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

[Gem99ultra]

On the contrary, we had a lot fewer hummers this year. Only 2 regulars. I think the carpenter bees ran the initial arrival off. By the time we eradicated the carpenters, the population had gone elsewhere.

We love having the hummers around. Maybe we'll be better prepared next year, or during their migration South.

 

[jfh28]

I seem to have the same amount as past years......they're zipping around the feeder all day until I bring it in the evening.......Jack

 

[dragoneggs]

I seem to have the same amount as past years......they're zipping around the feeder all day until I bring it in the evening.......Jack

Why do you bring in the feeder?

 

[goeduck]

My activity has slowed down which seems to be normal at my place this time of year. Birds are still around but they do not need the feeder as much.

 

[TractorGuy]

We had a slow start this year but getting back to normal. I have one feeder in front of the house and two in the back. Trying to give them fresh every week. I just put a little over a cup in each one so I can't let them get sour.

 

[jfh28]

bears......Jack

Why do you bring in the feeder?

 

[goeduck]

bears......Jack

Oh wow. I never thought of bears going after a hummingbird feeder. There are a few black bears around, but (so far) not on my deck. :shocked:

 

[Oaktree]

On the contrary, we had a lot fewer hummers this year. Only 2 regulars.

Same here. We don't usually have many to begin with, but this year was only maybe half the usual number. Don't think we've seen any at the feeder since June.
Maybe it's just that there are so many flowers around that they don't need the feeder. The milkweed was plentiful this year.

 

[jfh28]

yeah bears will go after any easy meal......I only put one feeder out and have it near the house....the presence of the wolfhounds seems to make an easy meal a harder meal and so the bears stay away during the day......at night its a different story so I have to bring it inside.......its funny because if I'm late getting up in the morning the hummers will be hovering at the window looking inside waiting for me to put it out....lol......Jack

Oh wow. I never thought of bears going after a hummingbird feeder. There are a few black bears around, but (so far) not on my deck. :shocked:

 

[CADplans]

We have been hosting about a dozen regulars,, with 3 feeders.
I even put out three plastic cups of sugar mix for bees and wasps, to keep the insects away from the hummer feeders.

Well,, today, it was totally nuts!! For over 6 hours, we had over 20 hummers,, luckily we had the three feeders full.

I never saw more than two birds at a feeder at a time before,, today, there were so many birds,, seven at the big feeder, at the same time,, was common,,

 

[dragoneggs]

Yeah, they are still going strong here as well. We have a deck overlooking a steep slope and it has been fun watching them dive-bomb each other. Wondering if there is a mating dance going on... they go straight up and then straight down chasing each other.

 

[goeduck]

Yeah, they are still going strong here as well. We have a deck overlooking a steep slope and it has been fun watching them dive-bomb each other. Wondering if there is a mating dance going on... they go straight up and then straight down chasing each other.

Mine must be over at your place, slow activity here. I figured they were too busy eating bugs and visiting flowers. :confused3:

 

[japody]

We have 4 of the 32 oz feeders on the rear deck. Have to refill them every 2 days. We were having a problem with the squirrels pulling the plastic flowers off and raiding the feeders. Then to add insult to injury, raccoons followed suit. I rigged up some tomato cages and wired them up with a solar fence charger. No more problems with the varmints.

 

[/pine]

There is usually a big increase of activity around feeders as the fledglings leave the nests...by both male and female hummers...FWIW...

 

[sixdogs]

We have had a huge surge in birds this year and think it all started last year when we left the feeders up until maybe early November when we went a week without seeing a bird. After our birds went south, it seems we fed all the migrating birds heading south and they remembered where the food was on the return trip. Some must have stayed with us because we now have maybe 30-50 visits a day when earlier years were only a couple a day. This fall should be a busy time. We've never had more than two birds at one feeder at one time.

We have seen their small nests in trees and seen the young birds on their earliest flights. Very fascinating. We stock up with powdered mix in the late fall on the 80% markdown sales but have mixed our own in the past as well. The commercial mix is red and we think draws them better.

