Backyard getting busy again

[Howieh]

Since my last spring migrants left (white throated and white crowned sparrows) it's been so quiet I was going to put up a 'squirrels welcome' sign but about mid-week several of my 'regulars' suddenly reappeared with family in tow! The chickadees brought three, the cardinals two (both appear to be females, can this change?) which is a nice change from the cowbirds they showed up with the past few years. Other returnees include a pair of goldfinches, a pair of orioles, grackles and young (I think) and several baby robins AND I now have at least one regular (female) visitor at my hummingbird feeder! and oh yeah, the squirrels never left but they are pretty well behaved so I treat them to peanuts (still no bluejays - guess they're still on the road).

[angieinto]

Our Bluejays and Cardinals never left, but now the Cardinals are bringing their young. A pair of Hairy Woodpeckers are now regulars, and now with young too. The finches stayed and are bringing their young. Actually the only bird that really left have been our Chickadees and now again they pop in and then disappear for days. I imagine they will be around for the winter again.

I guess the most exciting thing for us is the Baltimore Orioles, for 2 years they just stopped in on their way up north and way back for about a week each time. Last year a pair stayed and successfully raised a family. This year we have two pairs!  

Still trying to get hummingbirds regularly.

We've stopped buying peanuts in the shell for our Jays as I got tired of a neighbor yelling at me across the fence about peanut shells and the squirrels. I have my fingers crossed this doesn't stop the Jays from coming. We're feeding them shelled peanuts now.

[Leslie Kinrys]

I had planted a honeysuckle vine for the hummers. On Saturday, I finally saw a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird feeding from the blossoms. Hurray! I've started to see fledglings in our yard, too. There are Cardinals, House Finches, Grackles and Robins.

[Howieh]

I started watching the feeder before 6am (Sunday) and within a minute a very small male? hummer showed up and a few minutes later the female made her first of many visits until I left for the day at 3pm. I don't know where she spends most of her time but she seems to be on a ten to fifteen minute feeding cycle; in fact on one of her visits I actually heard her before seeing her! For those of you who have no trouble hearing hummers it should be noted that I have constant tinnitus in one ear so hearing a hummingbird from several feet away was quite a shock!

[angieinto]

We have a honeysuckle bush too, and a feeder, but still no luck.

Just this past weekend we bought a new feeder for them, and also another plant with long tube like flowers that will grow up the pole where the saucer style feeder hangs. We've moved it to a quieter part of the yard as well. Wish us luck!  

[Howieh]

Based on my limited experience, if there are hummers in the vicinity, the best time to watch for them is early in the morning. My female (assuming it's the same bird?) always shows up just after sunrise and usually visits several times before mid morning. It was quite cool and windy this (Wednesday) morning but I started watching the feeder at 7:30am and within ten minutes she made two 'breakfast' stops!

  Interestingly enough, she always comes from the same direction (from the south) and always heads north after feeding - she must be making the rounds! Seriously tho, if someone understands this behavior I'd love to hear an explanation.