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Ozarks Gardening

It's time for hummingbirds to arrive

15 years ago

If you're seeing them in Arkansas, shoo them up this way.

I just put up a couple feeders this morning. I had a lot of hummingbirds last year so I'm hoping some of them find their way back to my yard and nest here.

There isn't anything blooming in my yard right now that would attract them, but my neighbor has a couple quince shrubs flowering. I planted a red flowered buckeye a couple years ago that's supposed to bloom early but I guess mine isn't big enough yet.

Here is a link that might be useful: MDC - Hummingbirds Are Here article

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Comments (6)

helenh
15 years ago
I will have to clean up my feeders. I sometimes get orioles at the hummingbird feeders. I'll search in the fridge for grape jelly. They don't stay but we really like to see them. We have a couple red winged blackbirds now. The goldfinches are turning yellow.
gldno1
15 years ago
Gosh, this seems too early to me! I better get DH on the ball, he is the bird feeder man.....Orioles don't stay long for me either. I just saw my cheap brand of grape jelly in the frig and DH started to use it....I told him get the blackberry jelly....that was for the birds.

I have the red flowering quince but it needs to be cut down and let grow back. There is so much dead in it that it doesn't have much color.

The resident Blue Birds are back in the West yard. I think they nest in a hole in the tree over there and I think one may be building in a house on the East side...hope so.
I scared it yesterday when I mowed that area.
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I just moved to SE Alabama from Orlando a few weeks ago. I put out a feeder Monday night and 5 minutes later a hummingbird came to it!!! Couldn't believe it! I think I scared him away because I got so excited. Do you know of any nurseries in area that carry a lot of hummingbird and butterfly garden plants. I am a big gardener for both and haven't found much plant wise so far. Thanks, Tarilyn
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I have two in my yard as of May 15th! We just moved to the area (Kemptville) and I'd heard they're visitors, so I put out my feeders on the 6th (or thereabouts). I see the male and female a few times an evening when I look out the window. They buzzed me last night as I was covering my annuals. What amazing birds!
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Ann, The males head out first because they're done first. They do not help with the young at all. Their sole job in the summer is to fertilize eggs and chase off all who aren't in that picture. Once the females are on the nest with eggs, the males begin fattening up for migration. The females are left to incubate the eggs and then raise them to fledge on their own. With all of the time and effort going into creating the eggs and protecting them until the young fledge, they don't have to time to build their own reserves up for migration. Often times, a female will raise more then one brood of eggs. The young from the first brood will be ready to migrate when the adult males begin migration and the final brood should be ready to migrate by the time the females migrate. The females are likely to be at a deficit in body fat by the time they've created eggs and then cared for the young, so it will take a while to build enough fat to begin migration. They will nearly double their weight before departing. Banding data shows that they will go from between 2.5 and 3 grams to almost 6 grams. This also accounts for why sometimes there is quite a difference in size of two birds of the same species. Hope this answers your question. The hummer activity in my yard has picked up over the past couple of weeks. The banded female Rufous arrived for her 6th year on August 15th. I'm seeing at least 3 adult males and one young male Ruby-throat who appear to be claiming territories for the winter. We're going to attempt to trap the Rufous on Saturday to verify the number on her band. Click on the link below to visit my webpage. Follow the links to view a blog on the activity in my yard, and various photos of my yard and past balcony, birds, and a hummingbird banding session. Steve in Valrico, FL Here is a link that might be useful: Blog of Hummingbird Activity in my Yard
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proudgm_03
15 years ago
Wow! Already? Gotta find those feeders. (They get lost every year even though I put them where I think I can find them. Maybe I should put them where I don't think I'll find them next year and then I'll be able to find them.)
gldno1
15 years ago
Two feeders up and grape jelly on a plate on the porch!

We eagerly waiting.

Oh, got the martin house repaired and back up. It fell in one of our horrific winds and cracked the floor....all plastic, so I had to get creative to get it repaired. We now have the post wired to the bottom post instead of inserted inside it because a spring lock was missing. It doesn't bear close inspection, but I hope the Martins don't mind!
jspeachyn5
15 years ago
I finally found my hummer feeder. Hung so we could all see it from inside the house. But so we will not bother it when we are outside.
I sure wish the starlings would find someplace else to have such a huge family reunion. I get so many here some times the grass looks black out there.
Does anyone know what type of birds theses rare. They seem to be in pairs (2 sets) they are a dull red color over all. They are not cardinals. I think they are migrating. I didn't see them here during the winter or for that matter ever before.
Ideas?
Bonnie
jspeachyn5
15 years ago
I did some googling an it looks like it might be the purple finch.
I think this is what I have been seeing.
So according to this report and others I have read. they are only here until May.
So I hope they come back next year an stay for the winter. I will have to do some more reading about them so I can make sure I have what the "want" so they might stay next time.
Bonnie

Here is a link that might be useful: Purple finch

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