Thursday, April 16, 2015

Hummingbirds









I am sure we are all busy getting our flower beds in order right now, anyway I am.   Each day when the Sun comes out, I tackle one of my flower beds.

Yesterdays bed was outside my French doors in my living room, that lead to our patio.   This is where I have a Dogwood tree, along with my Hummingbird and Finch feeders.

I start to monitor the Hummingbird Migration Map the beginning of April for my area.   Once I begin to see sightings a bit south of me in NW New Jersey, I put out my feeder.









This is the feeder I use.   I am in no way advising you to purchase this one.   However, it is easy to use, easy to clean and my hummers are always at it.  
I do not purchase nectar.   I use 1 cup of sugar to 4 cups of water.   Stir it constantly until the sugar melts and then refrigerate it.   I do not add red food coloring to it either, there are sites that will tell you that it may cause tumors in the hummers.   
 While it is cool outside, I will change the nectar once a week.   After it starts to warm up, I will change it religiously every 3 days.   Each time I change the nectar, I make sure I clean the feeder very well.

Hummers are very territorial.   We have witnessed their actions while sitting outside.   The chirping is LOUD, they will fly back and forth like a pendulum to ward off another Hummer.   And as territorial, they are tiny peaceful birds as well.  After they drink, they will fly to a bare Dogwood branch and sit there, clean themselves and then quietly fly away.
 I have had one hover over my head and then go to hover over my shoulder.  I have not experienced one landing on me, as yet.

Do you have any experiences to share about your Hummers?





10 comments:

  1. I love hummingbirds and have my feeders out we have seen a few but not many yet

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  2. We love the hummingbirds! They show up in cottage country about May 15 and entertain us till late August. We're far enough north that it's only the ruby throat hummingbird that visits and we're always so pleased to see them. :) Thanks for the link to the Hummingbird Migration Map - I did not know about that.

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    1. Hi Kate! I am SO glad that you will be using the map. :)

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  3. Our first little Hummingbird arrived last evening (4/15) at dinner time. She stayed quite a long time and had two or three servings of nice long drinks. We use the sugar and water formula for the same reason. In the summer I change the mix every third day unless the crowd drinks it all then of course we refill as needed.

    She was at breakfast bright and early this morning. I just hope our temps don't drop to freezing, our safe frost date isn't until the second weekend in May.

    Have a wonderful day and enjoy those little treasures. ♥

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    1. Joyce, you are SO lucky to have seen your hummer already. I have not been that fortunate, but I keep looking. :)

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  4. Morning, love those sweet little birds.Blessings Francine.

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  5. We love to watch the hummingbirds! I once tried batting away what I thought was a annoying bug only to realize it was a bold hummingbird. You never know what guests come to sneak a sip of sugary nectar either. One day I caught this huge woodpecker swinging wildly from the feeder trying to stick his beak in that little hole! He was finally chased away!

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    1. LOL That would have been a Hallmark moment with the woodpecker USAGypsy! :) Thank you for sharing your experience. :)

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