Hummingbirds 2012

Lakesrider · 05-15-2012, 06:59 PM

Steve, or anyone else for that matter, what do you use for nectar? Just wondering.....

Jonas Pilot · 05-15-2012, 07:14 PM

Personally, I like Molson Ice.

WinterHarborGirl · 05-15-2012, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lakesrider

Steve, or anyone else for that matter, what do you use for nectar? Just wondering.....

They say sugar water....All I had was a hanging petunia...they were all over it...

hilltopper · 05-16-2012, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lakesrider

Steve, or anyone else for that matter, what do you use for nectar? Just wondering.....

4 parts water, 1 part sugar. I ususally boil the water before adding the sugar. The color of the actual feeder helps attract the bird so the liquid being red is not necessary.

SteveA · 05-16-2012, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lakesrider

Steve, or anyone else for that matter, what do you use for nectar? Just wondering.....

I'm using two types of store bought. One is colorless, the other is a red concentrate that you add water to.

Hilltoper is exactly correct about the color of the fluid being unimportant. They are attracted to the color of the feeder or the actually flowers.

SteveA · 06-02-2012, 06:56 AM

I was surprised to see a visitor in the pouring rain very early this morning.

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hilltopper · 06-02-2012, 09:32 AM

They've been quite active at my feeder this morning. I even saw one snacking in the rhododendron. I guess the little buggers don't mind the rain!

Jonas Pilot · 06-02-2012, 09:46 AM

Weather systems trigger activity too. Meaning the accompanying change in atmospheric pressure.

SteveA · 06-20-2012, 06:02 AM

Got these late yesterday afternoon.

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JTA · 06-24-2012, 11:29 AM

Because I live in Florida, I haven't put my feeder out soon enough for the hummingbirds to bookmark my location. Thus, disappointment as my feeder hung there with no activity. This year, after seeing this thread, I instructed the kids to put out the feeder when they opened the camp. So, they mixed up the nectar and hung the feeder. When I arrived I saw that the feeder was empty (a good sign) and so I filled it with my fancy red commercial stuff. I noticed that a bird would come, take a taste, and fly away (not good). Yesterday I dumped the red crap and mixed up some nectar from scratch. Now I'm getting wonderful activity at the feeder. I'm thrilled!!

Greene's Basin Girl · 06-25-2012, 02:06 AM

The hummingbirds do not like the store mixture. Mine like the homemade 4 to 1 water to suger ratio mixture

Rattlesnake Gal · 06-25-2012, 05:56 AM

At one point in time as I was making my nectar, I though it might be good for the hummingbirds to have a stronger ratio of sugar because they are so active. A Google search led my to lots of reasons why this is a bad idea. Green's Basin Girl is right, the mixture should be one part sugar to four parts water with no coloring.

hilltopper · 08-03-2012, 07:52 AM

Tons of hummingbird activity now that the little ones have hatched. I saw five at one time at my place the other day (I have 2 feeders about 20 feet apart). Pretty much every morning I wake up I look out the window into the maple tree above one of the feeders and there's a male, always perched on the same twig-like branch.

I was wondering if anyone knows this... Would this year's males have a visible, ruby colored patch on their throat yet?

Lucy Goose · 08-08-2012, 05:51 PM

They are getting extremely active. I have lots of them. Didn't have much time to spend outside shooting but I will. So this is a start. Female.

Check it out on SmugMug where I have lots of NH and Lake Winni nature photos.

http://brendajacobsphotography.smugm...4645722_vGjCKn

Newbiesaukee · 09-07-2012, 01:27 PM

Have they switched to protein for the year? None at my feeder for more than a week now.

Jonas Pilot · 09-07-2012, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newbiesaukee

Have they switched to protein for the year? None at my feeder for more than a week now.

Same here in Wolfeboro. I think they have started their long journey south.

Lucy Goose · 09-07-2012, 09:12 PM

Seems they have started their journey to Peru. I had tons of them and now see only a few!

Lucy Goose

Greene's Basin Girl · 09-08-2012, 12:18 AM

They always leave the area shortly after Labor Day.

ApS · 09-08-2012, 04:32 AM

Yesterday, I saw a hummingbird investigating a bright-red maple leaf!

Greene's Basin Girl · 09-10-2012, 12:02 AM

I saw one on Sunday.

hilltopper · 09-11-2012, 08:34 AM

Feeders are still up in the event that some who breeded north of here want to stop in for a snack on their way south, but our resident birds have not been seen for 5 or so days.

06-02-2012, 06:56 AM	#6
SteveA Deceased Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gilford, NH Posts: 2,311 Thanks: 1,070 Thanked 2,054 Times in 497 Posts	Rainy Day Hummingbirds I was surprised to see a visitor in the pouring rain very early this morning. __________________ "Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, if he gets angry he'll be a mile away and barefoot!" unknown

06-02-2012, 09:46 AM	#8
Jonas Pilot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wolfeboro, New Hampshire is my home, 24-7-365 Posts: 1,686 Thanks: 1,047 Thanked 336 Times in 189 Posts	Weather systems trigger activity too. Meaning the accompanying change in atmospheric pressure. Last edited by Jonas Pilot; 06-02-2012 at 01:13 PM. Reason: clarify

06-20-2012, 06:02 AM	#9
SteveA Deceased Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gilford, NH Posts: 2,311 Thanks: 1,070 Thanked 2,054 Times in 497 Posts	New Hummingbird pics from 6-19-12 Got these late yesterday afternoon. __________________ "Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, if he gets angry he'll be a mile away and barefoot!" unknown

