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astrobaja
Senior Nomad
Posts: 952
Registered: 5-22-2006
Location: near San Pedro Martir Park
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Mood: beam me up
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hoardes of hummers (not the car)
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.
http://www.aspectsinc.com/143_HZEXCEL.html
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!
\"There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear
and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable.There is another theory which states that this has already happened\"
Douglas Adams
our website: http://bajadarkskies.com |
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Martyman
Super Nomad
Posts: 1904
Registered: 9-10-2004
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Nice pic. At least two species, Alans?
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24baja
Senior Nomad
Posts: 951
Registered: 2-3-2009
Location: Grants Pass Oregon/Bahia de Los Angeles
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Mood: Wishing we were in BOLA
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Here are my photos, they are one of my favorite birds.
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Cypress
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7641
Registered: 3-12-2006
Location: on the bayou
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Mood: undecided
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24baja, Thanks for the pictures. Ever have one of 'em light on your finger?
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Cypress
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7641
Registered: 3-12-2006
Location: on the bayou
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Mood: undecided
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astrobaja, Thanks for the picture and the information.
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Dianamo
Nomad
Posts: 182
Registered: 12-27-2005
Location: SF Bay Area, CA when not in El Cardonal
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Mood: ...still in Baja
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Thank you, beautiful photos, look forward to seeing additional photos.
Minds are like parachutes...they only function when open!
\"The price of apathy is to be ruled by evil men.\" - Plato
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wessongroup
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21152
Registered: 8-9-2009
Location: Mission Viejo
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Mood: Suicide Hot line ... please hold
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Thank you very much, used to have a nest outside our back door, had two hatches before they went else where.. amazing little birds
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astrobaja
Senior Nomad
Posts: 952
Registered: 5-22-2006
Location: near San Pedro Martir Park
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Mood: beam me up
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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)
http://www.hummingbirds.net/feeders.html
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!)
\"There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear
and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable.There is another theory which states that this has already happened\"
Douglas Adams
our website: http://bajadarkskies.com |
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astrobaja
Senior Nomad
Posts: 952
Registered: 5-22-2006
Location: near San Pedro Martir Park
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Mood: beam me up
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the rufous (far left)
\"There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear
and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable.There is another theory which states that this has already happened\"
Douglas Adams
our website: http://bajadarkskies.com |
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64856
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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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!
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Crusoe
Senior Nomad
Posts: 731
Registered: 10-14-2006
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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++
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24baja
Senior Nomad
Posts: 951
Registered: 2-3-2009
Location: Grants Pass Oregon/Bahia de Los Angeles
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Mood: Wishing we were in BOLA
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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.
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Mulegena
Super Nomad
Posts: 2412
Registered: 11-7-2006
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Little Flying Jewels
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.
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BajaNuts
Super Nomad
Posts: 1085
Registered: 5-11-2008
Location: eastern WA, the DRY side
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Mood: no worry, no hurry....it's all good!
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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".
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oladulce
Super Nomad
Posts: 1625
Registered: 5-30-2005
Location: bcs
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| 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.
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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.
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BajaNuts
Super Nomad
Posts: 1085
Registered: 5-11-2008
Location: eastern WA, the DRY side
Member Is Offline
Mood: no worry, no hurry....it's all good!
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awesome fun! I LOVE IT!
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Crusoe
Senior Nomad
Posts: 731
Registered: 10-14-2006
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Oladuce......Classic story. Loved it. Thanx. We have had some similar expierences. ++C++
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Natalie Ann
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2819
Registered: 8-22-2003
Location: Berkeley
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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!
nena
Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.
.....Oscar Wilde
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wessongroup
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21152
Registered: 8-9-2009
Location: Mission Viejo
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Mood: Suicide Hot line ... please hold
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oladulce
Man, did you bring back a lot of memories with all your steps.... had forgotten how inquisitive the females were, and trusting too
wiley
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BajaNuts
Super Nomad
Posts: 1085
Registered: 5-11-2008
Location: eastern WA, the DRY side
Member Is Offline
Mood: no worry, no hurry....it's all good!
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| 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?
'nuts
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