 

[goeduck]

We have had a huge surge in birds this year and think it all started last year when we left the feeders up until maybe early November when we went a week without seeing a bird. After our birds went south, it seems we fed all the migrating birds heading south and they remembered where the food was on the return trip. Some must have stayed with us because we now have maybe 30-50 visits a day when earlier years were only a couple a day. This fall should be a busy time. We've never had more than two birds at one feeder at one time.

We have seen their small nests in trees and seen the young birds on their earliest flights. Very fascinating. We stock up with powdered mix in the late fall on the 80% markdown sales but have mixed our own in the past as well. The commercial mix is red and we think draws them better.

Interesting, I have not had good luck with the mixes. I use organic sugar that makes a beer colored fluid.

 

[dragoneggs]

Okay brewed up another quart tonight... 32 water to 8oz sugar (4:1) and thought I would share three food prep tips based on experience.


Tip #1. Don't just dissolve the sugar in the water. Make sure you boil the mixture for a couple minutes.

Why? The boil sterilizes the sugar water so it lasts longer before yellowing, and the eventual avoidance by the hummers. Mom taught me that... and it does seem to make a difference based on my experience. Making a batch that lasts a week or two is a good target.

Some refrigerate larger batches, but I like to provide my little friends with fresh 'nectar'! They do know and like me.




Tip #2. No need to add red food colorizer.

Why? Makes no difference in attraction (based on my unscientific data). All feeders seem to have a colorful dispenser anyways.



Tip #3. Boil the water first... once boiling, then add the sugar.

Why? Because you can't burn water but you can burn sugar water. I have a habit of walking away from a pot of water waiting for it to boil. Decided to throw the sugar in first for a change, to give it a 'better' cook (see Tip #1)... and forgot about it until I saw blue haze coming from the kitchen.

What I had was a science experiment. Grabbed the pot with a holder and quickly ushered it outside while 'it' was 'rising' out of the pot. A black lava/ash/glassy bubbly thing! It was cool... I mean hot! :fiery:

Took some time to cool and collapse but when it did, I returned it to the kitchen sink for a little clean up. NOPE! Wife took it over after day 1... I kept telling her forget it I will buy her a nice new pot. :ashamed:

Well... apparently she has also grown to be affectionate to this particular pot and proceeded to spend an incredible amount of elbow grease over a week's time to finally get that stainless steel finish back!


I do though wish I had a picture, or better a video of my creation. I almost want to do it again (with a pot from a garage sale) and make a YouTube video the eruption... of the pot not my wife! :laughing:

 

[dragoneggs]

Hey found this... I guess I don't need to make a vid.

What happens when you burn sugar? - YouTube

 

[CADplans]

Well, I am up to about (wild guess) 20 hummers now,,they are consuming over 1 quart of sugar water a day.

I had the feeders hanging close to the house, but, one "alpha" bird was chasing the rest.
I moved two of the three feeders to the deck railing.

It is crazy to see them empty the 32 ounce and 16 ounce feeder every day.
The third feeder is only being used by that alpha bird,,,

We have had two problems with the birds that needed me to "rescue" the birds,,
At least four times, a hummer has "stuck" its beak in the porch screen,,
We hear the constant drone of the bird for longer than the usual few seconds.

The birds think they need to fly forward to escape,,,
by walking up to them, they will fly backward, releasing their beak from the screen,,,

The other "problem" is the little greenhouse on the deck.
The bird will fly in the greenhouse, then think the only way out is to fly up,,,

Three times I had to go out and catch the bird in my cupped hands, then release the bird out of the greenhouse.

Once, the bird was so tired from trying to get out, all it could do is hang on the inside of the greenhouse.
As fast as the birds usually fly, I am amazed I was able to catch them,,,

I read that the birds have a hormone change this time of the year, so that they increase their carbs consumption,
which puts on fat for their migration trip,,,

I hope I can continue to afford all the sugar the birds are going through!!:confused2:

 

[CADplans]

OK, I had ANOTHER rescue today, a hummer trapped in the greenhouse,,, AGAIN!!

One second after the pic was taken,, the bird was G O N E !! :thumbsup: