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Hummingbird Garden

Big Fat Hummer still here

18 years ago

I have had a big fat hummer here for alomst a week now. I am getting a little concerned because it is getting COLD here and there is hardly anything blooming. This is my first year with a hummer feeder so I don't know when the last ones left last year. Should I be concerned that she is still hanging around even though she looks plenty fat enough to be on her way?

Lisa

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Comments (7)

kapusta
18 years ago
Hey Lisa,

I wouldn't worry, I am just accross the river in Windsor Ontario. I have seen hummers around here as late as the end of November and they were fine. Slowly they will all dissappear but only when they are ready to go. The fact that you have a nice fat one just means she is enjoying her stay in your yard. I still have 5 in my yard, 2 immature males and 3 females, all of which are getting more and more plump every day.

My wife even noticed that they are getting fat, she said "They didn't look quite that big when they arrived here...".

Enjoy her as long as you can, pretty soon we will be missing them until next spring. I hate winter.

Steve
glok
18 years ago
I still have one that I worry about Lisa, even tho I know she's smart enough to know what to do. I think maybe she just likes having the place and all the flowers and feeders to herself and she's staying as long as she can until the chilly nights get to be to much for her!!! She just makes my mornings!

glo
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I came to this forum in search of this very same topic. I have not fed hummers in the past, I was really just working on getting my gardens established. Last fall I had a hummer come through my yard and I didn't even have a feeder out (I remember seeing him at one of my perennials but I don't recall which one.) Anyway, this year I've added more hummer-friendly flowers even though none are blooming right now I did set my feeder out 3 days ago just in case. My neighbor told me she had a Hummer at her feeder last week so I'm guessing I might've missed my window. I've noticed that the robins (most numerous bird in my yard) are constantly flying around the HB feeder and landing on the shepards hook that the feeder is on. The feeder is Very close to a small lilac shrub (didn't bloom this year - too new I think) and a very mature cherry tree. All the birds in my yard LOVE the cherry tree. I haven't even had to set out a bird feeder this year, I just toss stale bread out once every few weeks and they have a field day between that, the cherries and the worms/grubs/insects in my yard. I just wonder if it's too much bird activity for hummers?
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Lainey, I had a similar experience with a nursery in our town. Sum and Substance was riddled with serious signs of HVX. I spoke to the clerk who had no idea what HVX was and she called their hortculturalist over to speak with me. When I spoke with him he told me he had been somewhat concerned that they had HVX but wasn't sure. He didn't know that test kits were available or how to get them. I gave him the info he needed and told him he should pull them from stock. I asked which nursery they came from and he told me Willoway. I was happy to see him grab a cart and start removing all their hosta from the sale yard. I was pretty surprised and disappointed that this horticulturalist didn't do any research on HVX once he suspected the hosta were infected but pleased that he was willing to listen and take action.
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claire_de_luna
18 years ago
Lisa, I saw my backyard girl this morning, whom I haven't really seen for about week (I've been sick in bed). I couldn't believe how fat she was! I have some others that aren't quite so big, so I know she's enjoying her stay here. I've wondered too how long they'll be here, but I'm enjoying every minute until they have to go. My hummingbird garden is huge now, and blooming profusely which is why I'm certain we've had more birds this year than ever before. I will happily repeat myself in the garden if it brings them all back. Which reminds me; I'd better go check and see if my pineapple sage ever bloomed...
jobird
18 years ago
Hi Lisa,

I wouldn't worry about her.she'll leave when ready.

JB
jobird
18 years ago
BTW, I saw you posted the same question over on the other Hummie forum. Between the two you should be some good replies.

JB
doris_mi5
18 years ago
This is my first time on this forum and that is why I am here. One little hummer that didn't go home yet. I ran out of sugar water so when I saw her today I made a little more, Maybe thats why she doesn't leave and I also have hummer flowers. Last week I inherited someones parakeet. I also live in Michigan,near Ann Arbor. The parakeet is a runaway. Can't catch it but got quite close to it today. Also have a teeny tiny tree frog. About the size of a quarter. Winter is coming and it's starting to get cold I just hope they will all find shelter.
AgastacheMan
18 years ago
I have a big fat female Anna's hummingbird that has made her home in my Musa bajoo grove, and is very protective of the surrounding flowering gingers and agastache. She even drives the males away. During the day, I may have a total of 30 hummers around the house and the gardens, but she runs the show.....and the size of her, she is like a golf ball with wings and color.

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