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Post by Latitude33 on Jul 25, 2015 1:05:00 GMT -5
Thought there was a hummingbird thread already but that might have been on THAT OLD FORUM. Anyway, my question is I have hummers year round (Anna's, Rufous) but this year they mostly are ignoring the feeders and favor the plantings in the landscape. No changes in the nectar or the frequency or changing out the food. Any ideas? I miss seeing these guys from my kitchen window.
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Post by desertwoman on Jul 25, 2015 8:45:57 GMT -5
As a hummer, why would I go for that "junk food" when there is all that incredible natural nectar in those flowers you have growing?
Plant something they like, near your window.
I no longer put up hummer feeders. They have a buffet in my yard.
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Post by brownrexx on Jul 25, 2015 11:10:11 GMT -5
Is your hummingbird food red or does the feeder have red parts on it? They really like RED and if you can get them to find the feeder, maybe they will keep coming and then you can change back to the clear liquid if that is what you are using.
Did I mention my jealousy about having more than one species of hummer? We only get the Ruby Throats and our only variation is "male or female".
I was at my neighbor's house this morning and her hummingbird feeder is right outside of her kitchen window. It was wonderful to see them at her window. My window is too far from the ground so I think that I need to find another location and put my feeder out.
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Post by datgirl on Jul 25, 2015 15:40:38 GMT -5
I have a feeder outside my kitchen window that the Hummers feed at until the Beebalm that is planted under it blooms. Well its in full bloom and I haven't seen a Hummer feed out of the feeder since.
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Post by brownrexx on Jul 25, 2015 16:10:13 GMT -5
OK, I went out and put up a hummingbird feeder today. Now it's watch and wait.
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Post by mcool61 on Jul 27, 2015 18:06:42 GMT -5
Might try increasing sugar to water ration to get them started. I usually mix mine 4 to 1 water to sugar however I read someplace one time that if you want to get them started coming to your feeder it helps to use 3 to 1 in the beginning. Also helps to change the juice a couple times a week in hot weather because it goes bad pretty quick. Especially if bugs get in it.
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Post by Latitude33 on Aug 2, 2015 2:37:02 GMT -5
So basically, my feeders are like the golden arches compared to the flora?
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Post by desertwoman on Aug 2, 2015 10:23:30 GMT -5
So basically, my feeders are like the golden arches compared to the flora? (well put) so not too put too fine a point on it....yes my yard is filled with hummers right now and some are right up at my windows. The downside, I suppose, for some people is that you may not get hummers as early if you don't have something blooming for them. But I don't mind. I love them while they are here. And I probably have fewer dropping in, than a yard that has feeders. But I have never liked the feeding frenzy and the aggressive behavior of so many.
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Post by ahntjudy on Aug 2, 2015 12:54:40 GMT -5
Sadly, I haven't seen more than one this year... My boyfriend's neighbor has a Mimosa...that's where I normally see them... Haven't been at the right place at the right time... I love to watch them...
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Post by Latitude33 on Aug 2, 2015 19:29:16 GMT -5
That does it, replacing the feeders with hanging baskets of lantana. Not gonna be responsible for obese overweight hummingbirds dropping out of the sky.
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Post by desertwoman on Aug 2, 2015 23:20:41 GMT -5
(where's the spitting your beverage as you laugh emoticon?)
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Post by OregonRed on Aug 3, 2015 11:12:59 GMT -5
I looked DW too, obscure - I bet if I looked long enough.............
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Post by claude on Aug 15, 2015 17:36:59 GMT -5
This morning hummers were at my morning glories...I was coming around from the front walkway and I heard the buzz...froze till I found them! Just made my day! I used to use feeders on shepherds hooks but the ants actually had a highway from the ground up and into the feeders..necessitating daily changes of the syrup, so I just stopped using them once the trumpet vine bloomed. When I planted red runner beans, they were all over them...why not plant a vine outside your window? They are very pretty as well.
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Post by ahntjudy on Aug 15, 2015 19:34:41 GMT -5
claude, that is so cool!
There's just something special about hummingbirds.
I gave up on the feeders as well... The attractant flowers are so much nicer!
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Post by datgirl on Sept 1, 2015 17:49:39 GMT -5
So my bee balm is done blooming and the hummingbirds have been in the feeder and now so are the yellow jackets. I can't even get near it to refill it. I see the poor hummers flying around the empty feeder. Darn yellow jackets!!!!
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