Hummingbirds

DRH · 09-07-2021, 08:18 PM

Our male hummingbirds left about a week ago but the females are still here. We have at least 4, and probably more, females still actively visiting our feeders throughout each day. It's usually the males who aggressively defend "their" feeders against others wanting to get a drink, but now the females are aggressively defending the feeders and chasing other "intruding" females away. They are drinking quite a bit each day now, likely in preparation for their migration south soon.

Newbiesaukee · 09-08-2021, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRH

Our male hummingbirds left about a week ago but the females are still here. We have at least 4, and probably more, females still actively visiting our feeders throughout each day. It's usually the males who aggressively defend "their" feeders against others wanting to get a drink, but now the females are aggressively defending the feeders and chasing other "intruding" females away. They are drinking quite a bit each day now, likely in preparation for their migration south soon.

Same situation here. Have not seen any today. It’s a little sad when they leave.

JTA · 09-09-2021, 04:22 PM

Saw at least one today.

DRH · 09-19-2021, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRH

Our male hummingbirds left about a week ago but the females are still here. We have at least 4, and probably more, females still actively visiting our feeders throughout each day. It's usually the males who aggressively defend "their" feeders against others wanting to get a drink, but now the females are aggressively defending the feeders and chasing other "intruding" females away. They are drinking quite a bit each day now, likely in preparation for their migration south soon.

Early this past week we had female hummingbirds at our feeders constantly. We recognized several of the "locals" that had been coming to the feeders for some time, but we also saw new birds at the feeders that were likely just passing through. The birds were returning to the feeders frequently, loading up on nutrition.

Last Thursday it appeared that all the "locals" had left and we saw just one or two new birds that were apparently traveling through. On Friday there was no activity at the feeders at all, nor did any birds come yesterday. So it seems the hummers are now gone, at least in our area, and on their way south to warmer climates for the winter.

Marauder · 09-19-2021, 07:30 PM

One at my feeder today, so a few stragglers.

trfour · 04-03-2022, 05:22 PM

Hey Don, take a look at this when you have time...

https://www.voetcur.com/products/hummingbird-feeder

DRH · 04-03-2022, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trfour

Hey Don, take a look at this when you have time...

https://www.voetcur.com/products/hummingbird-feeder

Thanks for that link, trfour. I've never seen a feeder like that before. It's interesting how many hummers they show feeding together at one time. The birds we get here are usually quite territorial and aggressive. We often see a dominant bird sit in the maple tree near our feeder and chase away any other bird that comes for a drink. Most of the dominant birds are male, but sometimes its a female that even goes after other males that dare to take a sip at "her" feeder.

trfour · 04-03-2022, 08:43 PM

Hi Don, maybe you could change the "domain".

Just thought of you and Dave when I came across it. Stay well my friend!

DRH · 08-31-2022, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRH

Our male hummingbirds left about a week ago but the females are still here. We have at least 4, and probably more, females still actively visiting our feeders throughout each day. It's usually the males who aggressively defend "their" feeders against others wanting to get a drink, but now the females are aggressively defending the feeders and chasing other "intruding" females away. They are drinking quite a bit each day now, likely in preparation for their migration south soon.

Two days ago, 8/29, our male hummingbirds left. This is almost the same date they left last year, as my 9/7/21 post above reflects. We still have females at the feeder each day, but there are no longer any males. Now, one or more of the females have become fairly aggressive about keeping other females away, just as we observed one year ago. Prior to two days ago, it was one or more males that made every effort to defend "their" feeder.

We are anticipating the females will be leaving soon.

pam.in.ny · 09-01-2022, 03:19 PM

A couple times this past week, I have seen a hummingbird at the feeder on the Bear Island cam. It was a treat to see.

JTA · 09-01-2022, 10:27 PM

A couple of times this summer I’ve seen a bee at the feeder. The hummingbirds seem afraid of them. They back right off.

jeffk · 09-02-2022, 05:34 AM

We have 2 feeders out and the traffic is way down. We were seeing 2 - 4 birds vying for each feeder throughout the day. We have a clothesline near one and we would see 4, usually females, sitting on the line watching the feeder. Now, an occasional one or two. It also seems these birds are different than our "regulars", probably ones migrating through from further north.

