Hummingbirds

[SPedigrees]

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.

Red ones were for sale here back in the day, but many people objected. Consequently manufacturers changed to yellow, but probably not a solution since yellow also attracts them. Mist completing the circuit makes sense, and/or maybe a tall grass stalk.

"My" hummingbirds seem sorted out into territories each with a single male and his harem. That arrangement is pretty peaceful earlier in the summer, but now many little squabbles are breaking out here, as at your house. I think the migrant birds entering this territory brought the chaos with them. They sure are feisty little critters!

 

[secuono]

Red ones were for sale here back in the day, but many people objected. Consequently manufacturers changed to yellow, but probably not a solution since yellow also attracts them. Mist completing the circuit makes sense, and/or maybe a tall grass stalk.

"My" hummingbirds seem sorted out into territories each with a single male and his harem. That arrangement is pretty peaceful earlier in the summer, but now many little squabbles are breaking out here, as at your house. I think the migrant birds entering this territory brought the chaos with them. They sure are feisty little critters!

Mine have been arguing the whole season.

 

[Carol Dee]

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!

that is exactly how they behave here as well. I have 3 feeders out.

 

[flowerbug]

Mine have been arguing the whole season.

jousting?

 

[Shades-of-Oregon]

Hummers have all of a sudden disappeared. They over winter here every year. I wondering if the county sprayed again by helicopter. I miss the hummers.. First time in 30muears no hummers. Kind of scary really. Nothing flying even all the butterflies are gone, bees and bumbles. Even the Yellowjackets. Yikes…

 

[ducks4you]

I only see hummingbirds when my Rose of Sharon are blooming.

 

[flowerbug]

Hummers have all of a sudden disappeared. They over winter here every year. I wondering if the county sprayed again by helicopter. I miss the hummers.. First time in 30muears no hummers. Kind of scary really. Nothing flying even all the butterflies are gone, bees and bumbles. Even the Yellowjackets. Yikes…

drought is really hard on all of those. i hope you get more rains and have a better year next season.

 

[secuono]

Was weeding yesterday and they zoomed so fast it sounded like tiny jets approaching, like an odd low deep sound. Flew right over my back. Might of crashed if I had stood up!
They're shy unless they think you're decor. Lol

 

[secuono]

Heard one screaming up a storm. Feeder was empty....

So many tiny arguments

 

[SPedigrees]

One or two days ago there was a mass gathering of hummers in my crabapple tree out front. It looked like hundreds of birds. I think it must have been a starting point for the next leg of their journey, and they were regrouping at the send-off point. Today I'm seeing none, but I'll give the feeder another couple re-fillings over the next week or so, to help stragglers on their way.

The hummingbirds from the north of here have such unique personalities. One bird stuck around, feeding from multiple flowers on the jewelweed plant I encourage to grow next to the porch steps, seemingly not caring that I was sitting right there with my dogs. (My "regulars" used to dart away as soon as they spotted me.) I imagine this bird frequented a feeder belonging to a person who worked at taming her/his little patrons. Perhaps this bird had been hand-fed.

The jewelweed, aka touch-me-not, grows wild in every corner of my yard and pastureland and is a magnet for pollinators. Plump fuzzy bumblebees disappear completely inside the tiny orange flowers. I tried to film this but was unsuccessful so I'll just post this link to a video:

Hummingbirds are like part-time pet birds, needing care only for 4 months of the year. I'll miss them, but they will be back in May.