Any Hummingbird Watchers Out There?

Jaytee

Cinnamonsmiles-----here is a list of hummingbird attracting plants from a prerennial grower here in Ohio.    http://millcreekgardensohio.com/Frames/plant_usage_list_frame.htm

I have also grown tithonia or Mexican Sunflowers direct from seed and they seemed to love those too!  Would also recommend Hummingbird Sage and Autumn Cherry Chief Sage.  Both have tubular flowers that the hummingbirds adore.  One other good annual is lantana.

Chickadee

Oh, forgot. You don't need to add food coloring to the water. Not proven, but thought that the red coloring might not be good for our pretty little friends. Leave the color for the feeder or tie a red ribbon to it.

Blessings2011

Chickadee -

I heard the same thing.

No red food coloring!

Just the red plastic on the feeder is enough to attract our crew.

TwoHobbies

I saw hummingbirds for the first time last year at our new house.  What a gift while I was recovering from surgery.  Thanks for posting the map.  I'll be sure to watch it as they inch up towards Lake Michigan.  I was so surprised to see them last year because I didn't really have plants that I recognized as ones that hummingbirds love. We had some purple morning glories and sunflowers that had some burgundy in them, but that was all that was blooming.  Just plant a lot of red and hot pink and they like tubular flowers.  At our old house, they loved fuschias and coral bells. 

One time I heard someone say the recipe for Hummingbird nectar is "right on your hand".  One part sugar (thumb), 4 parts water (fingers).  That has helped me remember it.  I also boil it in the microwave and then store it in the fridge. Only put out enough to last about 3 days so that its always clean and fresh.   

Vicky I have a son with health problems too.  It is so draining and then to have to take time and energy and oh yes the money, to fight cancer pretty much sucks.  I can relate.   

LuvLulu07

Jaytee   Love hummers, but there are none where we currently live   I really miss seeing them!

I'm not sure where you are in Ohio, but my family and I vacationed in Hocking Hills, Ohio, a few years ago and visited a park where we hand fed hummers.   A large group of us sat, each of us with  a little feeder (those tubes used for flowers) and lots of hummers came in and we fed them.  We could hear the hummers' wings all around us - it was incredible.  Maybe Hocking Hills is close to you?   

Ossa

I never add food colouring to the nectar.. not good for the hummers.. We always have lots of them crowding around the feeder.. Funny to watch the males "protecting" their food sourse.. One has a habit of sitting on a tree branch just off our deck.. As soon as another bird comes along  he dives for them... But on the other hand we have had 5 females feeding at the same time.... hmmmm.. Can't we all just get along

FilterLady

Hi Vicky:  Just wanted to say hi and that you and your family are in my prayers.

Those hummers really do make you smile don't they?

(((((((((((hugs))))))))))))) to all.

LaDonna

Cherrie

I will be watching as I too feed these birds. I live in Michigan so it could be a while although the robins were 3 weeks early. I am in shorts today and it is still winter in Michigan. Loving it!!!!!

SoCalLisa

My feeder is right in front of my kitchen window so I see them all day all year..I love to see the fights for the territory..none ever gets hurt..I even have another small bird that tries to fly like a hummer at the feeder,but fails..too funny!!!!

Jaytee

Hi joy...............I live in central Ohio, Hocking Hills is probably 1 1/2 to 2 hours away.  We used to go there in the winter for the annual winter hike.  This was years ago, before I was married.  It is a beautiful place.  We would get a group together and rent one of their cabins.  They were heated and had a kitchen.  We'd take a crock pot and get a pot of chili going while we were on the hike.  One winter it was just perfect, all the waterfalls were frozen and there was beautiful snow everywhere,  it was magical!   Havent been there for a long time-----would love to go in the summer and find that place with the hummingbirds!

coraleliz

I agree with Ossa, no need to color your water & the food coloring may not be good for birds. I get a good turnout with clear nectar. The hummers are yearround at my feeders. The housefinches also feed at my "hummingbird" feeders year round. I'm starting to see the hooded oriole, also drinking nectar out of the "hummingbird" feeder. There's another bird I seeing sipping the nectar & I think it is a Yellow rumped warbler.

