I saw my first today, too!!! ;o)

Al

Really, this soon? I haven't seen any yet in Wisconsin. Looking forward to it.

I haven't seen any yet, but that doesn't mean they aren't here... they usually begin to appear when the columbine blooms, and that's just beginning to happen... I should see the little guys any day now!

It's been cool and rainy for the past couple of days, and this could contribute to their hiding. I have seen a few goldfinches, though... so I know the birds are back for another season!

Since everyone who has posted is in zone 5/6 may I ask if your hummingbird sightings are just the random bird buzzing through or is there something in your yard they are attracted to?

The reason I don't expect to see them for awhile is that the plants I grow they seem most attracted to (like cardinal vines) are still seeds waiting to germinate indoors.

I tried the hummingbird feeder with the red Koolaid stuff in it, but the wind just tossed it and stained my deck ;-(

I was in the kitchen yesterday & looked out the window at the garden. I have a 4 ft tall post in the garden that always supports (in summer) a 24" ceramic container full of lots of stuff HBs like. The bird flew up to the post & had a quick look around & then buzzed off in search of more productive haunts and something sweet. It was only there for about 5 seconds before it was gone. I was on the phone with a gardening pal when I remarked I'd seen one - does that count as a documented sighting? ;o)

Al

It's more documented than I have! I generally don't see HB until June or so when there are enough plantings they like in bloom.

I simply did not realize they were present in the general area before then as I haven't seen them prior to summer weather. Kind of cool that you have some that remember last year's haunts and check in from time to time to see if there is any food.

The cool thing for me this year is that I have a duck nesting under an evergreen shrub. Same thing happened last year. I am not near a water body (mile or two away) so I wonder why they like my yard, but they do. Second year for what I assume is the same mother to nest in the same spot. She is very tolerant of me and my family hanging out near her nest under the shrub. Very cool to us.

So, no hummers, but we do have ducks :-)

I've had to move my thistleseed feeders due to dogs knocking them off the hooks... and the goldfinches came by, couldn't find the feeders, and flew off... I do hope they find the new feeders, which are only about 20 feet away, on the other side of the fence.

I saw so many hummingbirds last year, and I attribute the high numbers to the honeysuckle vine and the red sage I planted... they also like the columbine and a few other bright colored blooms.