Hummingbirds - Page 2 - Wild Texas Forums: Parks, Travel & Recreation

ploddinTod · 09-28-2005, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ploddinTod

For those that have hummingbird feeders and have not yet hung them outside, now is the time as the little fellas are very active. Not only is it fun to watch them hovering in flight as they feed, but the battles that ensue when more than one bird tries to claim the same territory are fierce.

These critters have been back for some time. But it will be interesting to see if they'll stick around after the passage of our first cool front, which is due in tomorrow. :cool: :yes:

Turn Key · 09-28-2005, 02:20 PM

Mine were around until last week at least. Took my feeder down as I was out of "feed" and didn't want to make more. Plus, the feeder I've been using for the last 3-4 years finally broke about the first of August. Wasn't able to find an exact replacement so purchased a different type. This one looked a bit nicer but the honey bees loved it! Had never had this problem before and found that the bees flat ran off my hummers

!!! Have heard from others in the area that they have also had this problem for the last month so maybe the problem wasn't entirely due to the feeder.

Have read of another feeder called a HummZinger that's supposed to foil the bees. Has any one tried it and what did you think of it?

Happy Camping!

ploddinTod · 09-28-2005, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turn Key

Have read of another feeder called a HummZinger that's supposed to foil the bees. Has any one tried it and what did you think of it?

Thanks for the heads-up, Turn Key. I'll have to look for this brand, as my feeder needs to be replaced also due to plastic parts becoming brittle, broken and mildew-covered.

DayTripper · 09-28-2005, 05:42 PM

We have 2 hummingbird feeders hanging in front of windows so that we can watch the little guys from inside. This allows us to get really close to them. Last Friday, in anticipation of Hurricane Rita's high winds whipping them around and possibly breaking the windows, I took them down and temporarily stored them. The little fellows were really confused, but then they discovered our lavender. Several of them visited the bluish flowers until we could get the feeders back up early Sunday morning.

Turn Key · 09-29-2005, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ploddinTod

Thanks for the heads-up, Turn Key. I'll have to look for this brand, as my feeder needs to be replaced also due to plastic parts becoming brittle, broken and mildew-covered.

Hi 'Tod,
Here's a site for that feeder. Like I said, I haven't tried it yet so don't know how good it is. Looks good and it does have a "Lifetime Guarantee", for what ever that's worth :yes:.

HummZinger Feeder

Kids and grand-kids always want to know what to get the "Old Man" for Christmas, B'day and such. Really, there's very little I need or want any more but I did add this to a short list of items. Should have one by the time I'm ready to put one back up in spring. Hope it works as well as they advertise.

Happy Camping!

audreyhtx1 · 11-09-2005, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shannon

Another "odd bird behaviour" anecdote:
Just a week or so ago, I was sitting in our car outside a restaurant while Justin ran inside for a refill of iced tea. Movement and a flash of white from the corner of my eye caught my attention, and I began observing a juvenile Northern mockingbird on a parked Mustang nearby. The mockingbird was perched on the passenger-side sideview mirror, and would periodically leap into the air a couple feet and lunge at its reflection in the window or mirror as it fluttered back down. It did this repeatedly, lost its focus for a second and clung to the radio antenna briefly, then began the whole production again. It was intent upon vanquishing this mimicking "foe" it saw in the window and mirror, at all costs.

This is actually VERY common. Northern Cardinals are quite famous for it. I've even seen a juvenile Northern Parula do this. One poor guy had his open pickup cab trashed inside (i.e. bird poop everywhere) by a roadrunner annoyed at the reflection in the side-view mirror.

We have side-view "mirror covers" just in case we encounter this behavior. Besides messing up your car with bird-poop, the birds can actually hurt themselves if they get too aggressive.

Audrey

dmrob · 09-09-2006, 10:32 AM

I am so happy to see League City as your location. I am moving there in a week from New Mexico and was hoping that I would be able to set up my feeders there. Here it is Hummingbird Central and I was afraid there would not be the opportunity in League City. Anything special I should know to attract those Texas Hummingbirds?

ploddinTod · 09-09-2006, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmrob

I am so happy to see League City as your location. I am moving there in a week from New Mexico and was hoping that I would be able to set up my feeders there. Here it is Hummingbird Central and I was afraid there would not be the opportunity in League City. Anything special I should know to attract those Texas Hummingbirds?

Welcome to Gulf Coast. I do have the hummingbird plant (I don't know the scientific name) and Pentas. The little fellas seem to like to make the rounds from the flowering shrubs to the feeder.
But even if nothing is blooming in your yard, hang up the feeder anyway. If the birds are in the area, they'll find it.
They are active right now and will probably be in the area for another month or so. :yes:

Turn Key · 09-09-2006, 07:19 PM

I've still got them in my yard. Expecting them to leave in another week or so. They haven't been draining the feeder as quickly as they were earlier this summer so I'm thinking that some may have already left for points south. Hate to see them go but that's all part of the game.

Happy Camping!

happybooker1 · 09-09-2006, 08:41 PM

I have an amazing video of hummers swarming my feeders last year if anyone knows how I can show it here??

Turn Key · 09-10-2006, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happybooker1

I have an amazing video of hummers swarming my feeders last year if anyone knows how I can show it here??

Wish I did!

Happy Camping!

Shannon · 09-10-2006, 12:09 PM

We don't host videos here, so the only way to share it would be to upload it somewhere you have access to do so and include the URL/link in a message here after you've uploaded it.

We have the *ability* to host videos but do not due to the bandwidth and disk space requirements of doing so. It's like our parents always told us, "If I let you do it, I'll have to let *everyone else* do it too!"

WoodKayakGuy · 09-13-2006, 07:00 PM

dmrob, I recently had a best friend move to NM. She's past delighted with the hummybirds she now has out there near Cloudcroft, and has been telling me all about 'em... which causes me to worry a bit that you may be in for a bit of "culture shock."

We basically get Ruby-Throats here in the spring and fall as part of the migration thing. There are occasional Black-Chins, and also reports of Rufous overwintering here, although I've yet to see one.

I'd tell you more, except this guy does a wonderfully complete job:

http://www.burger.com/hbindex.htm

My "regulars" for this season have split the scene as of yesterday (9-12-06), but a couple of new guys and gals have stopped in to keep me company for a bit, so I'm not hummerless just yet...

Hummers are like camping... I love setup, but breaking camp's a drag. I love it when my little buddies show up, but bum when they split. Oh well, there's always next time, hey?

Cheers, Kurt

ploddinTod · 09-15-2006, 12:17 PM

Thanks for the informative link, KayakGuy.

Right now the wars are really heating up in my backyard. :eek: A battle royale has ensued between at least three hummers. A turf battle with aerial pirouttes and cut-off manuevers.

As it is now, a Black Chin stands (perches) sentry on a crepe myrtle close to the food source. But who knows what the next hour will bring.....:yes:

WoodKayakGuy · 09-15-2006, 06:08 PM

Heya Tod! Are you sure it's a Black Chin?? I sit on the board of the Galveston Ornithological Society, so I tend to be especially interested in unusual sightings.

I had a couple of regulars for a month, an immature male out the kitchen winder, and a full-grown male at the front porch, who defended their respective feeders terrifically. But they both boogied with the last front, and it's been a parade of new guys and gals ever since. I just got through watching a heck of a dogfight out the kitchen window a minute ago.

Where 'bouts are you? I'm in "old downtown."

Cheers, Kurt