Zipping Around are the Hummingbirds

gardener365

16 years ago

30 minutes and five good photos. No photo action or action at all on the Hummingbirds Forum.

Wish to tell me what kind or what sex they are that would be so nice.

Dax

I have a red feeder with red syrup and they pretty much leave that one alone. It's because of the perch it's my opinion is the reason they feed at the Oriole feeder.

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Comments (8)

rachel_frome_ky
16 years ago
Hi! Since you live in Illinois, all you will probably see at your feeder, barring a happy accident, will be Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. The male has a red throat and is in the first two photos, the female in the last two.

Hummingbirds will usually go to the feeder farthest from the house first. You don't have to use the red dye stores market, as the dye isn't any better for birds than it is for humans. One part sugar to 4 parts water should work for the hummingbird feeder, and change the water every 3 days, scrubbing well.
bbcathy
16 years ago
The dye is VERY bad for them! Don't use it. Use the suggested water and sugar formula. Make sure to change and clean the feeder at least once a week and every couple of days when it is hot. There is a fungus that they can get that is very harmful to them. It gives them beak and tongue rot and is fatal.
Cathy
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When photographing hummingbirds, I've found that the click of the camera, and/or the flash can attract them, particularly the dominant hummingbird at that specific feeder. My theory is that because he associates the flash with the the appearance of other birds at the feeder, he learns to show up to defend it when there's a flash. Since he's there, he takes a drink before leaving. Because I've mainly observed this at Madera Canyon in the spring, it was pretty easy to figure this out because it was generally the same species bird that showed up after a 'boredom' flash I would flash if I had not had any birds for a while. Sometimes, the feeder would be primarily 'owned' by a broadbill, at other times/locations/years it might be a magnificent. Once accustomed to the flash, the birds aren't usually startled even though my flashes are quite close. (1 or 2 feet from feeder.) A high pitched whistle might produce a similar territorial response. I'd be tempted to try a dog whistle and see if they react quite well to that. Visit my link to www.gregscott.com to see my very high resolution hummingbird photos. They're not all high resolution, but most of the recent ones (taken in the spring) are quite high in resolution. Here is a link that might be useful: See my high resolution photos here.
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I don't think the tiny things can make it thru a winter in zone 6 or 7. Too hard to keep that tiny body warm. They leave when the day length triggers it. From what I've read, they do wait til they have a good store of fat for the journey, in case they can't find food on the way. They get as fat as they can and still fly. Several times in September I saw a really fat guy on my feeder, then next day only skinny ones. Then after a few days, another fat one would appear and then disappear. The ones that linger are usually way down in the pecking order, maybe out of a 2nd breeding, and can't compete for food while the other stronger birds are around. IMO, the best thing you can do for your little guy is help him fatten up for the trip as fast as possible. To do that switch to a solution with more sugar. That lets them hunt for bugs (needed protein) for longer before coming back for a drink. I switched to a 2:1 solution early in September to help them fatten up faster (from a 3:1 used all summer). Good luck. For several years I've had one linger into October, and I know you start to really worry as the nights get cold. Good luck to him and to you.
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gardener365
Original Author
16 years ago
Wow. I can clean it and certainly use sugar.

Thanks!!

Dax
donnas_gw
16 years ago
Making your own hummingbird nectar is certainly less expensive. I used to use the red prepackaged nectar until I read that it was bad for them, so I stopped a few years ago. You can buy a baby bottle brush to use when cleaning the inside of the feeders since the opening to most of them are so small.
lisa11310
16 years ago
UUUMMMM I beieve you have an Oriole feeder there! Note the distance from the perch to the feeder, orange nectar and oranges on the feeder. Maybe you meant to have Oriols and got Hummers? If the Hummers cant reach the feeder while perched I would get them one that they can. It will be very important just before migration in the fall.
donnas_gw
16 years ago
no kidding lisa11310...maybe he knows that!! Funny how "some" people just can't stop from making smart aleck remarks on this forum.
lisa11310
16 years ago
Hey, there is nothing smart aleck about my response.....I am not familiar with this person and they dont seem to know the sex of the Hummers. If they don't know that, they may very well not know they have the wrong feeder for the hummers. AAAAAAHHHHHHH I did NOT see the statement UNDER the picture!!!!! I just went back to check to see why such a hostile remark. Of course now I see, but you could have just stated that maybe I missed something. If you thought someone did not know the difference in feeders you would want to help them out too no?
lisa11310
16 years ago
To the OP. Im sorry I did not see the comment under your photos. Please dis reguard my post.

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Zipping Around are the Hummingbirds

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Zipping Around are the Hummingbirds

Comments (8)

rachel_frome_ky

bbcathy

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