06-24-2012, 11:29 AM	#10
JTA Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Fort Pierce, Florida Posts: 233 Thanks: 34 Thanked 25 Times in 21 Posts	Almost missed the boat Because I live in Florida, I haven't put my feeder out soon enough for the hummingbirds to bookmark my location. Thus, disappointment as my feeder hung there with no activity. This year, after seeing this thread, I instructed the kids to put out the feeder when they opened the camp. So, they mixed up the nectar and hung the feeder. When I arrived I saw that the feeder was empty (a good sign) and so I filled it with my fancy red commercial stuff. I noticed that a bird would come, take a taste, and fly away (not good). Yesterday I dumped the red crap and mixed up some nectar from scratch. Now I'm getting wonderful activity at the feeder. I'm thrilled!!

06-25-2012, 05:56 AM	#12
Rattlesnake Gal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central NH Posts: 5,252 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,451 Thanked 1,349 Times in 475 Posts	Nectar At one point in time as I was making my nectar, I though it might be good for the hummingbirds to have a stronger ratio of sugar because they are so active. A Google search led my to lots of reasons why this is a bad idea. Green's Basin Girl is right, the mixture should be one part sugar to four parts water with no coloring.

05-15-2012, 06:59 PM	#1
Lakesrider Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,129 Thanks: 380 Thanked 1,016 Times in 345 Posts	Steve, or anyone else for that matter, what do you use for nectar? Just wondering.....

05-15-2012, 07:14 PM	#2
Jonas Pilot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wolfeboro, New Hampshire is my home, 24-7-365 Posts: 1,686 Thanks: 1,047 Thanked 336 Times in 189 Posts	Personally, I like Molson Ice.

The Following User Says Thank You to Jonas Pilot For This Useful Post:
SteveA (05-16-2012)

06-02-2012, 09:32 AM	#7
hilltopper Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Meredith Posts: 727 Thanks: 25 Thanked 109 Times in 70 Posts	They've been quite active at my feeder this morning. I even saw one snacking in the rhododendron. I guess the little buggers don't mind the rain!

The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to SteveA For This Useful Post:
Greene's Basin Girl (06-20-2012), ishoot308 (06-20-2012), Rattlesnake Gal (06-20-2012), WinterHarborGirl (06-20-2012)

06-25-2012, 02:06 AM	#11
Greene's Basin Girl Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Moultonborough, NH Posts: 1,515 Thanks: 394 Thanked 527 Times in 269 Posts	The hummingbirds do not like the store mixture. Mine like the homemade 4 to 1 water to suger ratio mixture

08-03-2012, 07:52 AM	#13
hilltopper Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Meredith Posts: 727 Thanks: 25 Thanked 109 Times in 70 Posts	They're everywhere Tons of hummingbird activity now that the little ones have hatched. I saw five at one time at my place the other day (I have 2 feeders about 20 feet apart). Pretty much every morning I wake up I look out the window into the maple tree above one of the feeders and there's a male, always perched on the same twig-like branch. I was wondering if anyone knows this... Would this year's males have a visible, ruby colored patch on their throat yet?

08-08-2012, 05:51 PM	#14
Lucy Goose Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 228 Thanks: 29 Thanked 108 Times in 29 Posts	Got this one the other day They are getting extremely active. I have lots of them. Didn't have much time to spend outside shooting but I will. So this is a start. Female. Check it out on SmugMug where I have lots of NH and Lake Winni nature photos. http://brendajacobsphotography.smugm...4645722_vGjCKn

09-07-2012, 01:27 PM	#15
Newbiesaukee Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Coral Gables, winter; Long Island, summer Posts: 1,353 Thanks: 947 Thanked 573 Times in 298 Posts	Have they switched to protein for the year? None at my feeder for more than a week now. __________________ "You're only young once, but you can be immature forever."

The Following User Says Thank You to Jonas Pilot For This Useful Post:
Newbiesaukee (09-07-2012)

09-07-2012, 09:12 PM	#17
Lucy Goose Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 228 Thanks: 29 Thanked 108 Times in 29 Posts	Seems they have started their journey to Peru. I had tons of them and now see only a few! Lucy Goose

The Following User Says Thank You to Lucy Goose For This Useful Post:
Newbiesaukee (09-07-2012)

09-08-2012, 12:18 AM	#18
Greene's Basin Girl Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Moultonborough, NH Posts: 1,515 Thanks: 394 Thanked 527 Times in 269 Posts	They always leave the area shortly after Labor Day.

09-08-2012, 04:32 AM	#19
ApS Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Florida (Sebring & Keys), Wolfeboro Posts: 5,938 Thanks: 2,205 Thanked 776 Times in 553 Posts	Bright colors Bring Hummingbirds... Yesterday, I saw a hummingbird investigating a bright-red maple leaf!

09-10-2012, 12:02 AM	#20
Greene's Basin Girl Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Moultonborough, NH Posts: 1,515 Thanks: 394 Thanked 527 Times in 269 Posts	I saw one on Sunday.

09-11-2012, 08:34 AM	#21
hilltopper Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Meredith Posts: 727 Thanks: 25 Thanked 109 Times in 70 Posts	Feeders are still up in the event that some who breeded north of here want to stop in for a snack on their way south, but our resident birds have not been seen for 5 or so days.