MB, hummers make a fairly loud humming sound with their wings when they fly (hence the name), but it is often mistaken for a buzzing insect of some sort. When you see one nearby, zipping from plant to plant, listen closely and see if you can detect it. It's pretty cool to think their wings are moving fast enough to produce a noise like that. They also have a little chittering squeaky sound they make when they are being territorial, and at other times. I've heard this several times, but usually only from birds that have hung around my area for awhile and have decided it is "their" spot. The males can be very aggressive towards each other, staging swoopingly acrobatic aerial displays as they fight for a feeder or plant. They are so beautiful, and so interesting. No matter how many times I've seen them, I, too, freeze to watch them whenever they show up. Sometimes they fly away and I realize I've been holding my breath the whole time! You can't help it, can you? Such miraculous little guys. And if you think they look small flitting around in your garden, you should hold one in the palm of your hand. Unbelievable!! For your viewing pleasure: Rufous Hummingbird (the visitor most likely to be seen in winter): The Allen's hummingbird(frankly, I don't know how anyone can even tell the difference between this one and the rufous...I'll have to research that): The black-chinned hummingbird (easier to tell from a ruby-throated, for sure): And the calliope, said to be the smallest bird in the U.S.: Marcia

Hi Everybody! Molanic, I also live in a suburb of a big city. YES YOU CAN attract hummers to your yard or porch! Here is what my experience has been: a) Definitely have more than one feeder - maybe minimum 3. The more there are, the safer visiting birds feel since, yes, the males are EXTREMELY territorial over their feeder once they claim them (apparently they don't go to kindergarten and learn how to share). b) They like something safe and shady to perch on near the feeder; I've hung a regular wire coat hanger about 2' from the feeders and they like it; then a place to fly away to hide in - trees or tallish branchy not too dense shrubs nearby are terrific, just one will do fine. c) They don't like the feeder if it's placed in too remote/recessed/shrub-hidden/hard to access location; they like to have a speedy escape route! Easy in, easy out. But - they're still scared of people so it can't be too close to where someone might sit on a porch or they'll be too scared to approach it. Some will, but most won't. d) jjdbike is absolutely right about the nectar. NO FOOD COLORING! Doesn't need it. I use 1 part plain ol' white sugar to 4 parts water, that's all. I use a clear rectangular 1 qt. plastic feeder with a red top and red bottom, no yellow 'flowers' on it, pretty plain and simple, AND IT HAS A PERCH ALL AROUND IT so the little birdies can REST while they're eating instead of having to burn energy FLYING WHILE THEY'RE EATING - sheesh! Please Don't get feeders without perches. e) PATIENCE, patience, patience. If you keep the feeders filled & clean (empty, clean & refill them once a week; MOLD GROWS IN THEM NOTORIOUSLY!), The Hummers Will Come. Trust Me. Mine did! :) And if they consistently keep finding the smorgasbord you consistently provide for them, they will return, and others in the area will find it & come too. Happy Humming To You! ~ Susan in Reseda, CA

