Put your Hummer Feeders out - Houston!!

16 years ago

The hummers are in Houston! Put your feeders out!! I saw my first one last week and now they have finally found the feeders. I have three of them fighting over 4 feeders right now...so the rush should be coming.

I think I had 15 at the height of the migration last year.

Just a heads up!!

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Comments (14)

duajones
16 years ago
I keep at least one feeder up year round here in Corpus Christi. It was around this time last year that they got pretty thick here. I also noticed Orioles around the same time. I usually put out oranges cut in half for them.
cynthianovak
16 years ago
They are HERE
Arlington

Had a couple all summer; but right on time the bush sage started to flower and they are everywhere in the garden.

c
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Greetings! As an avid Birder, I'm amazed that Hummingbirds are being reported from NY State before May. Have any of you actually SEEN one yet?? We are talking record early here... In Syracuse, most of the RUHU (Hummingbirds) arrive around May 1st. In my yard, the average is around May 9th. It doesn't hurt to get your feeders out early, just make sure to change the fluid each week. Orioles are due this week, and they too come to feeders. Mine are also attracted to juice oranges cut in half and impaled on tree branches, etc. Both Orioles and Hummingbirds benefit from a sweeter nectar in early spring. Exhausted from migration, they load up on calories as soon as they arrive. I usually make a 3:1 solution for the first two weeks. Follow Penny's advice above, just use 3 cups of water to 1 cup PURE CANE SUGAR. Note the bag must say PURE CANE SUGAR. The Wegmans brand of cheap sugar is made from beets, and RUHU ignore it. After mid-May, RUHU nectar goes back to 4:1. Good Luck!! I'll post when my Hummers return!!! PS: You can make a hanging basket for them by using cheap annuals potted in last year's Fuschia basket. Use Salvia, Impatiens, Phlox, etc. Most superstores have something in the L&G section by now!!
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roxy77
Original Author
16 years ago
I never seem to get any to stay all summer, and I've never seen them during the spring migration. The only time I see them is during the fall migration...I wonder why that is.

I have a lot more hummer plants than I used to though, maybe things will change. Either way they are here now and I am really enjoying them!
cynthianovak
16 years ago
roxy
I could have written that last year and the year before...

I've had lots of hummer plants for several years. I don't know why they don't put me on their spring route either: I had loads of bees and butterflies. I guess the word is finally starting to get out. SPend the summer at the necatar buffet and rest.

Well, how much can a hummer rest?
duajones
16 years ago
I had a new arrival yesterday. Female RT that is so skinny compared to the couple that have hung out all summer. I am expecting them to be thick real soon
roxy77
Original Author
16 years ago
Cynthia, I figure you are right. It's definitely progrssive as the first year I only saw about 2-3 hummers...now I have tons. Maybe next year I will see some in the spring.

The hummer wars are on full force now, I think the cooler weather must be pushing them down. They love my bottlebrush tree, firecracker bush and mexican crossvine....and of course..the feeders!
texanjana
16 years ago
I always have lots from mid-March to late September, but seem to have more than ever this year. They get really aggressive this time of year as they "tank up" for the migration. Lots of butterflies this year too! I saw a Zebra Longwing yesterday, and we don't get those in Austin very often (at least in my yard).
fool4flowers
16 years ago
I have had a few stay around my yard all summer. One is really tiny. I don't know if its a baby or just a small type. The butterflies are whats starting to show up full force now.
mspenta
16 years ago
Thanks Roxy for the heads up! Right after I read your post I went out on the patio for a cup of coffee and a hummer came right up to visit the cypress vine along side the patio. I went right in and made some "juice" and hung the feeder out. He found it in about 5 minutes. He was hungry!
msmisk
16 years ago
This is the first year I've ever had a pair hang out all summer, and they're very shy. They love the garden plants, but won't come to the feeder near the house. We occasionally meet face to face when I'm working in one of the beds and the hummer will hover and squeak and then take off.
Usually I barely see any in the spring but have some in the fall. I can't wait to have more around soon.

Carol
unautre
16 years ago
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hummingbird

"They also typically consume more than their own weight in food each day, and to do so they must visit hundreds of flowers daily. At any given moment, they are only hours away from starving."

"stores up fat to serve as fuel, thereby augmenting its weight by as much as 40Â50 percent and hence increasing the bird's potential flying time"

Rockport has tons of them in September as they migrate from the east to west towards MX for the winter.

http://www.rockporthummingbird.com/
dee2000_tx7
16 years ago
Oh y'all are so lucky to have so many at one time. I have about 4 or 5 all summer, from about April thru Sept. They love my turks cap & cypress vine, red cannas & mandevilla vine & even the purple ruella. They come to all 5 feeders but they are so possessive of each one. I never see more than one at a time on a feeder. I sit out on the patio with my coffee sometimes & they will hover around me within 3 ft. I do believe if I was wearing a red had, they would come to it. I just love the little guys.
duajones
16 years ago
Ive had several new arrivals over the past couple days. Not near as many as the same time last year. Hopefully that will change over the next few days
beachplant
16 years ago
Thanks for the heads up. I was fixin' to cut back the pride of Barbados, it's into the street, but it is one of their favorites so I'm leaving it alone right now.
Saw one hummer last night buzzing the turks cap.
I bought sugar at Sams & pulled out the feeders. I'll get them all hung up this evening.
Noticed a couple of other things in the yard too so I'm filling all the feeders & putting out suet also.

Dua, do you hang the oranges, put them in a feeder? What? I've got orioles usually going through in spring.
Tally HO!