Hummingbirds

[Magicman]

Yup, the Hummers are back.  I saw one buzz by so Pat readied the feeder and within minutes we had one sipping. 

[Glenn1]

We have a family of them living close to our log house.  It's interesting when one male trying to run another male off. I didn't realize how territorial they are.   They just love the nectar that my wife puts out.

[Magicman]

I guess that all of ours are migratory.  They will soon be passing through and at times we will have 15-20 buzzing around and chirping.

[Gearbox]

Thats where our went . About 15 left over the weekend . We had about 30 for the last 2 weeks . going through 1 1/2 guarts a day .
Gearbox

[Chuck White]

Most of them have left for warmer climates, but we still have a few remaining!

We leave our feeders up until a week to 10 day go by without either of us seeing one!

[sprucebunny]

I saw one today.
I plant scarlet runner beans every year for them. The beans are just beans but having the tiny hummers around is priceless 

[Magicman]

I did not count, but I saw probably a dozen today.   

[samandothers]

Here we will feed starting around tax day to Mid October.

[Magicman]

We are off to a relatively slow start this year.  I guess that we need a bit more cooler weather.

[Mooseherder]

They're still here in Maine.  They'll be hitching a ride with the geese soon.

[Magicman]

Maybe so but:  LINK

[Magicman]

This cooler weather brought the Hummers in.  We will be doing the "Hummingbird Trot" refilling the feeder.   :D

[Chuck White]

We only see a Humming Bird once in a while here, now.

Most of them must have left already!

We do leave our feeders out until we don't see a hummer for a few days!

[fishfighter]

Been feeding them about two weeks now. The males been fighting up a storm. Just think if they were as big as a eagle. :D Our Eagles flew to coop about a month ago with there two babe's.

[21incher]

Ours left about 2 weeks ago. I love watching the newly hatched ones grow from the size of a large bee to full grown and ready to fly 2000 miles in a couple of weeks.

[Magicman]

We are now filling the feeder twice daily.


 
It is difficult with all of the buzzing to get more that ½ dozen at the time.  As soon as you snap, there are a dozen but then instantly it's back to the races again.  They are sooooo busy.   

[Mooseherder]

We didn't get any Hummingbirds to the feeders today and think they have started their migration from Maine.   There was a couple hundred Geese in the fields north of us yesterday feeding in fields that had already been harvested.  Could be just a coincidence with their migration clock on the same timer.

[Magicman]

The Hummers are now emptying the feeder every 2 hours.  There is no way to count or even estimate how many??


 
One lit on my hand after I hung the refilled feeder back up.


 
Now another one is on my thumb and  there are two perched on my finger drinking.   

[Shotgun]

I gave our hummers your GPS location and told them you were an easy touch, Lynn.     ;)

[mesquite buckeye]

I'm thinking they are plenty hungry. It is fun when they get friendly until one blasts you in the face with the afterburner while exiting.

[Mooseherder]

No Hummingbirds for the second day.  We took down and cleaned the feeders for next year.

[Magicman]

None there 'cause they are all here.   :D

Pat and I will be gone tomorrow so there will be some angry Hummers here.   :-\

[Gearbox]

The last of ours left this week . Take good care of them and send them back for the summer . Gearbox

[LaneC]

  We have at least 5 here now.  I do not understand why they cannot just drink together and leave one another alone, but they always try and keep each other off of the feeder. anywho we are assisting them in their preparation.

[Chuck White]

Hummingbirds are very territorial and usually the baddest bird will control who eats from the feeder.

That's why we have a feeder on the back deck, the front porch and another hanging just outside the window where we feed the other birds!

[Magicman]

Our Hummer situation here is really wild.  There has to be 20+ birds but counting them is impossible.  They empty the feeder every ~2 hours.

[WV Sawmiller]

   We have not put them out this year but usually put out 3 feeders on the porch. We'd have a couple dozen feeding at a time. With that many its like a big flock of turkeys milling around and just about impossible to get an accurate count. What we find is the hens can feed any time but the roosters will not allow another rooster to feed at his feeder and he spends all his time chasing the other roosters away.

[Chuck White]

I went out early this morning and took all the feeders and a hanging basket flowering plant down.

The plant went into the recycle bin and the feeders were washed and put away for the Winter.

I figured taking them down early in the day would be easier on the hummers, since they have the rest of the day to find something else!

Haven't seen any in a few days!

[Magicman]

Our weather changed last night and we have many less today.  I guess that they continued on another leg of their migration. 

[LaneC]

   As of now ours are still here, eating and fighting.

[beenthere]

We still have them in WI.  They may be down in MS later... but still in the 70's through next week.

[Magicman]

One feeder will last all day today.

[Chuck White]

They must be moving on, Lynn!

[Magicman]

Yup, It is 65° this morning so we will soon see.  There were about 5-6 yesterday PM before they went to roost.  I filled the feeder just in case there are some stragglers this AM.

[Magicman]

Yup, there are about a half dozen or so buzzing this AM.   

[LaneC]

   I filled the feeder yesterday, and today it is about 3/4 full. They have definitely slowed down. I think there are only 2 left.

[Magicman]

My feeder is down about ½ from this morning's fill up.  At least those that are still here are enjoying it.

[Magicman]

We are 65° again this morning and the feeder is full.  They only emptied one yesterday.  It looks like maybe 6-8 buzzing around.

[LaneC]

  Well, I think they have officially flew the coop. I hope Mrs. Pats BP is better. If you need anything holler.

[Magicman]

They are still drinking one feeder per day here.

I hope Mrs. Pats BP is better.

Thanks, but not better.

[Magicman]

Apparently another flight of Hummers arrived because I am back to my refilling chores.   

[LaneC]

Saw 1 today but have not had to fill the feeder since last Friday.

[Magicman]

I have 6-8 buzzing now.   

[Chuck White]

Yesterday we had scattered frost at 6:00AM.

Just a sign of what's to come.

Pretty soon, the ole LT40 will be parked in the back garage for the Winter.

[Magicman]

I reckon this 60° weather sent all of our Hummers further South, but at least those that visited us left with a full belly.  We really enjoyed them while they were here.   

[Magicman]

I am glad that the feeder is still out because we have a couple of late arrivals this AM.  They should appreciate a fill-up before continuing their journey South.

[beenthere]

Neighbor says they are still imbibing here in WI, so you can save some "energy drink" for when they finally decide to leave and make that 1000 mile flight.  ;D

[Magicman]

I have not refilled the feeder in a week, but there are a few still hanging around, so I will keep it for them.