Donna- this is old news. New SCIENTIFIC evidence simply does not support this information. Many Hummingbird plants, such as Trumpet Creeper have at least a 33% ratio. This is simply wrong information! Last season I posted a link to a scientific study that gave the ratio for many Hummingbird plants and I also printed a letter from author Sherri Williamson that I received from her answering my question about formula--I am pasting it below. ""Hi everyone- I am new to this forum but I have had the exact same question about sugar formulas. I am sure many of you are familiar with Sheri Williamson who wrote "Attracting and feeding hummingbirds" a few years ago. I went to her website and I asked her that very question via email. Following I will quote her answer and a link to a site with research that has been done on nectar content of flowers. You may all be surprised to know that most hummingbird favored flowers contain more nectar than any of us thought. Quote from Sheri "Some hummingbird experts do (or did) insist on a feeder solution no stronger than 4:1, but I've never been a member of that camp. On page 40 of Attracting and Feeding you'll find that I recommend a solution of three to five parts water to one part sugar - a pretty wide range. Hummingbird-pollinated flowers produce nectar that ranges in sugar content from as weak as 10:1 to as strong as 1:1. Both of the extremes are rare, and the average sugar content is close to 3:1. Studies of the birds' physiology suggest that solutions stronger than 3:1 may not provide sufficient water in extremely hot, dry conditions and that solutions weaker than 4:1 may not provide enough sugar for the birds to maintain their body weight when the weather is cold (stronger solutions also freeze at lower temperatures, which is very useful for people lucky enough to host hummingbirds year round). A 5:1 solution can be useful in discouraging bees or helping the birds through extreme heat and drought. When I wrote Attracting and Feeding eight years ago, I was deliberately conservative in my recommendations to avoid upsetting a handful of my colleagues in the hummingbird community who were adamantly opposed to solutions stronger than 4:1. Since then most of them have changed their minds, thanks in large part to the article that begins on page 7 of this issue of the Louisiana Ornithological Society News: http://losbird.org/news/0326_201_news.pdf I now feed 3:1 most of the year, except during the very hot, dry days of late spring and early summer, and I do think it helps the southbound migrants and overwintering birds. Using a slightly stronger solution may not be as important to your feeding strategy with all the good natural food you're providing, but it isn't going to do the birds any harm." End of quote from Sheri )"" Donna those of us who feed a stronger formula simply are not hurting our beloved birds. I ask you to please go to the site of the scientific study listed in Sherri's letter and read it for yourself. The information you quoted does not even have any evidence or facts or science behind it. Where does the lady quoted get her information? 3 to 1 is not harmful and the experts are now using it! Will you pleases read the information I have listed and then tell us what you think? Thanks, Vicki

Since my resident hummers have now left, I guess I can summarize how things fared to date, updating my previous posting on it: OBSERVED USED Syringa patula 'Miss Kim' (lilac) Syringa prestoniae 'James McFarlane' (lilac) Weigela florida 'Red Prince' Weigela florida 'Wine and Roses' Heuchera x brizoides 'Firefly' Annual Dianthus (dark pink/white center) Salvia coccinea 'Lady in Red' Salvia coccinea 'Hummingbird Red' Salvia nemorosa 'May Night' (believe it or not...lol) Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue' Salvia elegans 'Golden Delicious' Salvia elegans (species) Salvia microphylla x greggii 'Red Velvet' Monarda didyma 'Jacob Cline' (bee balm) Morning glories (seedling volunteers from 'Grandpa Ott' & 'Scarlet O'Hara') 'Snow White' cherry tomatoes (tomato blooms nectared from!) Toma verde tomatillo blossoms Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Edward LaPlante' Agastache rupestris Lonicera sempervirens 'Blanche Sandman' (coral honeysuckle) Lonicera x mandarin (mandarin honeysuckle) Scarlet runner beans Cypress vine (lost behind B&B but used) Pentas lanceolata 'New Look Red' NOT USED Red verbena Red Petunias Hosta albomarginata Sweet peas (they may have but hard to see it) Dicentra spectabilis (may have been used but didn't observe it) Methley Plum (bloomed before first hummer arrived) Gloriosa lily (red-flowering - was looked at though!) Blueberries (Patio, Elliott, Nelson, Bluecrop - may have used though but not observed directly - one perched there) Annual snapdragons (magenta) Asiatic lilies (assorted) Yellow (unknown type) orientpet lilies Calla lilies 'Majestic Red' Aquilegia sibirica 'Biedermeier' (siberian columbine) Dianthus 'Cheddar Pinks' Penstemon 'Sunburst Ruby' (only had a couple blooms so far) HAD NOT BLOOMED Salvia guaranitica x gesneriiflora 'Purple Majesty' (only had a couple blooms early but now about to bloom fully) Salvia subrotunda (seedlings) Crocosmia 'Lucifer' Daylily 'Pardon Me' (won't be blooming this year) Canna 'The President' & 'Red King Humbert' Phlox paniculata 'Starfire' (won't bloom this year) Hyacinth bean Vine Asclepias incarnata 'Cinderella' (seedling from last year) I'm considering doing some geraniums (pelargoniums) next year. I used to grow them all the time but kindof got tired of them since they often quit blooming when it's very hot. I understand that they are supposedly a good hummer plant and I know they sell all colors (including red) at just about every place that sells plants, so I'll give them another shot! I also want to try some lobelia cardinalis too - I did try looking for it locally and couldn't find it.