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

[QRTRHRS]

Well, we could use some help keeping the feeders filled.

 

[sixdogs]

Well, we could use some help keeping the feeders filled.
View attachment 4031598

I don't know how you get so many birds at your feeders. I have one at a feeder at a time and an occasional double.

 

[ponytug]

I don't know how you get so many birds at your feeders. I have one at a feeder at a time and an occasional double.

I think a lot also depends on the other food sources in your area, and whether there is cover for less dominant individuals to watch from.

We can have a dozen females happily feeding together and four or five males dogfighting for the feeders. To help keep the peace, we try to spread the feeders out, but the male Anna's can be quite territorial, though not as much as the rufous, at least here.

All the best, Peter

 

[QRTRHRS]

I don't know how you get so many birds at your feeders. I have one at a feeder at a time and an occasional double.

I'll try to give you some perspective on the layout of our land. We have been at this place since spring 2017. We may have had two to six feeders the first year with so-so numbers. We are on a narrow ridge, trees on three sides, very steep if not near vertical drop off all around. The first photo was taken on the far end.

Getting a bit closer, the trees on the right are maybe 100 feet from the house. I see the birds flying back and forth to those trees a lot.

The metal porch roof is not much to look at but it was easy to hang unistrut from to hang the feeders. The feeders are hung close to each other. We mostly keep the same feeder in the same place though I will move a couple if the birds are forgoing one. We discard unused sugar water regularly while the numbers build. We are meticulous with our mixture (1/4 ratio). Our county water is well, yucko. We buy Crystal Springs brand bottled water from Walmart. ($1.43 gallon) as there is no limestone in it which stains our electric water heater. We usually have to clean and fill all of these feeders daily. We clean with just hot water and a brush, no soap. We inspect for any black build up. There is no shortage of spiders, ants, bugs, etc. in south central KY. Not sure if that helps the birds, certainly not us, lol!

The thin tall feeder to the left of the first feeder on the right is their preferred feeder. Go figure as they are not baffled so after filling, we flip them as quickly as we can but do lose water in the process. Between the feeders and the deck rail you can see a blue object in the background. That is a plastic tub cut down to hold water. We have a solar powered fountain in it that the birds like to fly through.

Sorry about the lengthy post. Hope it helps.

 

[deserteagle71]

I don't know how you get so many birds at your feeders. I have one at a feeder at a time and an occasional double.

I have swarms of them here in Nevada - I usually have to mix up a quart of nectar a day. Four feeders set up - two on each side of the house - to make the territorial males have to work at keeping other hummingbirds away. Got some great video of them swarming the feeders but I can't post it on here.

Biggest problem I have with the little buggers is that they like to come into the garage with me, buzzing around and checking to see what I'm doing, I guess. But when it comes time to leave, instead of flying out any of the big bay doors that are open they fly straight up to one of the skylights and beat themselves against it trying to get out. I have to use a butterfly net to snare them and turn them loose outside.

 

[ArlyA]

I have swarms of them here in Nevada - I usually have to mix up a quart of nectar a day. Four feeders set up - two on each side of the house - to make the territorial males have to work at keeping other hummingbirds away. Got some great video of them swarming the feeders but I can't post it on here.

Biggest problem I have with the little buggers is that they like to come into the garage with me, buzzing around and checking to see what I'm doing, I guess. But when it comes time to leave, instead of flying out any of the big bay doors that are open they fly straight up to one of the skylights and beat themselves against it trying to get out. I have to use a butterfly net to snare them and turn them loose outside.

What kind of hummers do you have there?

 

[deserteagle71]

What kind of hummers do you have there?

No idea as to the type/species. There's really tiny ones and some bigger ones, some very colorful. Don't know anything about them but I love having them around.