Jaytee

Just checked the map this morning-----there was a sighting in Ky!   Guess I better get my feeders out sooner than I expected.   I think this week is still supposed to be warmer than usual.

Its been so warm that I have opened my bedroom window a little bit.  Woke up yesterday morning to such a lovely chorus of bird songs.  It was a sleepy Sunday morning, but the backyard was full of activity---looks like a robin pair is setting up housekeeping back there and busy chasing any others away.  The goldfinches are turning yellow---my other sure sign of spring!  I can't have many birdfeeders too close to the house because of chipmunks, but my one exception to the rule is a little peanut feeder hanging where my hummingbird feeder will go later.   I can watch nuthatches, chickadees, titmice, and a couple kinds of woodpeckers come and visit there.  They all seem to take turns.  A few weeks ago I got up a bit later than usual and just happened to look out the window and saw 4 bluebirds in the crabapple tree.  We don't usually see them up here so that was a treat.  Seems like they were there that particular day just to cheer me up.

Wishing all you lovely ladies a beautiful day today!  

Blessings2011

I've had my finch feeders up for a few weeks now, and they love them! Goldfinches are by nature group feeders, so it's not unusual to see the socks completely covered by these tiny little yellow birds!

We also have doves, but in the past have had many issues with them - we're close to the foothills, and often, hawks make the rounds looking for a nice, slow-moving meal.

I always had feeders for them til the rats caught on. I finally had to remove the feeders.

We have a dove couple (I like to think they're the same ones) who build a nest on the fence outside our dining room window. I have a trellis filled with ivy and clematis, and the fence backs up to a neighbor's shed.

The doves continue to build a nest and lay eggs every year, but something always gets the eggs. Neighborhood cat? Rats? Possum?

Yesterday they were trying to build their nest in the rain and the hail. I felt so sorry for them that I got a nice shallow basket and put in some yarn and quilting scraps, then put their little bits of twigs inside.

DH built a quick, rough "roof" over the fence with a board, so it would stay dry, and once we see some activity, we'll figure out a way to make it predator-proof.

I was worried about tampering with nature, but this morning (bright and sunny) the doves are back, and Mama's in the basket, continuing to build the nest!

Hoping for some babies this year!

LuvLulu07

Blessings   What a good story about the doves.   

We "tampered" with nature a few years ago, when bluebirds hatched in a box in our yard, and we watched mama bluebird teach one of three baby bluebirds to fly.  Two tiny bluebirds were left in our yard, just sitting there.   That night, we scooped them up and put them back in their nest.   The next day they were gone.  Not sure if they flew off, but just hated to see them in the yard waiting for a cat or fox to get them.   We were so lucky to have bluebirds that year, never did see them again.  

Blessings2011

Joy - that's a great bluebird story, too!

I'm sure those two little ones just flew off and have each raised many offspring over the years!

I just peeked out the window again....Mama dove is in the nest, Daddy dove is sitting a few inches away. I did put up a feeder close to the fence so they won't have to venture far for a meal.

Likeachickadee

Wow - just checked the map and got my feeder up this morning.  Hoping the bunch from last summer will be back soon.  I was trying to figure out how to post pics of the little Ruby Throats that I've taken over the past few years.  Will work on sizing and posting the pics a little more as I have time.

Chickadee

FINALLY. I've been in one place long enough to see the first hummer at my feeder. A little black chin.

Wren44

This was on the news site today. It's photos of a hummingbird building her nest. PAWS, referred to in the text, is a wildlife refuge here.

 

http://www.king5.com/news/slideshows/hummingbirds-143576826.html 

cinnamonsmiles

OH MY!!! I live in central WI and I thought I had more time to figure out my humming bird feeder...But I checked the map today and they are in northern IL now, and one dot is in central WI!!! I have the feeder,  now know how to make the nectar (thank you ladies!). Now I have to figure  you out what to do. I would like it in front of the kitchen window, but don't know how to place it. I am thinking a sheperd's hook, but have to find one the right height.

Thanks for this thread, I love it. I did suscribe to Birds and Bloom this year. Got my first issue...

