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

I am sure ours are only males, they all have Ruby Red Throats. The females follow a week later. We have been feeding them for 24 years now, and it's the same pattern each year. Glad you have females North of Muskegon, you might have a male there somewhere. We are in Livingston County, across the state from you. To attract Orioles hang up an Oriole feeder, buy some plastic neon pink ribbon 1/2" at a hardware store, hang it near the feeder and put out a bowl of grape jelly. The color of the neon/pink attracts Orioles and Hummingbirds too.

Thanks. For the first time I did watch a hummingbird dive bombing in the shape of the letter U. I thought it was maybe protecting a nest but then I remembered that they do some type of diving to claim territory or displaying? Anyway I didn't see any nest or some time of predator. It must be difficult to get still photos unless you have a motion sensor. I don't think I know what a Penstemon is. I just recently planted those trumpet vines and they really like the red bee balm Monarda. I have red hot poker and really never see them interested in it.

This year we had about 8-10 hummers and one lone straggler stayed until about the 2nd week in September. I live in upstate NY and it seems they show up right about the time the trees are budding and leave when we see the first signs of the leaves changing