 

[sixdogs]

I'll try to give you some perspective on the layout of our land. We have been at this place since spring 2017. We may have had two to six feeders the first year with so-so numbers. We are on a narrow ridge, trees on three sides, very steep if not near vertical drop off all around. The first photo was taken on the far end.
View attachment 4032959
Getting a bit closer, the trees on the right are maybe 100 feet from the house. I see the birds flying back and forth to those trees a lot.
View attachment 4033006
The metal porch roof is not much to look at but it was easy to hang unistrut from to hang the feeders. The feeders are hung close to each other. We mostly keep the same feeder in the same place though I will move a couple if the birds are forgoing one. We discard unused sugar water regularly while the numbers build. We are meticulous with our mixture (1/4 ratio). Our county water is well, yucko. We buy Crystal Springs brand bottled water from Walmart. ($1.43 gallon) as there is no limestone in it which stains our electric water heater. We usually have to clean and fill all of these feeders daily. We clean with just hot water and a brush, no soap. We inspect for any black build up. There is no shortage of spiders, ants, bugs, etc. in south central KY. Not sure if that helps the birds, certainly not us, lol!
View attachment 4033394
The thin tall feeder to the left of the first feeder on the right is their preferred feeder. Go figure as they are not baffled so after filling, we flip them as quickly as we can but do lose water in the process. Between the feeders and the deck rail you can see a blue object in the background. That is a plastic tub cut down to hold water. We have a solar powered fountain in it that the birds like to fly through.

Sorry about the lengthy post. Hope it helps.

Excellent post. We duplicated some of your locations and felt we got a pickup in activity. Can you tell more about the misting spray and maybe a picture? I have heard they will fly through a mist but don't know how to have a mist spraying like that.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I'll post a photo tomorrow. It's just a simple setup that I cobbled together. There are more custom misting baths available.

 

[kenmbz]

Sometimes when I water the garden the HB will come and play on the spray as long as it is more like a mist. Not often, but it's fun to watch when they do.

 

[Gem99ultra]

We're still getting swarms of birds and wondering when the migration would begin. None know how many miles they cover in a day and where the birds wind up? I've heard different areas but not sure.

From here in mid-Georgia the hummers fly non-stop to Mexico and Central America. They fly over 500 miles non-stop.
Righ now we're seeing flocks come through and loading up, then they're gone for the Winter. We have very few that remain over the cold months. I suspect those are either aging, sick or occasionally the very young.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Here's a shot of my fountain. It is too deep for hummingbirds but other birds enjoy a bath on occasion. The solar fountain came from Lowe's. The clay dish helps to keep it centered though it floats around enough that the water sprays out so I have to add water a couple of times a day.

If you do a search on "hummingbird birdbaths", several items come up along with some tips for attracting them.

 

[sixdogs]

Here's a shot of my fountain. It is too deep for hummingbirds but other birds enjoy a bath on occasion. The solar fountain came from Lowe's. The clay dish helps to keep it centered though it floats around enough that the water sprays out so I have to add water a couple of times a day.
View attachment 4036082
If you do a search on "hummingbird birdbaths", several items come up along with some tips for attracting them.

Wow. Hummingbird birdbaths. Who knew?

I will say by next year I will have a misting hummingbird birdbath. Easy on the water and happy birds.

 

[sixdogs]

Over the last day the males must have gone because we don't see any. They may still be here because we're still going through a lot of food but don't see the adults.

We do see the babies around and often zooming around the feeders and our windows. They sit on the steel feeder support and flex their wings. We can't figure out if they are just guarding the food supply or stretching their wings in anticipation of the migration.

 

[kenmbz]

Yesterday it seemed we had no birds. Big change from seeing them almost all day on Friday.

 

[goeduck]

Out west the activity sees to be increasing as the year-around Annas are starting to run out of natural feed and the Alaska/Canadian Rufous start to head south, then stop by to fuel/fatten up. We are "between our 2 camel hump pattern" and increasing daily up the back hump.

 

[sixdogs]

It is an eerie calm this morning with none of our summer birds around. Yesterday they were here and today they are gone. Birds seem to have left earlier this year. Surely that must mean something regarding weather or winter?

We're hoping birds migrating from the north will stop by so are keeping feeders out for another month or so.

 

[bcp]

Found online:

Bruce

 

[bcp]

Another one:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/my-love-of-flying--519251032029071571/

Bruce

 

[ponytug]

Found online:

View attachment 4044309

Bruce

That is hilarious!

Thanks for sharing.

All the best, Peter