Hummingbirds - Wild Texas Forums: Parks, Travel & Recreation

ploddinTod · 09-26-2003, 03:39 PM

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.

Shannon · 09-26-2003, 03:58 PM

You're telling me! I literally got buzzed twice yesterday by a ruby-throated hummingbird defending what he's steadfastly claimed as HIS feeder in my backyard. He's even managed to scare off a mixed flock of finches and sparrows preening and napping on my fence -- no doubt, they were as startled as I was by his close proximity fly-by!

I have to bring my hummingbird feeder inside each night, unfortunately, because there's a family of raccoons that raids any feeders (including the hummingbirds') left out overnight!

Smitty · 09-27-2003, 10:26 AM

Hi, I have been a lurker who has been enjoying this excellent web site for a while. The wife and I like to treat ourselves once in a while at the restaraunt The Back Porch I beleive its called in Boerne. The back of the place is saturated with humming bird feeders and hummys buzzing around in a beautifull scenery

kai · 10-03-2003, 07:54 AM

i used to have a hummingbird feeder out, but it kind of got innundated by ants- took it down to wash it out, and forgot to put it back up... guess its time to put it back up. i had bought this little collar type thing that is supposed to keep the ants out, but i have no idea whether that will work.

i have a feeling ants in the hummingbird feeder is a common problem- how have other people dealt with it?

Shannon · 10-03-2003, 02:13 PM

I wish I had ants... my problem is raccoons marauding both my seed feeders and the hummingbird feeder. I've already lost one hummingbird feeder and had my passionflower vine mauled by the raccoons when I neglected to bring the feeders inside overnight.

Probably because I bring in the hummingbird feeder nightly (after losing the one feeder), I don't have much of a problem with ants. I keep the feeder in the kitchen sink overnight since it has a tendency to drip a bit. I replace the nectar at least once a week to keep it fresh and minimize bugs that way, as well.

I had two ruby-throated hummers that were ever-present fixtures around my feeder, but with the cooler weather of the past week I have not seen them at all, nor the black-chinned hummer that visited a couple times a week. They may have begun their southward migration for the winter. Nonetheless, feeders should be kept up until you're certain the hummers in your area have moved on. One rule of thumb suggests leaving them out at least two weeks AFTER you think you've seen your last hummingbird. Never know when the stragglers might show up for supper!

Here's some info about hummingbirds from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department: Texas Hummingbird Roundup (don't you just have images of cowboys out roping a bunch of wild hummingbirds...or is it just me?

)

10-03-2003, 06:24 PM

For ants I coat the hook and top of the feeder with Vaseline. Looks like mine have left for the winter.

Shannon · 10-06-2003, 10:56 PM

The Vaseline's a great idea -- will have to try that! It doesn't melt off in the heat?

My hummingbird feeder activity has definitely taken a nose-dive, but I saw a black-chinned at it a couple times over the weekend. I miss my ruby-throated hummers, but it is fun observing the changing visitors to my backyard as the season begins to shift.

ploddinTod · 05-07-2004, 06:06 AM

I haven't seen a whole lot of activity yet this spring----just a few random birds making the rounds from yard to yard. About 4 or 5 weeks ago I saw one on my redbud tree, so I hurriedly hung out the feeder. That must have been the kiss of death because I never saw any activity at all at the feeder.
What are ya'll finding in your yards?

Shannon · 05-07-2004, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ploddinTod

I haven't seen a whole lot of activity yet this spring----just a few random birds making the rounds from yard to yard. About 4 or 5 weeks ago I saw one on my redbud tree, so I hurriedly hung out the feeder. That must have been the kiss of death because I never saw any activity at all at the feeder.
What are ya'll finding in your yards?

I haven't hung my new hummingbird feeder up, yet. Raccoons broke last season's feeder. I have only seen one hummer in my yard this Spring, though I'd attributed that to a lot of human activity around my house this spring (lots of kids on both sides of us, front and back yards), so there's been an overall marked reduction in ALL bird activity in my yard -- all I get lately are white-winged doves and European starlings, with an occasional golden-fronted woodpecker, handful of house finches and one or two Northern mockingbirds.

05-07-2004, 05:38 PM

I've got my normal 2 or 3. I don't get big numbers till mid August. Right now they are raising young. When the fall migration starts, it gets real busy. The spring migration seems more gradual.

kai · 05-10-2004, 09:23 PM

I was up at Pedernales SP 2 weeks ago, and they had a fair number at their feeders at the HQ office... it was amazing because it was about 50 degrees out and windy- I was surprised (dunno if I should have been surprised, but I was...)

OutdoorPhoto.com · 05-12-2004, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kai

I was up at Pedernales SP 2 weeks ago, and they had a fair number at their feeders at the HQ office... it was amazing because it was about 50 degrees out and windy- I was surprised (dunno if I should have been surprised, but I was...)

As a pilot, I really enjoy watching how birds handle windy conditions. In many cases they just do the smart thing and limit their flying. In a lot of other situations, however, it's been fascinating to watch how they handle wind and still get where they want to go - altering their wing shape, etc. to counteract the wind.

It's also cool to see - that in a lot of cases - birds land "into the wind" when it gets windy.... just like airplanes do!

kai · 05-12-2004, 09:09 AM

well, i would hope that the birds would have it all figured out by now- they invented flying- you pilot people are just copycats

it is pretty amazing though how these technological advances we make (and think we are really smart for doing) can be found in nature where evolution was the only design... no engineers for birds!

ploddinTod · 07-13-2004, 07:21 PM

A strange thing happened a couple of days ago. We don't currently have our feeder hung up but the rope that's attached to a nailed hook in the eave is still there. The rope, when deployed with the feeder, brings the sight line down to mid-window level as we sit at our breakfast table looking out. The feeder is only a foot from the window so we get a good look as the little fellas slurp their nectar. Anyway, we were stunned when a single hummer came to the window where the feeder normally hangs, and just hovered there for a few seconds. It had obviously visited us before and was ready to be fed. Curious bird behavior.

Shannon · 07-20-2004, 01:13 PM

Birds can be quite entertaining to watch. I've had a hummingbird nearly hit me in the head as I've sat on our backyard deck a few feet from where I hang the hummingbird feeder. They'll make several passes and hover in front of my face a few feet away as if to say, "C'mon, human, where's the nectar? My uncle said it'd be right here!"

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.

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