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We have had a discussion about how entertaining squirrels are, but I find that humming birds are too. Each feeder will have a guard bird and it is amusing to see the other birds trying to sneak by the guard. The fall migration is now ongoing and the "air combat" can get quite intense.
Most of our hummingbirds have pulled up stakes and have headed for the coast. I left one feeder out, mostly because of the transit birds we get en route to warmer climes. During the last of July and August I was going through a quart of sugar water/day, now,....a small 8 oz feeder will last for two weeks.
We have had a discussion about how entertaining squirrels are, but I find that humming birds are too. Each feeder will have a guard bird and it is amusing to see the other birds trying to sneak by the guard. The fall migration is now ongoing and the "air combat" can get quite intense.
I spent a long time in my backyard yesterday watching just that. It's so funny watching them chase other hummers off! There's a lot of attitude in those tiny birds!
Location: Vermont, grew up in Colorado and California
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Originally Posted by Dusty Rhodes
Most of our hummingbirds have pulled up stakes and have headed for the coast. I left one feeder out, mostly because of the transit birds we get en route to warmer climes. During the last of July and August I was going through a quart of sugar water/day, now,....a small 8 oz feeder will last for two weeks.
Getting quiet here as well, I miss them so till Spring.
Yesterday I watched two "dancing", for the lack of a better description. They were facing each other about one foot apart and moved in almost perfect harmony. I was too busy watching their movements to notice what sex they were.
I adore hummingbirds! I have also noticed a sharp decline in the number of hummingbirds I have visiting. I wasn't sure if I should refill my feeders today; I ended up refilling only one (I normally do two) and I only saw one female out there. I could count up to six at a time between the two feeders frequently this summer. I'll miss them!
I love them too. They must all be coming this way (Phoenix, AZ). I've seen more and more of them fighting over our feeder. A mama Hummingbird built a nest 8 feet from the feeder on a wire on my back porch. She brought two little ones into the world, and it looks like she and their "daddy" and twins are the ones using the feeder. They take turns sitting on a dead branch guarding it. I could sit and watch them for hours. I always wonder what would happen if I put up a couple of feeders. Would the same group take over all of them?
I didn't see one hummingbird this year. We have several feeders up and the neighbors have a flowering vine hummingbirds like, but this year was a bust. All our feeders did was attract the occasional yellow jacket. I was very disappointed.
I adore hummingbirds! I have also noticed a sharp decline in the number of hummingbirds I have visiting. I wasn't sure if I should refill my feeders today; I ended up refilling only one (I normally do two) and I only saw one female out there. I could count up to six at a time between the two feeders frequently this summer. I'll miss them!
I leave my feeder up all winter (except when a hard freeze is forecast) because I have seen transients as late as late December and I'm sure they need all the help they can get. That may not be feasible though in MO.
I love them too. They must all be coming this way (Phoenix, AZ). I've seen more and more of them fighting over our feeder. A mama Hummingbird built a nest 8 feet from the feeder on a wire on my back porch. She brought two little ones into the world, and it looks like she and their "daddy" and twins are the ones using the feeder. They take turns sitting on a dead branch guarding it. I could sit and watch them for hours. I always wonder what would happen if I put up a couple of feeders. Would the same group take over all of them?
When I put up more than one I try to keep a great distance between them, and if possible, keep them out of sight of each other. And yes, if they are too close together the "guards" will guard all of them.
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