Anyone else have an unusually large number of hummingbirds this year?

[sixdogs]

We usually get a few or more a day in an average year. This year we typically had 30 to 50 or more a day at or feeders. Is this normal and has anyone else had numbers increase? Think they're coming back next year?

 

[ArlyA]

seems like our number are slightly down, or close to average..

 

[oosik]

I think the numbers were pretty normal here. At the max - probably eight pair. Its quieted down now - two pair remain.

50 or more - - shades of Alfred Hitchcock - the Birds.

 

[sixdogs]

I think the numbers were pretty normal here. At the max - probably eight pair. Its quieted down now - two pair remain.

50 or more - - shades of Alfred Hitchcock - the Birds.

Yeah, it was. They were bombarding each other and tying to scare the others away. It turned into a feeding frenzy as the summer wound down.

 

[/pine]

This year had to be a record...up until a week or so ago after a cool front I was having to fill two feeders at least twice a day...they each hold two cups of nectar...

it was on the verge of being obnoxious just being around the feeders they were so busy...at times there were birds at each of the eight "flower" ports and a bunch more hovering or sitting in close by tree branches...
There were so many birds they were not fighting each other off like they have in the past there is some chasing but it seems like the need to feed was stronger than the typical rivalry's...

 

[Diggin It]

I have normal numbers, somewhere less than 10 a day trading places between trees, perches and feeders, watching each other.

I wonder if all the rain up east is driving them into OH for some reason? Could this be a sign of early season change?

 

[sixdogs]

I have normal numbers, somewhere less than 10 a day trading places between trees, perches and feeders, watching each other.

I wonder if all the rain up east is driving them into OH for some reason? Could this be a sign of early season change?

I wonder about that. Wife had six feeders up that were half full and they were almost emptying them every two or three days. And the birds have already started to migrate. It just seems different this year. Wonder if there's any weather superstitions with hummingbirds?

 

[jfh28]

I would say a slightly down year here.......more fighting at the feeder over the last couple of days so may be getting some migrating ones coming thru that the locals don't like sharing with....lol......Jack

 

[TNhobbyfarmer]

Down year here. Down last year as well. I only have one feeder so maybe I don't feed enough to suit them.

 

[teejk]

Much higher here this year but I've read that it takes several years for them to put you on their map. We've only been feeding since 2011 or so. I don't read anything into it.

 

[Oldoak]

Funny that question cam up. Around my area the Humming bird numbers at feeders appeared to to up this year. We got to talking just that at one of our local coffee shops.

One of the thoughts were the fact that the number of black bears in our territory are also up and many people have given up putting out bird feeders and got tired of putting them out in the morning and taking them in at night to keep the bears from getting at them. So the remainder of people who still put out Humming bird feeders are seeing more birds to feed.

And no, we are not looking to destroy the bears. And to trap and relocate them, where? Their natural habitat is constantly under siege by human encroachment. Live and let live.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Much higher here this year but I've read that it takes several years for them to put you on their map. We've only been feeding since 2011 or so. I don't read anything into it.

I've been told that birds follow the food supply...could it be that wildfires or some natural phenomenon has reduced their food in other areas and they have converged on certain other areas that seem to have good food supplies?

 

[deserteagle71]

Here in the middle of Nevada I had only a few...until about 2 weeks ago. Now, there are swarms! I went from one feeder to two feeders to three feeders and that's still not enough. Each feeder has a hummingbird perched at each port (4 ports per feeder) and a cloud of others hovering nearby. Haven't seen this kind of activity before and I'm wondering if the west coast fires might not have something to do with it, as someone stated above. We've no immediate fires, just a lot of smoke.

 

[grsthegreat]

Here n north idaho weve had way fewer than usual......but tons more yellow jackets then ever

 

[ruffdog]

About normal here....~about 3 pair????

 

[reb]

I counted approximately 16 the other day. (An accurate hummingbird census is probably impossible.) After a hatch that is probably a few more than usual for us. A neighbor with a good sized orchard and an avid hummer feeder passed away this spring, so that might account for the difference here.

 

[oosik]

I looked up previous years in my personal log of the property and the HB's are here a bit over two weeks longer than normal, this year. I hope my feeding them doesn't extend their normal stay. There is simply nothing else for them to feed on. I would guess its OK - they keep coming back every year.

 

[sixdogs]

I looked up previous years in my personal log of the property and the HB's are here a bit over two weeks longer than normal, this year. I hope my feeding them doesn't extend their normal stay. There is simply nothing else for them to feed on. I would guess its OK - they keep coming back every year.

I was reading that not to worry about them missing the last train out. They go on a body clock and not food supply. Also, that it's important to keep feeding because the word has been passed to others that food is at your place and travelers from further north plan to bulk up at your feeders on their trip. So keep feeding for a couple weeks after you stop seeing them.

 

[ruffdog]

I was reading that not to worry about them missing the last train out. They go on a body clock and not food supply. Also, that it's important to keep feeding because the word has been passed to others that food is at your place and travelers from further north plan to bulk up at your feeders on their trip. So keep feeding for a couple weeks after you stop seeing them.

Yep, that is what the local birdy people said on the night news here too.

 

[charlton289]

Here in South Central VA. I didn't have any earlier but I noticed that yesterday I have a least 3 pairs today and it is fun time just watching them I don't know if they are just passing through or hanging out for a few days. There is one and he is control of the feeder I only have one but if I see numbers go up I'll put out more feeders.