Hummingbirds-still around?

[Mirror Lake's BB]

We are coming up from PA and were delayed by Irene. Seeing some hummingbirds would really boost our spirits after dealing with the hurricane (power outage, debris etc). Are they still around?

[MarkinNH]

I saw one yesterday.

[Newbiesaukee]

I have three that share my feeder and just saw them within the past hour.

[SteveA]

Hadn't seen ours since before the storm, but they were back yesterday.

We were happy to seem them :)

[Merrymeeting]

Had several at my feeder this evening

[Loony Singer]

just heard one of the chirpy little devils by our feeder. But get here soon! They seem to head south very early. i think they're bulking up for the trip right now.

and what's this about hummers sharing a feeder? must be a different species than ours...ours definitely do NOT share!! :laugh:

[webmaster]

Seeing some hummingbirds would really boost our spirits after dealing with the hurricaneCheck out Rattlesnake Gal's video:

<iframe width="560" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QCimTerfUnQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Mirror Lake's BB]

They seemed to continue to come by during Irene but once we lost power and fired up the generator for 2.5 days they must have decided to go to our neighbors. I will refill the feeders before leaving for the lake tomorrow.:)

[Lucy Goose]

Yep, I have tons of them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9apXcoWaFqM

Lucy Goose

<iframe width="560" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9apXcoWaFqM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[donnamatrix]

I so love these little birds. When we lived in San Francisco we would have literally hundreds every day. I kept the feeder out during Irene - it's a bit under the cover of our farmer's front porch - and the little guys would come and sit all around it, have some nectar, and try to stay dry. I put fresh nectar out this AM (8/31) and immediately the hummers were there. They are such a treat to watch. If anyone gets HULU you can search for a special on hummingbirds (and another on eagles) - both films are jaw dropping in their beauty.

[donnamatrix]

This is on YouTube - don't know where in the Northeast - but following the hurricane, whose winds kept the birds from feeding
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dlvpicEfM8&feature=player_detailpage

Hope I inserted the link correctly!

<iframe width="560" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-dlvpicEfM8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Lakesrider]

Was sitting at the Pine Cone having dinner on Friday night. One came and hovered in the window right in front of me. Kinda looked at me and then took off. Must not have liked what was for dinner....Chicken.:D

[Natt]

We were in Pittsburg NH over the weekend and saw hummingbirds twice up there.:) But no moose.:(

[Barney Bear]

We had humming birds visiting our front porch feeder on East Bear Island this past weekend - will probably head south in the near future. Bon voyage little ones!!!

[RLW]

By what I read the other day, most all males have left and in about 10 days after they leave the females will be on the move also. We will still see a very few left, they being the older ones and tanking up a bit more for there trip back. I also read that many of the birds do not fly across the Gulf but follow the coast of Texas and of that group many stay in Texas. Many of the ones that cross, stop and rest on the oil rigs and on ships. I found that info quite interesting as I have never heard those scenarios.
Oh, we still a stray one at our feeder, but aboout every other day or so. I believe we put fresh food out yesterday for the last time this year.:)

[Lakesrider]

Saw one hoovering at my hanging petunia plants, on Monday and another hoovered over me lst night. Probably wondering if I was going to refill the nectar feeder anytime soon. But I took it down for the season. Maybe a bit too early seeing as it was 80 degrees out yesterday.:D

[hilltopper]

I haven't seen a male in a week or so. The last time I saw a female was probably three days ago. Sad to see 'em go but they'll be back. If I see another this year I'll wonder if it's one of our "residents" or one that was further north and is just stopping at our place for a break and some grub.

[Rattlesnake Gal]

Our hummers were still around. Given how chilly it was last Friday and Saturday nights I would expect that they have been entering into torpor (http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2006/04/hummingbirds_and_torpor.php). Hope they've already left on their long journey!

[dayvsea]

Had some during the hurricane! Two just after, then perhaps 3 days after thats it.. But my feeders up for stragglers..

[riverat]

Still had one yesterday, Go Hummingbird Fly, go!

[RLW]

We saw 3 http://i56.tinypic.com/2uigeax.gifat different times this afternoon. They all passed the freshly filled feeder and went to the flowers. I guess the feeder will be coming down this weekend as there are plenty of plants for them to get the natural nutrition.:)


They are all down as of 9/26/11 and washed up for next season , but hummers still at flowers.

[dayvsea]

I've come to understand you are not hurting them by leaving feeders, they [I]know[I] when to move on..;)

[Rattlesnake Gal]

Have left the island.

[Lakesrider]

From today. I was on the riding mower so a bit blurry...
Look at the upper left of the picture.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e233/midgetmgb/Hbird.jpg

[Newbiesaukee]

My lone remaining female has not been seen for 4 days and the feeder has been taken in. Spring isn't too far, is it?

[Lakesrider]

While riding the lawn mower the other day this one was feeding on some wild Asters. so still around as of 9-25-2011:D

Upper left. Sorry, the phone was shaking while I was riding, but I didn;t want to miss it all together......

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e233/midgetmgb/Hbird.jpg

[DRH]

Ours are now gone too here in West Alton. We find it very interesting that when they return in the spring, they look for the feeders they apparently remember from the previous summer if we haven't put them up yet. They just hover where the feeder was the previous year, probably thinking "Hey, I'm hungry! Where's my sweet nectar?"

[Irish mist]

I had to take down my feeder in the middle of the summer because the bees were draining it every day. I hated to do it, and I like bees, but it was getting to be too much.

[Diana]

@lakesrider, that photo is beautiful, the soft colors make it look like a watercolor! we have had isolated females around until the last couple of days, but despite lots of blooms still around we are noticing their absence today (SE CT)

[Rattlesnake Gal]

I had to take down my feeder in the middle of the summer because the bees were draining it every day. I hated to do it, and I like bees, but it was getting to be too much.

