Hummer update

[Howieh]

As far as I can tell I have at least two females and one male visiting my single feeder on a regular basis. I know there are (at least) two females because I've seen them both at the same time several times and last week they came and fed on opposite flowers for several seconds (of course my 'shoot thru the window' camera battery was charging and I hadn't bothered to insert the spare so I missed the shot - so what else is new??). The phlox I was expecting to see by now still hasn't bloomed but I've started watering so hopefully that will speed things up. The yellowjackets haven't showed up yet but the ants are another story or at least they were until last week when I finally decided to meet them head on! My feeder hangs from a tether that is tied at one end to a small tree branch that was the main route to the feeder. I wrapped at piece of wide masking tape around the branch, sticky side out and it so far it has worked like a charm. The first ant who tried to cross got stuck and that was enough to dissuade any others from trying. I replenished the nectar late this evening and, for the first time in weeks it wasn't full of ants when I brought it inside - ok, so I did find two earwigs (anyone else have earwigs in their feeders?).

I'm still trying to take pictures of the male but he isn't around much during the day and when he does show up the light is usually low so I shoot videos instead of stills. I was sitting about ten feet from the feeder when he appeared just before sunset, but he flew around like a madman for several seconds and left without feeding (guess I'm pretty scarey looking when I'm half naked!) so I went inside and watched from the window. Sure enough he returned a minute later but after 'checking' all the feeder flowers he left again without feeding - ideas anyone? (was he trying to scare ME the first time?). How's everyone else doing with their hummers (Meghan, did the b---h ever show up!?)

[Howieh]

I was sitting in my usual spot (about ten feet from the feeder) and both male and female(s) were returning every minute or so for their evening drinks when I decided to see how close I could get to the feeder without disturbing their routine. I moved to within five feet and although she didn't fly straight to the feeder the female did eventually perch for a long sip so I moved to within 2 feet and she returned again with no problem. I didn't think the male would tolerate me that close but he was soon back and after checking me out(!) he returned several times for his evening 'shots'. I was actually able to take videos from two feet away and my next 'project' will be to try to get them to feed out of my hand and take video at the same time! Stay tuned for that one!!

[Howieh]

So far the sticky tape has worked really well, in fact I thought it would dry up but if it has the ants obviously haven't figured it out because they're still not around (I'll change it tomorrow anyway because it's so easy to do). Not many yellowjackets around yet but when they do show up I use 500ml plastic water bottles to make traps which I hang from the tether a few feet away from the feeder. I punch a ring of holes around the bottle about half way from the bottom and fill it full of anything sweet to just below the holes which are just large enough for the wasps to crawl in - getting out is much more difficult because they are punched inwards. The fun occurs when I decide there are enough hornets (wasps?) inside to seal them in - I take a piece of wide masking tape and quickly(?) cover the holes and so far I've been lucky because there are always a few angry bugs circling the trap so the trick is to hit (stick!) and run (I cut the trap down and wait until they drown before discarding it). A bit dangerous perhaps but I gotta protect my hummers! Last year I didn't need the traps until early August.

[MEGHAN]

Hey Howie!!

First off if you are going to be hand feeding hummers then I am visiting. I often think of trying it. It would take work and patience but the fun involved would make it worthwhile The other day while I was taking a feeder back to the hook the female buzzed me then landed on the feeder while it was still in my hand. I think she was just showing her dominance over the backyard, because she looked up at me a few times then proceeded to try to poke my eye out. lol
Yes she is back and this year she is even more crazy than previous years!! Her new thing is to bump butterflies off the cone flowers. A flower, I might add, she doesn't even use. But she gets  right up to them and gives them a little buzz and if that doesn't work she pokes them till they fly away. And man she is mad too, tail all fanned out chipping away. Crazy I tell ya!!  She got my dog the other day when she got to close to "her" feeder.
I still have at least  3 females, that I can tell, and possibly 2 males..can't be sure but at least one. They like to show up at dawn, between 5:30 and 6:00 and spend tons of time at the feeders and all over the flowers. Then they (him) comes back again in the evening. 8:30 to about 9:00, now how am I supposed to get a photo of him??? It's like he knows. The girls are around all day. flowers and feeders. However, I have come to the conclusion they do not wish to have their picture taken at a flower. I will set up my camera and wait for them to visit a flower. And when I say wait, I mean for like 3 or 4 hours before I go to work. Do they go near a flower...no way!! It comes time for me to get ready for work, so I take my camera off the tripod and start putting it away. Can you guess what happens then? I think you can. No sooner is my gear put away when out comes the hummers to feed on the flowers. Honestly!! I really hate them sometimes.    "I keep saying, how can you be so ungrateful. I give you fresh nectar, beautiful flowers picked especially for you and can I not get at least ONE perfect photo!! For the love of God is that too much for me to ask???" They never reply to me or do as I asked..... :roll:
As for bugs, I just use an ant moat. $5.00 and no ants or earwigs, plus the Chickadee's love to drink out of them so keep them filled with fresh water.  
Wasps....my backyard is crazy with Wasps. With 4 Hummingbird feeders and a jelly feeder for the Orioles, it's a sugar shack back there. Can't really do anything about them. Easy to get rid of them, remove the feeders, but I feel it is worth having them around if I get the birds as well.
One of my Phlox is blooming. I have 4 different plants. 3 haven't bloomed and one is huge so your is coming. Bee Balm is still in full bloom, I also have a bunch of other plants for them..remember if you can find a home for anything let me know. Most of my plants are Hummingbird havens, just don't expect them to feed from them when your camera is at the ready.  :shock:
Keep us updated on your progress

