Ed Yes although I am in eastern Pennsylvania I am seeing more hummers than any other year except maybe 2002. I thought I was an exception but I'm glad I'm not this has been an amazing year started average no early birds but not late either just on time and with a bang male came made lots of noise female arrived and their relatives now their kids and some are a real chip's off the old block "bully boy" tries to chase his dad and so noisy I think I have at least ten in my yard and I don't mean to sound smug but last week at the cape may hummer festival except for nest and wonderful people I should have stayed home I have more in my yard then they did in Cape May and the hummers in my yard are show off's too I'm glad your sister inlaw is experiencing the same thing also my aunt has more than usual too. I wonder if stephen's brother has more than last year? Sarah

Jim - they may have already completed their 2nd brood in your location now and you are actually seeing some juveniles battling it out at the feeders with the females, as they look similar until the juvie males start growing their gorget "beards" and characteristic couple ruby feathers on their throats. The juvie males even have tail feathers with white tips like the females. I know I am seeing juvies out in force here after the one brood that recently fledged after my first females arrived in May. They supposedly would have nested about 6 - 8 weeks after first arriving in spring. So if there were any females that arrived in March or April (the humminbirds.net map shows all the first sightings in Georgia having happened in mid-late March), the 1st brood might have fledged in late May and if the females could reuse a nest, a 2nd could be coming out now. There are occassions where they can sometimes do a 3rd brood but the timing would need to be so that the babies are able to get up enough weight to go themselves in October. Banders in S. Louisiana are seeing molting and migration beginning now, so in your case, you may be done and the ones that you have seen in fall were northern migrator juvies and females.

Last Sept was the first time we had ever seen "swarms" of hummingbirds on our feeders. We have 7 feeders and the 3 that hang in front of our sunroom windows would be completely full--a hummer at EACH opening -- with others hovering above waiting their turn!! It was a sight to behold! At the same time, some would be zooming across the yard to the other feeders that would have 1 or 2 on each of them. All feeders are in our small backyard. The 3 feeders at the windows are about 20 ft apart. We estimated 30 hummers but it was only an estimate. They would zoom over the roof, then back into the yard, then into the trees. We would sit in our lawn furniture facing the windows and just watch the show. My sister would make it a point to come by as soon as she got off work so we could watch together. Needless to say, we are just counting the days until Sept to see if it happens again! I have had 3 hummingbirds for awhile this summer. Can't wait to see what Sept will bring.

Hey Im new to, both to the website and to attracting hummingbirds, I think I have read every article out there about hummers this season I put out 8 different feeders and red ribbon everywhere, but I wasn`t seeing any ( until I took the fake owl away) then they came fighting and doing star war manuvers it was great then sept 17th came and they left I think to mexico. I bought all the recommended plants and the birds said no way I want the the bottle of juice please, but my fav plant is the Turks cap and since your the same zone as mine I know it will be hardy. I bought some other plants cuphea being one that are just to fragile if you have dogs they trample and mow them down. If you have room for vines like trumpet and coral honeysuckle they work great. I was trying to get plants that bloom early spring to late fall oh and wearing Red when your out working in the yard is so much fun they get real close to check you out to see if your food. Red buckeye a bush is a early bloomer lantana is another one I think alot of the sage plants (cherrysage, autumn sage Mountain sage) are a few, I have noticed that on other sites that the plants are not going to work here so the local websites are better, I went out looking for plants and felt real stupid when told oh that doesn`t grow here. I think I will keep changing the food and keep a couple feeders out for those birds just passing by on their trek to winter migration. Good luck and keep watching for those cute little birds.