out. I put up a broom- brush end first- and it clung to the bristles. I took the little bird gently in my hand and went to the door. There I opened my hand and flattened my palm. It sat there looking around until I waved my hand before it flew away. It seemed none the worse for the experience. |
|
18 May 05 - 01:26 PM (#1487350) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: Uncle_DaveO We got our friends back here in Indianapolis about five days ago, I think it was. Dave Oesterreich |
|
18 May 05 - 01:59 PM (#1487370) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: gnu Thanks MaineDog. That means they'll be here soon. I'll have to keep watch. |
|
19 May 05 - 11:32 AM (#1488152) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: GUEST,bbc at work I have a feeder for the 1st time this spring. Put it out a week ago &, so far, no takers, as far as I can tell. Did I wait too late? I am in Southeastern New York. bbc |
|
06 Apr 18 - 10:38 PM (#3915755) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: keberoxu The early feeder gets the hummers? |
|
29 Sep 18 - 01:57 PM (#3953638) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: keberoxu Well, according to this story, there's a new species in the books. Oreotrochilus Cyanolaemus (it's a stunner) |
|
30 Sep 18 - 02:53 PM (#3953880) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: keberoxu Let me see if I can link to the photographs that go with the American Ornithology reports. male hummingbird photos |
|
01 Oct 18 - 01:20 PM (#3954051) Subject: RE: BS: Hummingbirds From: keberoxu A lot of unusual things about this newly discovered hummingbird. Its native place is the high Andes, in the part of Ecuador north of Chile, where there is snow and hail even in the SUMMER. The altitude is high, the temps are cold, and the air is thin. To compensate, the hummers have worked out a routine of feeding while perched instead of while hovering. More from The Hummingbird of the High Andes (photos) |