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

[mpsmith60]

We've actually had a lot less this year, but our neighbor is covered over with them. Go figure. We've had a bumper crop of hummers some years, though.

 

[goeduck]

No - I have my standard number this year - 8 to 10. However, I have two pairs that refuse to leave. I faithfully refill the feeder every third day. I hope they haven't become dependent on the feeder.

You now might have some resident Annas Hummingbirds, the kind I have year-round. On your side of the state it would be hard to keep the feeder thawed in the winter like I do.

annas hummingbird range
Anna's Hummingbird Range Map, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

 

[sixdogs]

Lighter bird count at feeders lately so maybe some birds are starting to head south? Same thing happened last year and then we got waves of travelers passing south. I think some of them stopped on the way north this spring and and stayed with us. You seem to recognize some of them.

 

[CADplans]

Lighter bird count at feeders lately so maybe some birds are starting to head south?

Your birds headed over to my feeders,, I am "serving" 60 ounces of sugar water a day,, ( two cups of sugar to make that much mix )
Google says that the hummingbirds drink just under 1/2 ounce per day, per bird,,

Either my birds are pigs,, or I have over 100 birds visiting daily.

I JUST sat down from filling the feeders,, again,,,

 

[sixdogs]

Your birds headed over to my feeders,, I am "serving" 60 ounces of sugar water a day,, ( two cups of sugar to make that much mix )
Google says that the hummingbirds drink just under 1/2 ounce per day, per bird,,

Either my birds are pigs,, or I have over 100 birds visiting daily.

I JUST sat down from filling the feeders,, again,,,

I'll bet you're getting the visits and just don't see them. We found they were coming before dawn and after dark as well as buzzing in and out all day long.

 

[Doofy]

You Lucky Dogs! We are fortunate to see maybe one every few years.

 

[sixdogs]

You Lucky Dogs! We are fortunate to see maybe one every few years.

I wrote before that we only had stragglers for a few years but wife kept putting up and changing the water. Then four of five years later...boom. We had hundreds of visits and now many times that over the summer and early fall. The wife was just persistant and it paid off. Now we get to watch baby hummingbirds at the feeders over the summer.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

The whole flock of rufous hummers left in a mass about a month ago. One day there were dozens, the next day there were none. I didn't know they flocked. It was more peaceful after they left. They are very aggressive little birds, and liked to run the other species away from the feeder.

Now most of the remaining hummers are ruby throat, with a few black throat mixed in. We had some Annas this spring, but they seem to have moved on.

 

[dragoneggs]

Yeah here too Larry... just in last couple of days it seems. I put out fresh 24oz and they barely touched it and I'm not seeing anyone. :thumbdown: We do have year around activity but right now... none!

 

[sixdogs]

Ours seem to be leaving earlier. Suppose there's any wives tales around about earlier migration meaning colder or snowier weather?