Meghan

[Howieh]

Wow, with all the things I SHOULD be doing around the house if I spent 3 or 4 hours waiting for a hummer shot my wife would probably change the locks! How close are you set up to the flowers and have you considered using a blind? It looks like my phlox has already bloomed but nothing like last year so they're useless as far as picture taking is concerned. I think it's too late for this year but I'll probably plant some flowers for next year later this fall. I also have the females all day but, except for the odd midday visit the male seems to prefer early and late in the day like yours.

I noticed ants on the feeder today so I replaced the old sticky tape and stayed to see how the ants would react - amazing to watch them encountering the tape and turning around in total confusion - I even took a video with my old A650. There are still only a few wasps but they're getting pretty aggressive so it's almost time to put out a trap. I love 'flicking' them off the feeder but boy are they tough, if you don't nail them squarely they don't even hit the ground before they take off!! I'm not really sadistic but I laughed out loud when an angry wasp chased one of my females all around the yard. She must have been really thirsty because she kept coming back until she finally had a good long drink - she's actually pretty cool because once the male showed up when she was feeding and SHE chased him away!

Btw, you know I'm really a butterfly guy at heart so if I saw my hummers molesting leps I'd probably put a little tequila in the nectar to teach them a lesson!

[Axeman]

Try wearing a red baseball cap -- no joke. I've got one (I'm a Liberal) and if I wear it on my deck I'll get male RTH's pecking at me.

[dizzy]

Finally, I'm getting some hummer action, males and females coming by. Prior to this, the beginning of June was the last time i've seen them.

Mike

[Axeman]

Re: ants on feeder -- try petroleum jelly...you have to replace it from time to time and heat makes it drip but everone hates it...even squirrels.

[Howieh]

Re: ants on feeder -- try petroleum jelly...you have to replace it from time to time and heat makes it drip but everone hates it...even squirrels.

I haven't seen an ant near the feeder since putting up the tape and the number of wasps around is small so I still haven't bothered with a trap. As for the squirrels - the birds spill lots of seeds and the squirrels seem content to feed on the ground along with the chipmunks, morning doves, etc.

The last couple of weeks have been really interesting hummerwise(?); I have been stared down and I've witnessed an amazing dogfight between two hummers. A few days ago I looked out just after sunrise and there were two hummers sitting in the bushes near the feeder. I grabbed my P&S camera and posted myself a couple of feet from the feeder to catch the 'action'. Sure enough a female came along, sipped nectar for a few seconds and then came over and hovered directly in front of me so close that I felt the wind from her wings on my face! She circled me and went back to the feeder and repeated this pattern several times during a two minute span and she never stopped chirping all the while this was going on - and I have a pretty good video of all this to boot!

Yesterday morning I was watching somebody feed (again at close range) when another bird came along and they both took off together, but instead of disappearing over the trees as usual, after flying a few feet the bird that had been feeding suddenly turned around and confronted the intruder. The commotion that followed was unbelievable and I never realized that hummingbirds could be so loud!! The 'dogfight' went on for several seconds but I was so shocked that I forgot to turn on the camera! and that's not all! I was sitting in my car in my driveway this morning when one of my females came along and tried to feed on snapdragons in the rock garden. She probed several flowers before giving up and heading for the back yard. Are they entertaining or what??

[Howieh]

Saw my last green goddess late Saturday evening and nothing since so it looks like all my hummers are headed south. I still have some nectar so I'll leave the feeder out for a while yet. Anyone else still have hummers around? Btw, I saw a female feeding on something (Saturday) in Edward Gardens but, unfortunately, she saw me first and took off!

[Napper]

We still have Hummer's here at the beach.

I just saw one feeding at our flower garden by the deck and then she moved to the  "Rose of Sharon's", "Hibiscus syriacus'
at the laneway.

Napper  It's off to the beach to cool down

[dizzy]

The last hummer i've seen at my feeder was 26 Aug. I live in Richmond Hill. mike

[mr.sharp-photo]

was at Rosetta Mclain today. saw 2-3 migrant hummers and 2 resident hummers.

[Napper]

Hey!
My wife was sitting out front this afternoon with pooch when a Hummer visited our "Rose of Sharon" bushes
3:00 pm. (Milton)

At noon today I spotted 2 hummers wizzin by the North end of the Hangers at Downsview heading
toward he pond by the tracks @ Parc Downsview

Napper