Hummingbird questions

[Howieh]

I finally got around to putting up my hummingbird feeder (Yule-Hyde four flower model) and my first hummer showed up this morning. He (she?) hovered near the feeder without feeding three or four times, disappearing and returning a few minutes later each time, before finally taking a few sips from the feeder. He left and didn't return and I was wondering if this is normal behavior for a first visit. My other question concerns the feeder itself; I only filled it a third full and I'm not even sure the bird was able to drink at all - should I fill it completely?

[MEGHAN]

I've noticed over the years you can tell who has been to your garden before and who hasn't.
The first few times they hover around the feeders and then take off, which allow you to release the breath you have been holding, as you silently chant "come on..come on" in your head.  
It's like they are sizing up what you have to offer. Getting the feel for the area, that type of thing.
Once they have used the feeder a few times and are comfortable with your backyard, they will zip and zoom in at full speed then stop dead right over the feeder then zip right to the feeder port.
This is my experience anyways.
Through out the summer you will see they difference between the Hummers who know your feeders and the new ones coming in.
The same behaviour will be seen over the summer.
As for how full to fill the feeders.
That's up to you.
I have 3 feeders and usually only put about 1/4 cupin each. Which fills it about 1/4 full. I clean and refill at least once a week, twice a week when it is really hot and humid so I just think it's a waste to fill them up. They cannot drink it all anyways. So just put a bit in and keep it clean and fresh. Make up a big batch then keep it in the fridge. Every few days take out a bit, put it in a glass to warm up to room temperature then fill them. I take it out before I go to work then by the time I get home, it's the perfect temp to put outside in the feeders.
It saves a bunch of time.

Long response, I know, but hope it helped.

Meghan

[Howieh]

Long? no, very nice response, thanks! I went downstairs at 6:30am and during the twenty or so minutes that I watched I had three feeding visits and I actually managed to get some video; I'm just back from being away for several hours, heading out to the backyard to catch the next hummer visit! Incidentally, I picked up a copy of the last 'Hereshow' magazine and I assume that's your owl shot  - it should have WON the contest! congratulations!

[Halton Hills]

my first hummer showed up this morning. He (she?) hovered near the feeder

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MEGHAN explained it well......and I would like to add a couple of my "observations"....... :wink:

Once you see a male and female a couple of times.....you'll have no problem telling them apart.......even in flight.

When they become comfortable with your surroundings.......you'll even be able to stand right beside the feeder and enjoy the show.

When you're that close.....you'll catch the males at different angles and see the iridescence of their throat patches......just amazing.

It may be too late for this year......but if you set up shop next spring again......then you'll be treated to the males fancy loop-da-loop ritual.

They'll be lots of battles and high speed chases.......with some amazing face to face mid-air posturing around the feeder.

I have six different resident hummers......I fill my feeder to the top and they drink it all in less than a week.

On re-fill day.....I put it out right from the fridge and they don't mind......maybe it's a tasty-freeze treat for them......lol


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[Howieh]

After doing my 'chores' (my lady love deserves equal time!) I went outside and within a minute a hummer showed up (about 5:30pm). The bird left without feeding so I moved my watch chair to a better spot and sure enough the bird returned and stayed around long enough for me to get a fairly decent video. I checked this mornings video (shot through a window) and both birds appear to have been females, probably the same bird? It's really interesting and fun to watch because the hummer always ends up feeding at the most exposed flower, which just happens to be the best for shooting stills or videos. Weather permitting, I'll try again early tomorrow morning. Thanks to both of you for your thoughtful comments.

[Howieh]

My female hummer has been a regular visitor every day since I first saw her over a week ago. I've taken several videos and a couple of stills with my SX210 but I haven't done much yet with my 50D and 100-400 lens because I don't have an external flash. She now seems more at ease, even with me nearby, i.e. she uses the perch and spends more time at each feeding.

And, speaking of hummingbirds, this was just posted on Luminous Landscape:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/locat ... aven.shtml

[Howieh]

For the first time I actually had two hummingbirds near the feeder at the same time! The regular visitor (a large? female) finished feeding and perched in the lilac bushes just before a much smaller bird came to the feeder. At that point the female came back to the feeder and the two birds flew off together; couldn't 'sex' the smaller bird because it fed at the flower facing me but I'll keep watching.

[Howieh]

Contrary to what my wife says I do NOT spend all my spare time watching my feeders, but when I do I have never had to wait more than ten minutes between hummingbird visits and today, for the first time, I had two hummers feeding at the same time (at opposite flowers), but I've never seen a male. I know they leave early but does anyone still have males at their feeder(s)?

Incidentally, before supper when I checked the feeder it seemed pretty dry so I got some nectar from the fridge and added it right away. Sure enough less than a minute later the larger female was back for a long feed - guess there's nothing like a cold one on a really hot day!

[Howieh]

A male hummingbird showed up twice at my feeder around sunset. Although the feeder is almost twenty feet from my window and he was much smaller than my (still) regular female(s), the ruby throat was clearly visible and almost seemed to glow in the near darkness! I assume he is migrating and, hoping he stays around to feed before resuming his journey, I'll get up before sunrise tomorrow and be ready if he shows up again.

[Halton Hills]

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I still have male Ruby Throats hanging around and they are in fact displaying courtship behavior.

Not sure if it's the same male or not but the displays have been pretty regular over the past couple of weeks.

I don't recall in the past seeing similar behavior this late in the season.


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[Howieh]

No sign of the male but two females have been busy feeding from before sunrise. I removed the bottom of the feeder and brought it in the house to clean before adding fresh nectar. When I went outside one of the birds was hovering near the bottom of the reservoir trying to figure out what was missing! I refilled the feeder and the first visitor was a large hornet which kept chasing away the approaching females - interesting to watch it actually follow the hummers across the yard!

Btw, I was away yesterday until late so I don't know how long the male was around before I saw him for the first time, which was after 8:30pm.

[dizzy]

Finally YES! I got a chance to see my first hummer today. I've had my feeder out since June off and on. I had my suspicions that they were coming by, level seemed alittle lower, pedals were dripping, wasn't sure whether the nectar was evaporating or not.

Mike

[Howieh]

My two (or more) females are still around and yesterday (Friday) evening a male dropped by a few times for a late snack. It's the third time I've had males and always around sunset. The females sometimes chase each other around but I've seen them perching close together so I guess they aren't competing for the feeder! I wonder what would happen if a female showed up when the male is around?

[Howieh]

Finally YES! I got a chance to see my first hummer today. I've had my feeder out since June off and on. I had my suspicions that they were coming by, level seemed alittle lower, pedals were dripping, wasn't sure whether the nectar was evaporating or not.

Mike

I find it hard to believe that one or two hummers, even feeding all day, would visibly affect the nectar level in my feeder but I guess it's possible. I looked out after 8pm and there was a lone male at the feeder. I grabbed the SX210 and went outside; he was gone but he soon returned and hung around for a two minute video! I set up for stills using the onboard flash but he did not return before it got too dark to wait. I'm still dazzled by the flashing 'apron' when the light is so low!

[Howieh]

Yesterday morning I noticed one of the bee guards missing and I finally found it under some shrubs about ten feet from the feeder! About a month ago a black squirrel took a flying leap and made contact so I assume the same thing happened yesterday, and he probably carried it away until realizing it wasn't exactly edible! At least two female hummers are still around but they have competition from several small yellowjackets; in fact the hornets are so small that occasionally one crawls through the guard and gets very upset when it can't easily escape. Last male was seen about a week ago - does anyone still have males at their feeders?