Perhaps you should try a feeder that is designed to keep these pests out of the nectar or try a feeder that accepts a nectar guard.

http://www.duncraft.com/common/images/products/main/5679_300.jpg

Aspects Nectar Guard Tip Replacements
(http://www.duncraft.com/Aspects-Nectar-Guard-Tip-Replacements)
Nectar Guard Tips slide onto the feeding ports on the underside of the cover. They’re a flexible membrane that opens easily for a hummingbird’s beak but flying insects can’t get through.
Use with Aspects HummZinger Ultra and HummZinger Fancy feeders.

These guards work on Aspects humming bird feeders (http://www.duncraft.com/index/page/search?FullText=aspects+hummingbird+feeder&imageField.x=0&imageField.y=0)

http://www.duncraft.com/common/images/products/thumb/1688_195.jpghttp://www.duncraft.com/common/images/products/thumb/2339_195.jpghttp://www.duncraft.com/common/images/products/thumb/857_195.jpg

Or you could try a more traditional feeder with the guards already in place.

http://www.duncraft.com/common/images/products/thumb/203CP_195.jpg
Four Flower Frolic Feeder (http://www.duncraft.com/Four-Flower-Frolic-Hummingbird-Feeder)

All hummingbird feeders available at Duncraft (http://www.duncraft.com/index/page/category/category_id/247/category_chain/247/name/All+Hummingbird+Feeders/)

All hummingbird products (http://www.duncraft.com/index/page/category/category_id/245)

http://www.duncraft.com/common/images/products/thumb/1739_195.jpg http://www.duncraft.com/common/images/products/thumb/5841_195.jpg
This Hummingbird House (http://www.duncraft.com/Hummingbird-House-Set-of-2) looks interesting, as does the Hummer Helper Nesting Cage (http://www.duncraft.com/Hummer-Helper-Nesting-Cage)!

Support a New Hampshire company by ordering online from Duncraft (http://www.duncraft.com)or visit their New Hampshire store!
For many of us, this store is on the way to the lake. :D

http://www.duncraft.com/static/images/retailstorefront_400.jpg
Duncraft's Wild Bird & Nature Store (http://www.duncraft.com/index/page/static/subpage/retail_store/)
Route 3, 102 Fisherville Road
Concord, NH
603-224-3522

Open Tuesday-Saturday 9:00am to 5:00pm

I just love hummingbirds! :D

[Irish mist]

Perhaps you should try a feeder that is designed to keep these pests out of the nectar or try a feeder that accepts a nectar guard.

http://www.duncraft.com/common/images/products/main/5679_300.jpg

Aspects Nectar Guard Tip Replacements
(http://www.duncraft.com/Aspects-Nectar-Guard-Tip-Replacements)
Nectar Guard Tips slide onto the feeding ports on the underside of the cover. They’re a flexible membrane that opens easily for a hummingbird’s beak but flying insects can’t get through.
Use with Aspects HummZinger Ultra and HummZinger Fancy feeders.

These guards work on Aspects humming bird feeders (http://www.duncraft.com/index/page/search?FullText=aspects+hummingbird+feeder&imageField.x=0&imageField.y=0)

http://www.duncraft.com/common/images/products/thumb/1688_195.jpghttp://www.duncraft.com/common/images/products/thumb/2339_195.jpghttp://www.duncraft.com/common/images/products/thumb/857_195.jpg

Or you could try a more traditional feeder with the guards already in place.

http://www.duncraft.com/common/images/products/thumb/203CP_195.jpg
Four Flower Frolic Feeder (http://www.duncraft.com/Four-Flower-Frolic-Hummingbird-Feeder)

All hummingbird feeders available at Duncraft (http://www.duncraft.com/index/page/category/category_id/247/category_chain/247/name/All+Hummingbird+Feeders/)

All hummingbird products (http://www.duncraft.com/index/page/category/category_id/245)

http://www.duncraft.com/common/images/products/thumb/1739_195.jpg http://www.duncraft.com/common/images/products/thumb/5841_195.jpg
This Hummingbird House (http://www.duncraft.com/Hummingbird-House-Set-of-2) looks interesting, as does the Hummer Helper Nesting Cage (http://www.duncraft.com/Hummer-Helper-Nesting-Cage)!

Support a New Hampshire company by ordering online from Duncraft (http://www.duncraft.com)or visit their New Hampshire store!
For many of us, this store is on the way to the lake. :D

http://www.duncraft.com/static/images/retailstorefront_400.jpg
Duncraft's Wild Bird & Nature Store (http://www.duncraft.com/index/page/static/subpage/retail_store/)
Route 3, 102 Fisherville Road
Concord, NH
603-224-3522

Open Tuesday-Saturday 9:00am to 5:00pm

I just love hummingbirds! :D

Thanks:) I've never seen these covers. I've had the built-in covers, but they did not seem to work, but these add-on covers look good.

[Greene's Basin Girl]

What about ants? Any ideas on ways to keep them out?

[RLW]

Check out this (http://www.duncraft.com/Aspects-HummZinger-Fancy-Hummingbird-Feeder) as it is listed a couple threads before yours. There are many of the hummer feeders with the mote on them. I just took a heavy pastic cup and cut it down to about an inch high and put a hole it it to run the hanger through it and then took a good silicone glue and secured it to the feeder and it has worked on 3 that we have in the yard now for 3 years.

[Sunrise Point]

I have had great luck using a dab of triple axle grease on my hanging wire. This is the stuff that most boat owners have lying around. Probably vaseline would work too. The triple axle grease lasts all season.