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Fountains used by hummingbirds

Lilyfinch z9a Murrieta Ca

8 years ago

I've seen some lovely Instagram videos of hummers playing at a bubbling fountain. I thought I would get one for my back porch . I havent found a vase style one I like yet though. I did find one I do like but it's not the same style. Anyone have a fountain enjoyed by hummers to recommend ? Do you think they will like this whiskey barrel style? I know there's no real way to know until I try.

Here is a screen shot of the fellow I follow who has wonderful luck with his fountain.

Truthfully I only have 3 hummers with occasional guests so I may not be so lucky even if I get one just like his .

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Comments (6)

User
8 years ago
If you have falling droplets, they will drink from the droplets.

If you have a finer mist, such as from lawn sprinklers, they take baths in the mist as they fly through it

If you have a shallow saucer with a sheet overflow, they take regular bird baths by perching on the rim.
catherinet
8 years ago
I've never seen them at fountains, but when I'm watering the garden and I see them, I will change it to a spray and they love sitting under it. I've also seen them bathing on a tree leaf that had a lot of water on it. I'm thinking a finer spray might attract them more. But like you said, you won't know until you try it. But.....I fear there's too many big dark drop-offs for them, which might scare them. Let us know what you do and what happens.
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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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Kudos for getting a photograph--mine bathe so quickly, and rarely within sight, that I have no photos to share. Most often I have seen them bathe during the day; 8pm seems late, to me. I would have guessed more feather drying time before night torpor would be desired. Your fountain looks as if it has a lot of features that would make it popular with many species of birds--gentle movement, shallow water depth and sufficient room to freely move around. It is probably is a busy watering hole. Amazing how a bit of water movement is so much more attractive to birds than a still saucer of water.
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Lilyfinch z9a Murrieta Ca
Original Author
8 years ago
Hm a misting fountain would be so charming ! I guess I'll just get a fountain that suits my garden tastes and enjoy them visiting my flowers . I'm going to look locally for a fountain vase but if not I love the barrels .
catherinet
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
The misters I've seen need to be hooked to a running hose all the time.....which I wouldn't like. Here's a link to something you might be interested in......plus it seems to attract a hummer for the owner.

http://wildbirdsunlimited.typepad.com/the_zen_birdfeeder/2011/06/hummingbird-at-the-birdbath.html
catherinet
8 years ago
But I would still like a water feature like the barrel picture. It would make a nice sound and maybe even attract a frog or 2.
ellaboobella
8 years ago
Just be very careful with water sources deeper than 2"... little birds can sometimes drown in them. There are articles about this online, but I know a lady who works at our local nursery that found one dead in her bird bath, one of those cement things. We have one, but we filled it with potting soil last Spring and planted Creeping Jenny in it... and the birds have found a depression that collects water there in the dirt... and they bath and drink in it anyway. Our local Coopers Hawk perched there the other day as well. But remember, 2" or less of water, like a shallow mud puddle, is safe for them.

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