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

[dragoneggs]

Bay Area... very strange this year... maybe the Bay Area is not for the birds?

Well if they are seeing what I saw in recent visits, I would flee as well. And not to Seattle!

 

[ultrarunner]

Well if they are seeing what I saw in recent visits, I would flee as well. And not to Seattle!

Last September was in Seattle and expected the worst and was pleasantly surprised compared to home...

Around Pikes not a single closed or boarded up shop and here it's blocks and blocks of mostly shuttered commercial space.

 

[dragoneggs]

Last September was in Seattle and expected the worst and was pleasantly surprised compared to home...

Around Pikes not a single closed or boarded up shop and here it's blocks and blocks of mostly shuttered commercial space.

There is hope… some parts of downtown are resurging. Some as bad as ever. After dark is bad. We go to Seahawk games and because we live on the Canal, we often walk on the ferry and stay downtown using my travel points.

Not to derail this thread but I have never seen a hummer of the flying variety, downtown.

 

[goeduck]

Last September was in Seattle and expected the worst and was pleasantly surprised compared to home...

Around Pikes not a single closed or boarded up shop and here it's blocks and blocks of mostly shuttered commercial space.

Not so much boarded up businesses in Seattle, mostly encampments, drug and theft issues.

 

[ponytug]

Have not seen one at the feeder this year... it's was like Chicago O'Hare flight pattern for years...

No idea what happened.

I think that the second lush year in a row here has them out and about, and not so close to feeders. The wildflowers are exceptionally lush in the pastures around us. We have the usual handful around the buildings, and I see the Annas along the roads around here, so the Anna's are around here at least. I did not see a single Rufous or Calliope this year.

All the best,

Peter

 

[ultrarunner]

I think that the second lush year in a row here has them out and about, and not so close to feeders. The wildflowers are exceptionally lush in the pastures around us. We have the usual handful around the buildings, and I see the Annas along the roads around here, so the Anna's are around here at least. I did not see a single Rufous or Calliope this year.

All the best,

Peter

Lots of growth this year and the plants are happier for lack of a better word.

The deck with feeder us about about 27' above the turf below.

The last few years had the birds very territorial and no issues elbowing out a competitor...

I'm thinking of changing out the old for a new feeder...

 

[oosik]

Still the same two pair. Sure hope they have made a good nest. An hour ago it was 34F here. Sun is just cresting our pines - the temps will go up rapidly now.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

I think the bird flu cut the hummer population a lot. Last year was grim, this year a few more showed up.

 

[sixdogs]

We are not seeing many at the feeders but do see them zooming about the yard. I'm convinced they are eating some kind of bugs in the spruce trees. They could be nesting in those trees as well.

 

[ruffdog]

If they are nest building, they could be looking for spider webs and strands from caterpillars to build with.

 

[goeduck]

I don't know what happened, but I filled on Friday and today (Saturday) they were empty. First time this year that they drank a quart in one day, I did not think I would see that this year. It had been a half quart a day. When a spike like this happens, I always suspect a neighbor is on vacation.

 

[sixdogs]

Wore my new red hat side today and a hummingbird bird totally surprised me and almost flew into me at high speed. It was split second with no chance for reaction and just a shocking experience. I would guess he stopped 8" from my face and hat.

 

[ruffdog]

We finally have a few Hummers.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Wore my new red hat side today and a hummingbird bird totally surprised me and almost flew into me at high speed. It was split second with no chance for reaction and just a shocking experience. I would guess he stopped 8" from my face and hat.View attachment 872744

I get buzzed all the time. Never been hit. There's an interesting article in last month's Scientific American about hummer air navigation. They're thinking about you 12 times before you even know they are there.

Hummingbirds Control Their Flight with a Newfound Mechanism

When zooming forward, hummingbirds rely on a unique internal “cruise control”

www.scientificamerican.com

 

[goeduck]

I get buzzed all the time. Never been hit. There's an interesting article in last month's Scientific American about hummer air navigation. They're thinking about you 12 times before you even know they are there.

Hummingbirds Control Their Flight with a Newfound Mechanism

When zooming forward, hummingbirds rely on a unique internal “cruise control”

www.scientificamerican.com

 

[goeduck]

We are going out of town for a few days, so I will be loading up all of the backup feeders and get them out on spare hooks to tide the little guys over.

 

[QRTRHRS]

After our first sighting April 10th, we were not seeing much action for the rest of that month and most of May. Just like that the numbers have exploded. We have ten feeders up and ten more ready to go up if the numbers increase like they have in previous years.

 

[sixdogs]

After our first sighting April 10th, we were not seeing much action for the rest of that month and most of May. Just like that the numbers have exploded. We have ten feeders up and ten more ready to go up if the numbers increase like they have in previous years.

We haven't had the burst of visitors yet but I know what you mean. I figure earlier in the season the birds are eating bugs and taking care of babies. A free lunch at our feeders must not be as good as the bugs. I'm told bugs make up most of their diet with feeders being icing on the cake, so to speak.

In another week or two we should get the surge in visits and we've already had a few of what I think are babies at the feeders. The larger birds are starting to visit but they zoom in and zoom out. They've also buzzed my red hat a few times too and while I'm told it's common and they are in control, it's still scary.

 

[ultrarunner]

Nothing this year and for years traffic was heavy…

 

[kenmbz]

We still have maybe 2 , just cleaned and refilled the one feeder.
It still was 1/4 full, but getting too old , one of the HB flew over to the window multiple times to let me know.