We put up a feeder about a week ago since the wildflower blooms are slowing down. Wow 2 days later we counted 25 around the feeder!
Have another on order that seats 6, says its wasp, ant proof.
I have to fill ours daily! We had to move it from right outside our bedroom window as they start at the crack of dawn, wow what a noise they can
make, it was like kitty TV for our cats!
Martyman - 9-23-2009 at 01:46 PM
Nice pic. At least two species, Alans?24baja - 9-23-2009 at 02:07 PM
Here are my photos, they are one of my favorite birds.
Cypress - 9-23-2009 at 02:14 PM
24baja, Thanks for the pictures. Ever have one of 'em light on your finger?Cypress - 9-23-2009 at 02:19 PM
astrobaja, Thanks for the picture and the information.Dianamo - 9-23-2009 at 02:51 PM
Thank you, beautiful photos, look forward to seeing additional photos.wessongroup - 9-23-2009 at 02:55 PM
Thank you very much, used to have a nest outside our back door, had two hatches before they went else where.. amazing little birdsastrobaja - 9-23-2009 at 03:49 PM
Cool pics 24Baja! Martyman, we have counted 4-5 species, the Annas, Rufous, broad-tailed, and possibly the Magnificent. Apparently in winter others
migrate here.
I never knew that the nectar was merely the fuel for what realy nourishes them which are small insects!
A cool page on hummers (BTW they say NOT to use food colouring, not necessary)
Cypress: I can get them to land on my finger now if I put it right up by the feeder, very cool feeling! Wow their little wings move a LOT of air!
Another pic with the rufous on the far left (very aggresive!)astrobaja - 9-23-2009 at 03:51 PM
the rufous (far left)
David K - 9-23-2009 at 04:06 PM
Great... I have 2 feeders and they need to be refilled every 2 days this time of year... However, I don't get more than 3 feeding at a time... Really
cool to see the mob in action!
Sometimes we get one (who we name 'Boss Hog') who gaurds the feeder (wathces it from a nearby tree) and chases away others from using it!Crusoe - 9-23-2009 at 04:23 PM
Thanx Astro----Very nice shots. We have the Rufous here in Wa. State in summer months. Fun to watch them all on our 3 feeders. They are starting to
head south now for the winter...." Hummingbirds share certain traits. The first bird to discover a source of food defends it. Even when satiated,it
will perch nearby and intercept intruders in the air with angry buzzing. If a female is disturbed while feeding, she gives a "no tresspasing" signal
by fanning and waving her tail. Females therefore, have developed distinct tail patterns, whereas males,facing the opponent sgnal with their brilliant
throat patches. The sex's have separate territories;the female visits the male at mating time, the male ignores the female's territory after mating
and moves away."....Us humans can learn so much from birds. ++C++24baja - 9-23-2009 at 04:28 PM
Cypress
No, I have never tried to get them to land on my finger, but I will now. We have had one try to eat the Red "Fire" logo on my husbands shirt.
Astrobaja
Thanks for your photos, I find them an inspiration and I look forward to filling my feeder when I go to BOLA in October. If I can get photos I will
post.
Little Flying Jewels
Mulegena - 9-23-2009 at 08:25 PM
I've held two humingbirds in my hands, each incident the bird had found its way into a house and could not find its way out.
Ohhh, how their little bodies quiver with energy and how warm they are.BajaNuts - 9-23-2009 at 08:41 PM
here's a pic from WA state this spring, and we often have 12-18 hummers at the feeder in the evenings in spring...
I can get within a foot of the feeder to take pictures. Gotta try the finger trick next spring.
btw- we never use food coloring or honey, and I have a couple feeders that do not have plastic pre-fab'ed perches on them, so I made some wire perches
to sit on the feeders for the hummers. The hummers use the wire perches all the time.
We've also found that if one male has "claimed" the territory, we put a second and 3rd feeder out....just out of sight around the corner of the
house...from the first feeder. The dominant hummer can't keep up on all of them so the others, including the females, get some "juice-time".oladulce - 9-23-2009 at 09:42 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by 24baja
No, I have never tried to get them to land on my finger, but I will now. We have had one try to eat the Red "Fire" logo on my husbands shirt.
This technique works for me:
1. Fill up your feeder and let the word spread that yours is the hot place to be. Spend some time sitting near the feeder so they get used to
you.
2. When the feeder is empty, remove it and wait half an hour or so before rehanging (preferably around dusk when the birds are most active).
3. When hummers fly up to where the feeder used to be and looking like "what the heck, I know it was right here", bring the full feeder back,
only this time hold it from the base of the feeder instead of hanging it. Keep the feeding stations free so they can sit down and hold very still and
try not to blink! Sometimes your arm will go to sleep before any birds sit down, but keep trying and eventually they'll get used to you.
4. Once you get a few that will land on the feeder while you hold it, the next step is to either hold or hang the newly filled feeder and place a
finger on top of one of the foot rests of a feeding station. If the competition is fierce and there's lots of birds around, usually one will
reluctantly sit on your finger to drink.
