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

[sixdogs]

We started to get some birds the last week and one today is what I would call proof they return each year if they survive.

We just had a bird come up tp a window in an alcove where we had a feeder stuck to the glass. The bird came right up to the space where the feeder was last year, looked for a moment and scooted. No feeder there yet and the only reason to go in that alcove would be if you knew there was a feeder on the window.

I also saw this multiple times last year before we got that feeder up. Wife broke that window feeder and waiting for a new one to arrive.

 

[goeduck]

^^^ I completely agree, they have a very good sense of location. Mine hang from the fascia board on hooks and the feeders are all the same. So they come back to the exact spot.

Why I have so many now, I do not know. Usually this month is a slow one. I refilled 2 feeders with 1 cup each late on Thursday and one was already empty this morning (Saturday). The other almost empty. That is almost the rate I was at when the rufous birds migrated up the coast.

The only real difference I made this year is I only put out 1 cup per feeder even though they hold 2-1/2. The idea was for fresher food.

edit.
I forgot... The drop off I had a month ago coincided with crows in the area. I do not usually have crows and they are gone now. So maybe the crows were scaring off the hummers or raiding the nests.

 

[sixdogs]

From one year to the next, I am certain I see some repeat birds.

 

[oosik]

Wednesday I thought I saw a small bird whiz by the kitchen window. So I mixed up a batch and hung the feeder Wed evening. Thursday morning - two pair were at the feeder. Still two major wildflowers out there for them also. Western Service berry and then - Mock Orange.

 

[goeduck]

Wednesday I thought I saw a small bird whiz by the kitchen window. So I mixed up a batch and hung the feeder Wed evening. Thursday morning - two pair were at the feeder. Still two major wildflowers out there for them also. Western Service berry and then - Mock Orange.

Two pair is great! Glad they found your feeders!

 

[Larry Caldwell]

The hummers here are going through a quart of mix a day. Mix = 1 cup sugar to 1 quart water. They are nesting, so they don't hang around the feeders, just tank up and go. There will be swarms around the feeders later in the summer. We had dozens of rufous last year, but I haven't seen any yet this year, I don't know why.

 

[kenmbz]

The first round has migrated north. Knew they were around when I saw them by window and then trying to get nectar from my dogs runner pulley which is red.
Feeder up and 1/4 gone, then nothing. Regular birds came back a few days ago and the level is slowly going down.
Most I had looked like three at a time, did see some nests, so maybe more this year if they survived.

 

[psvfd]

That is amazing. We have never seen babies in a nest and have only seen nests after the season is over and storms blow them out of the trees. The nests are pretty small.

After several rainy days I was able to set up my camera only to find the nest is empty. Hope they left the nest and the weather (windy and thunder storms) did not harm the babies.

 

[psvfd]

Yahoo will take up to 20.0 MB's so maybe others are the same?

Put on Youtube

 

[Oaktree]

Thursday morning - two pair were at the feeder.

Two pairs at the same feeder at the same time? Must be a different variety than what we have here. Ours are quite territorial, I've seen one chase another away from a feeder. We have 2 feeders, out of sight from one another for this reason.