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- #11
Hummingbirds
- Thread starter secuono
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- #12
Collector
Garden Master
We have lots of them around the last 2 years here. I think they come back to the same place year after year also. DW is ready in early spring with the feeders cleaned and ready to go. We think that you have to have the stuff out when they first show up in spring or they will move on. Right now the small babies are out buzzing all around and chasing each other. They have no fear of people they will hover about 6” from your face to check you out. I also think that those babies will come back year after year also, so you need to keep increasing your feeder supply. Happy to hear you are starting your own colony.
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- #14
Sad pics.
Found a dead hummer.
Went out to watch the barnswallows zoom and a young one sat on the fence, watching me. Noticed a foot away, a hummer hanging off the fence, dead.
Had to get pics, as you never think you'd get this close to one, dead or alive. Plus, a bit educational to find out how tiny and light they really are.
They've recently grown to at least 5 of them, arguing over the feeder. I added a second further away to limit their fighting. Idk if this one was hurt or old or had something else going on. Feeders cleaned and replaced w/sugar water every 2-3 days.
That little ruffle on its back is where the tail meets the body. So very tiny!
Found a dead hummer.
Went out to watch the barnswallows zoom and a young one sat on the fence, watching me. Noticed a foot away, a hummer hanging off the fence, dead.
Had to get pics, as you never think you'd get this close to one, dead or alive. Plus, a bit educational to find out how tiny and light they really are.
They've recently grown to at least 5 of them, arguing over the feeder. I added a second further away to limit their fighting. Idk if this one was hurt or old or had something else going on. Feeders cleaned and replaced w/sugar water every 2-3 days.
That little ruffle on its back is where the tail meets the body. So very tiny!
flowerbug
Garden Master
...Sad pics.
Found a dead hummer.
Went out to watch the barnswallows zoom and a young one sat on the fence, watching me. Noticed a foot away, a hummer hanging off the fence, dead.
Had to get pics, as you never think you'd get this close to one, dead or alive. Plus, a bit educational to find out how tiny and light they really are.
They've recently grown to at least 5 of them, arguing over the feeder. I added a second further away to limit their fighting. Idk if this one was hurt or old or had something else going on. Feeders cleaned and replaced w/sugar water every 2-3 days.
do you have any plain water around for them that they can use? it would be interesting to see if on really hot days if they do use it.
they can fight just like many other creatures, they can also die of old age, it's so hard to know for sure at our level of sight and understanding unless you were an expert with the right equipment and ways to test.
i was just thinking a short while ago that every creature around us lives just as intensely at times as we do, but also surely has their times of not so intense. the ebb and flow of life. we're all soaking in it... until we're not...
yes so very tiny and living on the edge too as they have such high metabolisms at times.
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- #16
Tons of natural waterways, ponds and troughs.
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- #17
Hummers and the gladiolus
I think the hot wire is to blame. Found a little grey bird in a planter. Right above, fence and wire were close enough together the bird got zapped. Started spray painting the yellow insulators black, in hopes of not attracting the hummers near them...
I think the hot wire is to blame. Found a little grey bird in a planter. Right above, fence and wire were close enough together the bird got zapped. Started spray painting the yellow insulators black, in hopes of not attracting the hummers near them...
SPedigrees
Garden Addicted
That's sad about the hummingbird you found, secuono. I've always wondered about our electric fences back in the day, but doesn't a bird on a hot wire also need to touch a ground to complete the circuit? If so that wouldn't be impossible I guess. I'm surprised they still manufacture red insulators, given the outcry against these back in the 70s/80s.
Right now the population of hummers has swelled, I think because of migrant birds coming from Canada and northern parts of my state. All of them are engaged in a feeding frenzy, fueling up for the migration. I'm filling the feeder every couple days, and the patches of jewelweed I let grow up around the place are buzzing with the little birds, and also bumblebees who are becoming increasingly disoriented. In a few weeks all the ruby-throated hummingbirds will be gone, save for a few stragglers coming through, and the bee colonies will be collapsing, with frost killing the worker bees which is very sad. Rest in peace fuzzy bumblebees, and safe travels to my tiny hummingbirds.
Right now the population of hummers has swelled, I think because of migrant birds coming from Canada and northern parts of my state. All of them are engaged in a feeding frenzy, fueling up for the migration. I'm filling the feeder every couple days, and the patches of jewelweed I let grow up around the place are buzzing with the little birds, and also bumblebees who are becoming increasingly disoriented. In a few weeks all the ruby-throated hummingbirds will be gone, save for a few stragglers coming through, and the bee colonies will be collapsing, with frost killing the worker bees which is very sad. Rest in peace fuzzy bumblebees, and safe travels to my tiny hummingbirds.
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- #19
Never seen a red insulator. Mine are yellow or purple.
If they touch the insulator while mist covers it, they could complete the circuit and get zapped. Found a post on reddit of someone thinking that was their issue, so painted mine just in case.
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- #20
Mine are too busy fighting over the feeders. It's so dumb. They'll race around the house, 3-4 of them, while 2 sneak in to eat at each of the 2 feeders. Each feeder has a boss, it sits within eyeshot of the feeder and zooms in to attack anyone who comes for a sip. Even the females bicker. 
But don't worry! They also fight over the gladiolus and any other flowers!
A bit ago, I was replacing the 2nd feeder. Hummer came over and stared me down, not sure if it should land to eat or not. Lol. 30 seconds later, it flew to its post and waited for me to go away.
Then behind the house, two shot past my face so fast, maybe afoot away. They're crazy little guys. So crazy territorial. I don't understand the videos of people having several getting along! Magic!
But don't worry! They also fight over the gladiolus and any other flowers!
A bit ago, I was replacing the 2nd feeder. Hummer came over and stared me down, not sure if it should land to eat or not. Lol. 30 seconds later, it flew to its post and waited for me to go away.
Then behind the house, two shot past my face so fast, maybe afoot away. They're crazy little guys. So crazy territorial. I don't understand the videos of people having several getting along! Magic!