We had a hornets nest underneath a nearby porch, an annoyance to us and the hummingbirds. My wife got stung.

It was tough to get at the nest to remove it. The hornets were on the feeders, even crawling inside it. I went to refill it and there was one inside. The birds were spooked by the hornets but worked around them. I finally used a power washer with an angled head to blast the hornet's nest out of existence. Then I sprayed the area with foaming hornet killer. No more hornets at the feeder.

09-07-2021, 08:18 PM	#1
DRH Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Meredith Posts: 1,696 Thanks: 1,212 Thanked 678 Times in 180 Posts	September Update Our male hummingbirds left about a week ago but the females are still here. We have at least 4, and probably more, females still actively visiting our feeders throughout each day. It's usually the males who aggressively defend "their" feeders against others wanting to get a drink, but now the females are aggressively defending the feeders and chasing other "intruding" females away. They are drinking quite a bit each day now, likely in preparation for their migration south soon. __________________ DRH

04-03-2022, 05:22 PM	#6
trfour Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The Lakes, Central NH. and Dallas/Fort Worth TX. Posts: 3,694 Blog Entries: 3 Thanks: 3,069 Thanked 472 Times in 236 Posts	Hey Don, take a look at this when you have time... https://www.voetcur.com/products/hummingbird-feeder __________________ *trfour* Always Remember, The Best Safety Device In The Boat, or on a PWC Snowmobile etc., Is YOU! Safe sledding tips and much more; http://www.snowmobile.org/snowmobiling-safety.html

04-03-2022, 08:43 PM	#8
trfour Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The Lakes, Central NH. and Dallas/Fort Worth TX. Posts: 3,694 Blog Entries: 3 Thanks: 3,069 Thanked 472 Times in 236 Posts	Hi Don, maybe you could change the "domain". Just thought of you and Dave when I came across it. Stay well my friend! __________________ *trfour* Always Remember, The Best Safety Device In The Boat, or on a PWC Snowmobile etc., Is YOU! Safe sledding tips and much more; http://www.snowmobile.org/snowmobiling-safety.html

09-01-2022, 10:27 PM	#11
JTA Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Fort Pierce, Florida Posts: 233 Thanks: 34 Thanked 25 Times in 21 Posts	Bees A couple of times this summer I’ve seen a bee at the feeder. The hummingbirds seem afraid of them. They back right off.

09-09-2021, 04:22 PM	#3
JTA Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Fort Pierce, Florida Posts: 233 Thanks: 34 Thanked 25 Times in 21 Posts	Saw at least one today.

The Following User Says Thank You to DRH For This Useful Post:
secondcurve (11-07-2021)

09-19-2021, 07:30 PM	#5
Marauder Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Meredith and FL Posts: 99 Thanks: 177 Thanked 29 Times in 17 Posts	One at my feeder today, so a few stragglers.

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to trfour For This Useful Post:
DRH (04-03-2022), upthesaukee (04-03-2022)

The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to DRH For This Useful Post:
DotRat (04-22-2022), mcdude (05-04-2022), trfour (04-03-2022), upthesaukee (04-03-2022)

09-01-2022, 03:19 PM	#10
pam.in.ny Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 92 Thanks: 99 Thanked 14 Times in 12 Posts	A couple times this past week, I have seen a hummingbird at the feeder on the Bear Island cam. It was a treat to see.

09-02-2022, 05:34 AM	#12
jeffk Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Center Harbor Posts: 1,191 Thanks: 212 Thanked 460 Times in 263 Posts	We have 2 feeders out and the traffic is way down. We were seeing 2 - 4 birds vying for each feeder throughout the day. We have a clothesline near one and we would see 4, usually females, sitting on the line watching the feeder. Now, an occasional one or two. It also seems these birds are different than our "regulars", probably ones migrating through from further north. We had a hornets nest underneath a nearby porch, an annoyance to us and the hummingbirds. My wife got stung. It was tough to get at the nest to remove it. The hornets were on the feeders, even crawling inside it. I went to refill it and there was one inside. The birds were spooked by the hornets but worked around them. I finally used a power washer with an angled head to blast the hornet's nest out of existence. Then I sprayed the area with foaming hornet killer. No more hornets at the feeder.