2017 Hummingbirds
 

Hummingbird season really snuck up in me this year! I'm putting out my feeders today, a bit later than usual. Any sightings yet?

Hummingbirds.net click the migration map on the left sidebar. UConn extension also says they are here in CT but I have had my feeders out all week and have not seen any yet.

none yet
 

feeder out for a week

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YAer4rDnA6I" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

5/3/17
 

Saw the first hummingbird of the year on one of our feeders yesterday evening. It was a male. Not sure if it was a quick pit stop as he continues north or if he's one of the "locals".

nothing yet
 

No sighting here in North Central Mass. Feeder has been out all week.

This morning, we saw a hummingbird flying around our azalea bush in our front yard. Made up some sugar water for them, cleaned the feeder really well, and took the chilled water, put it in the feeder, and less than two hours later, two different hummingbirds have come to the feeder.
We have been feeding them for over 20 years, and they show up about Mother's Day, give or take a week. Unbelievably consistent.
PS. They leave right around Labor Day.

Sent from my GT-P5210 using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

They're Back
 

Put our hummingbird feeder out yesterday when we opened our cottage on East Bear Island this weekend. Today, a thirsty hummer showed up and sipped our homemade brew of one cup of white sugar and four cups of water. We store the delicious concoction in our refrigerator until ready for use. As yet, there are no blooms available to our tiny guests. 🐻

bad recipe for hummers
 

It should be 1/4 cup sugar, to one cup water

Sweet Tweet
 

For over thirty years our hummers have never complained......they always leave satisfied, with a smile on their beaks. 😋

Recipe
 

I also use the recipe ratio that Donna and Barney mention.

4 parts of water to one part of sugar.

I make one cup at a time, as Donna say, 1/4 cup sugar to one cup water.
Barney just makes 4 times as much, but the same recipe portions,

sugar
 

Isn't that bad for their teeth?;)

The rocket surgeons in the MA legislature want to tax sugary drinks.:eek:

Idle curiosity
 

I read somewhere that flower nectar contains three sugars - sucrose (cane sugar), fructose (fruit sugar), and glucose (dextrose) - generally in a ratio of about 2:1:1. As it happens, that's about the same ratio found in molasses. (Table sugar is pure sucrose).

I wonder if anyone has tried a molasses-based solution in their hummingbird feeder and, if so, if it seems to make any difference to the birds.

My teeth have melted away, thinking of this :)

My feeders had visitors all day yesterday. They are definitely in the area. And I use the 4-1 water/sugar mix too.

Saw my first female yesterday afternoon...

1st hummingbird seen this morning...prompted these "lazy" birders to hurry to the basement to retrieve the feeders and brew a sugar water concoction for the tiny travelers...all set now!

I'm sure I'm not the 1st to notice, But
that's the exact same mixture That Barney Bear used, but he made 4 cups, you made 1.

I like to richen it up with small batches of 3-1 at first and at last. Then back off to 5-1 during the season..I just fill the feeder like a fifth of the way, it can go bad, important to keep it clean..keep the rest in the fridge..You don't need the food coloring, if the feeder is colored...

Does the hummingbird mixture attract bears?


Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

Hummingbird feeders can attract bears. Once in a while a bear will take one of mine down. I do not find it a common problem.

First Hummingbird
 

At least the first I noticed.
I put a feeder out yesterday on the kitchen window and had a visitor for breakfast. One came down to thank me this morning as I was watering the lawn near that feeder.
We have several feeders in the yard in California and these birds will come up right in front on you and hover about 3 feet away. Cool.

I am a retired workaholic and continuing aquaholic.

5/6/18
 

No 2018 thread going so I will add to this one. Our first hummingbird was seen on Sunday morning, May the 6th.

Has anyone seen the hats with the Hummingbird feeders built on? I don't know how to post stuff but I've seen some good pictures.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oZ24oBaO56w" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8twCvJJtT0A" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Yup...saw our first yesterday, one day after I hung the feeders!

Caught asleep at the switch. I am going to put the feeders out ASAP.

Hopefully I found a solution for those pesky squirrels. Found at Costco,
a Bonide product for all kinds of animals. Sure smells like garlic to me. So far the chipmunk has disappeared.

Saw our first in Center Harbor at the feeder yesterday 5/8. He was back again today.

Had two today as I was hanging out the feeders in Meredith>>>almost landed on my head

Just saw a female at the feeder for the first time. Have seen the male a few times.

First sighting of the season this morning....a very hungry male!

Welcome Back, Madam!
 

Hung our hummingbird feeder out on May 7th. Saw our first female "hummer" this morning at our cottage on East Bear Island. 🐻

Put up my feeders for the first time today. No exaggeration, first bird was at the feeder before I had walked 10 feet away.

Sometimes they appear before the feeders go up
 

I have been tardy putting out the feeders, at least by hummingbird standards, only to look out where the feeders would be, and see a hummingbird flitting back and forth, seeking food. It would fly away, and come back again.

I would mix up their food, and get it out as soon as possible, of course with any apology for being late.

Dave