LOL! Welcome to the wonderful world of hummerlunacy! We are all crazy about hummybirds and the more the merrier. Keep your feeders up and clean and fresh and plant flowers for them and you'll have them every year. I understand they do come back where they know the buffet is good. But RT's are not good at bringing friends. They are so territorial and try to chase off all newcomers/interlopers to "their" yard/feeders/flowers that they are hours of entertainment, fun and (for me) relaxation therapy. I put my first feeders out at the end of March here and yes, I know that's early, but you never know...they are on their own schedule, so they could come earlier...
anyway,welcome to the group!

glo

Oh, I can do March! -Putting out an early 'welcome matt' makes a lot of sense and I'm already planning to add more enticing flowers to those I already have in my garden.
LOL -Aerial therapy, hey? -Fun AND relaxing all tucked into those tiny feathered bodies? Sounds good and I hope I'm able to experience such sights first-hand and get in some r&r while I'm at it -I look forward to it!

Thank you for all your helpul information, glo...And for extending your warm welcome, as well. I'm very glad that I stopped by. : )

Shadyswing,
The hummers don't get to Michigan till May in most parts. If they found you this year, I'm sure they will next year. Don't forget to keep your feeders clean and fresh for them. Stick with the forum and you can't go wrong, and
Welcome.

Thank you Birdlegs, for both your welcome and your advice! We are further north, so okay, May -Got it! :)

Can't really say that 'they' found me, as it sure seems like only the one male -I haven't yet developed a discerning hummingbirds-eye, though, to be able to distinguish any one from another, if there is more than one male, that is -In fact, I've only just learned how to tell a male from a hen. *blush*

Check! -on keeping things fresh and clean. Parts are soaking in a bleach/water solution as I type. Something I do once a week after a thorough washing. It's been so hot here I redo the feeder's solution every two days, bottle-brushing and rinsing well with hot water before refilling.

This is a wonderful forum! -I've been hovering here perusing loads of interesting posts and am enjoying everyone's personal hummingbird sharings.

Welcome Shadyswing,
I am in upstate NY and their spring arrival here can be anywhere from late April to late May. You have already met Birdlegs and we have a couple of other hummer gardeners from Michigan so you will be in good company. I started out with one hummer when we moved into our house 7 years ago in July. Each year I have added more flowers and more feeders and now have several all during the day. Sometimes they find you right away and sometimes it takes a while but if one has found a good nectar source, you can be sure that others will follow.

Penny

Hi Shadyswing. Welcome to the forum! So glad you decided to post. We love our hummers and never tire or discussing ways to entice more to our gardens.

Sounds as if you've made an excellent start this year, even if you've only see one hummer. It's amazing how they remember where they have found great habitats, and return to those same places the next year. Penny is so right, once one has found you, more seem to follow. They are such vocal little birds, I wonder if the noise they make attacts others.

Have to echo the welcomes and also echo to follow the forum for great recommendations. Plus I'll echo Oubliette's note about them remembering and returning to good sources of food! My case is an example as I'm in a hi-rise with a balcony, one little one stopped by last August by chance to nectar on reblooms from my container weigela and honeysuckle, and returned this year to discover a whole smorgasbord of tasty delights and a brand new feeder! Now I have at least 2 and hope that when they leave, they remember my spot next year and perhaps come a little earlier (saw my first in June this year although the migrators came past here in April)! Couldn't be happier to watch the chase antics that have erupted up here over the past couple weeks!

Hi Shadyswing, welcome to the forum!!! If you are thrilled and giddy about your new visitor, you've come to the right place. We are all nuts about hummingbirds! I have gotten so many great ideas and such good information from this group.

Thank you, Penny, Oubliette, jenny and Roberta! I am ever more hopeful for an entire summer of hummers next season! -Thank you all for sharing your experiences and for your encouragement and support. : )

Oubliette, I have yet to hear the voice of a hummingbird -well, in the feather, that is (have heard recordings though), but I did once catch wind of the hum of this one's wings! -a unique sound, that! It's good to know that they have a voice -I look forward to listening in!

You don't say, jenny! -way up on the 18th floor?!!! -I had no idea the heights these wee wildlings would go to! I really must share this with a friend of mine who's balcony is 15 lower than that -Wow, I would have never guessed! Thank you for sharing.

I know I'll likely never see the numbers that California Frank is graced with (just saw his photo album - Wow! -hummingbird heaven!), but one, two or even a few jewels setting claim on my small urban garden will fit just right.

Keep a humm in your heart!
~Shadyswing