Jaytee

cinnamonsmiles.......I was surprised on Wed evening when I checked the map.  I can't believe they are so far north in just a couple of days.  I did make some nectar and put 2 feeders out, one in front, one in back.  I have never ever seen hummingbirds this early here before but there are a lot of flowering trees in bloom right now.   We are a good month ahead in blooming time.  Our crabapple will probably be blooming next week.  That always seems to be when the first ones come around.   Still anxiously awaiting my first one.     Love Birds and Blooms magazine.....such nice pictures...the kind of magazine you have to keep every issue!

BTJ

Hi there!  Well I am not in the south now, but was born and lived in Mobile AL until I was 20ish. I am now in Oregon, the northeastern part, and am an avid birdwatcher. I was diagnosed with DCIS on Veterans Day in 2010.  I had a lumpectomy first, then they found an invasive tumor and 3 weeks later had a mx. I chose to only remove the one breast that had cancer in it with immediate nipple/skin sparing reconstruction.  I am 58 so my plastic surgeon recommended a lift for the other side. Nodes were clear...estrogen positive...taking letrozole for 5 years if I can stand it.  Having problems with side effects.

Anyway...I will definitely post when we see our first hummers.  We had 9 different varieties last year.  We have many, many feeders out and we make our own nectar w/o any food coloring.  They love it.  We also feed all the other birds...the Grosbeaks have been here for about a month. Sometimes there are so many it looks like a shot from A. Hitchcocks movie.   I have spent a lot of time watching their antics.  So entertaining! Blessings!

Jaytee

Hi BTJ............I am also taking letrozole for 5 years.  Never have had so many aches and pains!  The pain is especially bad in my hands.  Hopefully the SEs will diminish over time.  I feel like the alternative is worse so I just keep hanging in there.  There is always the chance of changing to one of the other AIs but they all seem to have similar SEs.   I have started taking walks every day and it seems to be helping me  feel better.  I did  gain some weight after starting the letrozole, so hopefully the walking will help me get that under control too.  I started the letrozole last summer so I am almost at the 1 year mark---4 more to go---seems like forever!    Hang it there too----hope you will feel better!

I do like hearing when everyone sees their first hummer.  They are truly so amazing.  Have a great spring out there in Oregon!    

TwoHobbies

OMG, cinnamonsmiles, you are right.  I think I checked the map last weekend and it was up to Kentucky. Now look how far north they are.  I should have known because I have seen them in the past when the trees start to bloom.  I will be getting out my feeder tomorrow!

A shepherds hook will work.  Just make sure you put it somewhere not too far from a bush or tree.  Mine seem to like to sit in a small tree about 7 feet from the feeder and then swoop in for a drink. 

Chickadee

One more tip. It's hot enough here in Tx the mold can grow quickly in the feeders. Change the nectar daily if you need to and make sure there is no black mold growth inside your feeder. I spritz them with bleach and then thoroughly clean and rinse before I put them back out.

Jaytee

Good tip chickadee!    I found some great little brushes for cleaning feeder parts.  They are called The Perfect LIttle Brushes by the Droll Yankee company.  Great for cleaning bee guards and the little nectar ports.  Do you have a favorite type of feeder?  

Chickadee

I've been through all sorts of fancy-schmancy artsy fartsy feeders. Finally settled on the First Nature feeders at Walmart because I like how they come apart for cleaning. Interestingly I get more hummers with the simple feeders. They always ignored the artsy ones.

Jaytee

Agree...........functional is much better than pretty when it comes to feeding hummers! 

Wren44

Yesterday my 8yo DGS saw a hummingbird fly into the top of his swing set and fall to the ground. His Mom and 4yo brother picked the bird up. The 4yo held it, both boys petted it. When it began responding, their Mom put the feeder where the bird could eat. He took a sip, flew back to her fingers, took another sip and flew off. What an awesome experience! They have lots of feeders and birds.

TwoHobbies

How cool, Wren.  I have not seen any hummingbirds yet.  I put my feeder out and left it for a few days.  Took it down and put it up again over the weekend.  Nothing.  But it is cold again.  Who could blame then for staying farther south. 

ElenaMarie62

Oh, I am so excited, as I saw my first little hummingbird here in Maryland just a while ago, before the sun went down. I happened to be looking out my front door and he flew in and sat on my little hummzinger and took a long drink. He was a small little guy. Hope he will be okay with this cool storm system coming through. I live right below Baltimore City. 

I posted my sighting on the map.