In my experience it's always been the "girls" that are brave and curious enough to sit in my finger. The boys just squawk and make a lot of racket and
fly away-
...Except for my all-time favorite, a gorgeous Rufous-sided boy, "Goldie". Goldie was migrating thru San Juanico one Janurary and took up residence
with us for a week or so. I had 3 feeders around the yard and he thought he owned all of them, except he would let the girls visit.
He was the most unique little creature. We'd be watching the sunset on the roof deck and he'd zero in on a red Tecate can we were holding and fly up
to investigate. Many times i thought he'd land on the can while i was taking a drink. If I sat very still he would fly up to the tip of my nose and
look me in the eyes.
We got used to the prrrrrrr of his wings and could hear him coming when working around the yard. For some reason he liked to fly right up to our faces
and hang there a few seconds.
I'd hear him coming and stand very still and wait to feel the the breeze on my cheeks from his wings. I tried to keep my eyes open but wasn't
successful very often because he'd fly so close.
One day I was on my knees doing some weeding and I heard, and then felt him approach. I held very still and felt a tickle in my ear. I opened my eyes
and saw Goldie out of the corner of my eye realized that was his tongue!
Later that day I heard BigWooo cracking up in the garage. Goldie had flown up to his face and when he closed his eyes, he felt the same tickle I had
described, only this time up his nose!
I don't know if that Rufous was retarded or very intelligent but it's a wildlfe experience i'll always remember.BajaNuts - 9-23-2009 at 10:37 PM
awesome fun! I LOVE IT!Crusoe - 9-24-2009 at 09:51 AM
Oladuce......Classic story. Loved it. Thanx. We have had some similar expierences. ++C++ Natalie Ann - 9-24-2009 at 09:59 AM
There are always a lot of hummers around my place in Berkeley. A few go to the feeder, most prefer the flowers and I try to keep some of the salvias
blooming year-round for them.
If, however, I wash my hair and go to sit in the sun to dry it.... I seem to attract 8 or more little hummers all whirring around my head. Was out
once without sunglasses, nearly had my eye poked out by one of those pointy little beaks. I love hummingbirds!
nenawessongroup - 9-24-2009 at 11:33 AM
oladulce
Man, did you bring back a lot of memories with all your steps.... had forgotten how inquisitive the females were, and trusting too
wileyBajaNuts - 9-24-2009 at 01:27 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Natalie Ann
If, however, I wash my hair and go to sit in the sun to dry it.... I seem to attract 8 or more little hummers all whirring around my head.
nena
Nena, do you have red hair or use a floral scented shampoo?
'nutsNatalie Ann - 9-24-2009 at 01:39 PM
Red hair - use no-scent shampoo.
One one occasion hung my husband's navy blue and tan silk boxers over the porch railing to dry. (I use no-scent laundry detergent.) I was enjoying
my book in a nearby chair when I heard the loudest buncha clicking and whirring.... and to my amazement no less than a dozen hummers were suddenly
there, forming perfect sphere of whizzing wings around those shorts. Each time one pulled back from the circle, another would take its place... then
the first would enter again elsewhere and all would move about, always keeping that perfect sphere. Darndest thing I ever did see.
But nowhere near as neat as having a hummer lick my ear.
nena
[Edited on 9-24-2009 by Natalie Ann]BajaNuts - 9-24-2009 at 01:43 PM
COOL!
I'll have to try it with a red flower in my hair, bet they'd go for that.oladulce - 9-24-2009 at 03:06 PM
astrobaja
Please give us a "review" of the "HummZinger" feeder after you try it a while. Ants are a nuisance to keep out of the nectar.Cypress - 9-24-2009 at 03:12 PM
A humming bird licking you ear? That has to be a weird feeling.Natalie Ann - 9-24-2009 at 03:19 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by oladulce
astrobaja
Please give us a "review" of the "HummZinger" feeder after you try it a while. Ants are a nuisance to keep out of the nectar.
Not meaning to answer here for astrobaja, but these 'zingers' are the only hummer feeders I'll use. Been using them for years.
Birds seems to feel secure with the little ring for footing and sometimes they sit there for quite awhile, drinking/resting/taking in the view.
My experience with the other style feeders is that they drip - very slowly and discreetly, but they do drip - and it's sugar water, so immediately the
ants are on it.
I've not had that problem since switching to the 'zinger'.... so I just keep buying more of them. They make wonderful presents for others, you
know.
nena24baja - 9-24-2009 at 04:29 PM
A tip I received from a friend helps with ants, Put Vasceline on the wire or string that holds your feeder. I doesn't not seem to melt and doesn't
see to bother the Hummers either.astrobaja - 9-25-2009 at 12:08 PM
Oladulce: loved your story about Goldie! Very amzing experience when a wild creature trusts you like that! It must be that here in the sierra that so
few people are seen by the wildlife that animals are quick to trust. I had them landing on my fingers within minutes. As well early in the spring we
had a bobcat hunting topos in our field only 50 feet away from us!
Natalie ann: I'm glad you have had good luck with the hummzingers, I just picked ours up from the mail place in Ensenada yesterday, its up already and
has been immediatly accepted! Perching lets them conserve calories by not hovering.
I saw lots of positive reviews on Amazon so I figured what the hell. The ant moat looks like a great idea, just wish it held a little more fluid!
