Who has hummingbirds?

ccarlin · Sun Sep 04, 2011 2:18 pm

WE ARE JUST NOW STARTING GET OUR FALL MIGRATION. WE NORMALLY HAVE ABOUT 8 VISITING EVERY DAY, BUT STARTING THRUSDAY WE HAVE MORE EVERY DAY. WE NOW HAVE ABOUT 30.USUALLY BEFORE THEY ALL LEAVE WE HAVE AT LEAST 40 TO 50 EVERY DAY. A TRICK I HAVE FOUND TO GET THE HUMMERS TO EAT FROM A FEEDER FROM YOUR HAND , IS TO TAKE ALL THE FEEDERS DOWN AND HOLD ONE. THEY WILL COME RIGHT TO THE FEEDER AND FEED WITH YOU HOLDING THE FEEDER. I DO THIS ALMOST EVERY TIME I FILL MY FEEDERS. IT IS SO MUCH FUN WATCHING THEM SO CLOSE TO YOU . SOMETIMES SOME WILL EVEN LAND ON YOUR HAND.I'LL MISS THEM WHEN THEY LEAVE.[/b]

RC Moser · Sun Sep 04, 2011 5:00 pm

I got maybe 5 left from about 15 or 20 this year. There has been less and less in my area for couple of years (cold spring HOT June, July, AUG.). Use to have 30 or 40. I was at friends house in town and I was sick what I saw

. Gackles was catching the hummer's off the feeders

. I never saw this before

. felt like having some gackle pie

, but I reframed myself

. Due to the heat this year in south and southwest I think everything in nature having hard time to survive?

Linda Reynolds · Sun Sep 04, 2011 5:29 pm

Bulldog, your photos are extraordinary. What type of camera are you using?

I fully realize the camera does not provide the magic, but the expertise of the photographer is very important. You have done a wonderful job, but just curious as to the camera.

I am photo-taking illiterate, so like to gather all the information I can.

Seller · Sun Sep 04, 2011 7:03 pm

Been reading the forums but havent posted in some time. I got this in an email the other day, this is a fitting place for it.

Hope this works, enjoy!

http://www.komar.org/faq/travel/hummingbirds/nest/

Tim Stover · Sun Sep 04, 2011 9:00 pm

nice pictures thanks for sharing

Bulldog1 · Sun Sep 04, 2011 9:47 pm

I shoot a Nikon D 200, no longer made. The secret is getting enough light on the subject so that you can shoot at 2000-3000 shutter speed. I solved the problem by laying a white sheet under the approach path to the feeder and bouncing light up under the birds with bright sunlight from above. The ones I like the best have a tree in shade(out of focus) in the background so the exposures have some pop.

Caroline94535-ND · Mon Sep 05, 2011 5:01 am

I'm feeding dozens, if not scores, of hummingbirds right now. Our city lots are large; there are only three houses on my half of the block. I'm in the middle.

I have two feeders in the south neighbor's front yard; one feeder on the south side of my house; two feeders on the east side of my house, and one feeder in the north neighbor's yard. We have LOTS of birds. I've found the more feeders that are spread around, especially if the birds can't see from one to the other, the more birds show up. Once I put the feeders in the neighbors' yards I began seeing so many more birds in my yard.

I keep all the feeders cleaned and filled; I'm just happy all the neighbors allow me to hang feeders and houses in their yards.

I make nectar water once a week and refill the feeders on Sundays and Wednesdays. During the hottest days of summer I'll refill them more often.

Last year I saw very few hummers and practically none during the fall. They have certainly made up for the scarcity this fall.

bwenger · Mon Sep 05, 2011 8:42 am

We still have 1-2 hummer's here in NW PA, but it was crazy with them about two weeks ago. It seemed that there were hummers flying around the feeders every 2-3 minutes. I cannot imagine being in the south and seeing the migrators converging on some of your locations and having that many. Enjoy them for us.

Bill

Jim Beatson~SC · Mon Sep 05, 2011 9:34 am

I'm envious of the variety most of you have. I'm not complaining because they're bautiful and fascinating, but only Ruby-throateds are resident here in summer and they're the only ones passing thru. There will be a few around until about the first of Oct. and some usually over-winter at feeders on or near the coast.

Jim

Don Troha · Mon Sep 05, 2011 11:53 am

Ruby Throat activity peaked here during the last week of August (3 wks earlier than usual).
We also had a Rufous spend a few days with us last month.

Linda Reynolds · Mon Sep 05, 2011 3:48 pm

Seller, the link that you received and shared with us is WONDERFUL........Thank you for posting it here. It is possibly some of the most beautiful photography that I have ever seen. I am NOT surprised after seeing a photo of the equipment used by the photographer. I can only guess it is definitely not on the low end of the price scale.....grin.

If I am reading correctly, this was taken in Colorado, and shows Broad-Tailed Hummingbirds. Is that correct?

Thanks again, it was a wonderful treat to view such lovely photos of a hummingbird that we never get to see in our area.

Bulldog, thanks to you for your reply, and providing not only the camera information, but helpful hints.

GeneP · Tue Sep 06, 2011 9:01 pm

I have at least three feeding here. More interesting to me is that this morning I saw an Oriole at the feeder. They are usually gone by August. I put out some grape jelly.

tonyg · Wed Sep 07, 2011 2:44 am

Nice post Weezie..(sorry just had to say that).. We are still going strong here in Olpe Ks. Just filled the feeders this morning (7) and they are busy little birdies..prolly got at least 15 going at it..will miss them like my Martins when they leave..

Louise Chambers · Wed Sep 07, 2011 7:34 am

Tony, they call me Weezer

A bunch more hummers showed up here yesterday and boy is it fun to watch them swirl around the feeders. Besides the many woodpeckers enjoying the sugar juice with them, new guests include a male and female Baltimore Oriole - I put out grape jelly for them but they haven't gone for that yet, but are eating orange suet.

Bulldog1 · Wed Sep 07, 2011 5:41 pm

Mine are showing signs of leaving. Where as I had 20-25 around my feeder all day, today I have 5-6.

CMF · Wed Sep 07, 2011 9:23 pm

I just read this thread so here is my offering to RTHU video group.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/allseasons ... hotostream

I manage 15 feeders and hummingbird/butterfly gardens. They give us the best evening entertainment patio watching their attitude. We just had a bander here Monday morning and he banded 20 before they dispersed.

One of my family: http://www.flickr.com/photos/allseasons ... hotostream

CMF

msalcido · Fri Sep 09, 2011 6:22 am

We do here as well! OMG this is the first season that I've really played host to a hummingbird. Boy, I never knew that so many would come if you hung feeders out. They are every where. Here are a few pics I took.

Since the Martins have been gone for almost two months, these little guys have kept me very busy!

Don Troha · Fri Sep 09, 2011 1:12 pm

Nice photos CMF and msalcido.
Got a second wave of hummingbirds here this week. They move to fast to count. Maybe 20 or 30.
RTH pic from this week: http://bit.ly/mTZADL

Linda Reynolds · Fri Sep 09, 2011 6:05 pm

This has been a great thread and thanks to everyone for sharing their stories and photos.

These *little flying jewels* are an absolute delight, and I am so happy to read that so many are enjoying them and taking care of their migratory needs.

Thanks to all, and keep up the good work.

ToyinPA · Mon Sep 12, 2011 1:05 pm

My feeders are still out. I just filled them the middle of last week. Mine are gone, but those migrating are stopping by. I'll keep my feeders up a few more weeks so those north of me migrating will have food.

Toy in PA