Awww, looks like one of DHs critters. He has a few with several which stay year around. Little bit of a pain in winter when trying to provide them with food that hasn't turned into a snow cone.

Yep pretty easy--reminds me--I need to feed my critters.

Well, I didn't mean it to be quite so easy. lol On my phone I could hardly see it so I zoomed out too much! :)

Wish I lived where i had them all year 'round.

I feed them and can pick them out when they're in my big tree in the front yard. Only a few more weeks of them here ;-(

For me, too, mimipadv. But I look forward to feeding the winter birds.

Other than something sitting on fence, I got nuthin!?! I just HAVE to ask about the plants/flowers. Plumeria, right? I have a few pots full that started as stubs I bought at the Philly Flower Show well over 20 years ago. I haven't "killed" them, but have frequently had ones with no leaves by the time it gets warm enough for them to go outside here in NJ. They seem to come right back, but have only gotten blooms ONE time?? Is there a trick to getting them to bloom??

flaming0- you must have a ton of the little critters! That's a LOT of sugar!

klseiverd - yes, they are plumeria. The reason yours doesn't have leaves when spring time comes is because they go dormant in winter. Even in tropical areas where they are indigenous they go dormant and drop leaves. If they were seedlings they can take many years to bloom. But, heat, fertilizer, and 6+ hours of sun daily and they should bloom.

Yeah, that -is- a lot of sugar. I buy a #4 bag each week so whatever that measures up to over the course of summer.

No kidding that's a lot of sugar. I use 2 cups sugar (8 cups water) a week, three feeders, about 10 1/2 months of the year. The other six weeks, June and early July I will use more when the rufous are here in large numbers for a few weeks. But I've got lots of salvia, some upright hardy fuchsias, mahonia, other things growing that they like.

We do get tired of making nectar and filling feeders every day. One year was insane, we used over 150# that year. I finally learned to clean the feeders inside but to fill them outside, that cuts down on the sticky drops on the floor.

Moonie, seeing your hummingbird perched on the leaf reminds me of a little "enrichment activity" I learned to do years ago.

During a rainless stretch, I take the hose to our Halesia in the backyard and use the power nozzle to really soak the tree from the top. The tree has good sized leaves and can collect quite a bit of water.

The hummingbirds love to take baths on those wet leaves; it's the cutest darned thing.

HERE'S a video (not mine) of bath time for the hummers.

It's important to do this early enough in the day so that the birds will be dry by night. At least I think it might be important!

rhizo - I was just getting ready to post a video of my hummer bathing on plumeria leaves but can't post one from my computer. What a bummer! Houzz needs to fix that. Anyway, I enjoyed your video and looks very much like mine. :)

If anyone has a vimeo or youtube acct I would be happy to send the video.

Flamey - I keep my feeders upside down until I get outside. :)

A spa-like treat or a near-death experience????

I don't have any leaves that cup and hold water for them, but I've seen them perch on a plant stake in the sprinkler's range and shower, or come up to the hose nozzle in my hand when I have it on spray setting, dart around in the mist ;0)

Moonie, just watched. He must have been squeaky clean after that!

I was prepared to give her mouth-to-beak if necessary! :)

All needs water and when I used to live at house and water garden, the hummers would flit around wanting the water and I would leave sprinklers on in garden for them and yes, leaves are fantastic for them to drink and get nice and wet from.

Moonie, that's a good idea. I can't do that because we use the flying saucer type feeders, Happy Eights mostly. I got tired early on watching the birds swarm a full feeder but not getting nectar because of huge air bubbles stopping the flow. I was constantly having to go out to tip the feeders and then the level would drop 2-3" and they could drink for a while til the next air bubble.

I've seen my birds bathe on the dew-covered tulip tree leaves.

Flamey - well, duh! Like you couldn't think of that on your own?? lol I'm sorry! :)

I would love to have those saucer type feeders. They are too pricey for me. None of mine cost more than $5 except for a few my hubs has bought. Those are the ones that are a bear to clean! I've never had the air bubble problem but on a couple of the feeders that have flower ports, I do have bees sometimes. The El Cheapo feeders with flat ports don't draw the bees.