2017 Hummingbirds

beaner · 04-28-2017, 02:39 PM

Hummingbird season really snuck up in me this year! I'm putting out my feeders today, a bit later than usual. Any sightings yet?

Diana · 04-28-2017, 02:47 PM

Hummingbirds.net click the migration map on the left sidebar. UConn extension also says they are here in CT but I have had my feeders out all week and have not seen any yet.

jacka82942 · 04-29-2017, 05:13 AM

feeder out for a week

webmaster · 04-29-2017, 08:09 AM

hilltopper · 05-04-2017, 06:39 AM

Saw the first hummingbird of the year on one of our feeders yesterday evening. It was a male. Not sure if it was a quick pit stop as he continues north or if he's one of the "locals".

Nagigator · 05-06-2017, 04:04 PM

No sighting here in North Central Mass. Feeder has been out all week.

upthesaukee · 05-08-2017, 12:59 PM

This morning, we saw a hummingbird flying around our azalea bush in our front yard. Made up some sugar water for them, cleaned the feeder really well, and took the chilled water, put it in the feeder, and less than two hours later, two different hummingbirds have come to the feeder.
We have been feeding them for over 20 years, and they show up about Mother's Day, give or take a week. Unbelievably consistent.
PS. They leave right around Labor Day.

Sent from my GT-P5210 using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

Barney Bear · 05-08-2017, 06:12 PM

Put our hummingbird feeder out yesterday when we opened our cottage on East Bear Island this weekend. Today, a thirsty hummer showed up and sipped our homemade brew of one cup of white sugar and four cups of water. We store the delicious concoction in our refrigerator until ready for use. As yet, there are no blooms available to our tiny guests. 🐻

donnamatrix · 05-09-2017, 10:17 AM

It should be 1/4 cup sugar, to one cup water

Barney Bear · 05-09-2017, 11:27 AM

For over thirty years our hummers have never complained......they always leave satisfied, with a smile on their beaks. 😋

thebix · 05-09-2017, 11:50 AM

I also use the recipe ratio that Donna and Barney mention.

4 parts of water to one part of sugar.

I make one cup at a time, as Donna say, 1/4 cup sugar to one cup water.
Barney just makes 4 times as much, but the same recipe portions,

Orion · 05-10-2017, 05:53 AM

Isn't that bad for their teeth?

The rocket surgeons in the MA legislature want to tax sugary drinks.

TCC · 05-10-2017, 07:11 AM

I read somewhere that flower nectar contains three sugars - sucrose (cane sugar), fructose (fruit sugar), and glucose (dextrose) - generally in a ratio of about 2:1:1. As it happens, that's about the same ratio found in molasses. (Table sugar is pure sucrose).

I wonder if anyone has tried a molasses-based solution in their hummingbird feeder and, if so, if it seems to make any difference to the birds.

wifi · 05-10-2017, 07:11 PM

My teeth have melted away, thinking of this

Merrymeeting · 05-11-2017, 06:09 AM

My feeders had visitors all day yesterday. They are definitely in the area. And I use the 4-1 water/sugar mix too.

hilltopper · 05-17-2017, 07:12 AM

Saw my first female yesterday afternoon...

Hillcountry · 05-18-2017, 09:15 AM

1st hummingbird seen this morning...prompted these "lazy" birders to hurry to the basement to retrieve the feeders and brew a sugar water concoction for the tiny travelers...all set now!

noreast · 05-18-2017, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donnamatrix

It should be 1/4 cup sugar, to one cup water

I'm sure I'm not the 1st to notice, But
that's the exact same mixture That Barney Bear used, but he made 4 cups, you made 1.

dayvsea · 05-18-2017, 08:25 PM

I like to richen it up with small batches of 3-1 at first and at last. Then back off to 5-1 during the season..I just fill the feeder like a fifth of the way, it can go bad, important to keep it clean..keep the rest in the fridge..You don't need the food coloring, if the feeder is colored...

indian · 05-20-2017, 11:59 AM

Does the hummingbird mixture attract bears?

Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

Greene's Basin Girl · 05-20-2017, 12:04 PM

Hummingbird feeders can attract bears. Once in a while a bear will take one of mine down. I do not find it a common problem.

Woody38 · 05-20-2017, 12:08 PM

At least the first I noticed.
I put a feeder out yesterday on the kitchen window and had a visitor for breakfast. One came down to thank me this morning as I was watering the lawn near that feeder.
We have several feeders in the yard in California and these birds will come up right in front on you and hover about 3 feet away. Cool.

I am a retired workaholic and continuing aquaholic.

hilltopper · 05-09-2018, 08:25 AM

No 2018 thread going so I will add to this one. Our first hummingbird was seen on Sunday morning, May the 6th.

noreast · 05-09-2018, 09:17 AM

Has anyone seen the hats with the Hummingbird feeders built on? I don't know how to post stuff but I've seen some good pictures.

webmaster · 05-09-2018, 09:42 AM

Hillcountry · 05-09-2018, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hilltopper

No 2018 thread going so I will add to this one. Our first hummingbird was seen on Sunday morning, May the 6th.

Yup...saw our first yesterday, one day after I hung the feeders!

Woody38 · 05-09-2018, 05:02 PM

Caught asleep at the switch. I am going to put the feeders out ASAP.

Hopefully I found a solution for those pesky squirrels. Found at Costco,
a Bonide product for all kinds of animals. Sure smells like garlic to me. So far the chipmunk has disappeared.

jeffk · 05-09-2018, 09:08 PM

Saw our first in Center Harbor at the feeder yesterday 5/8. He was back again today.

MV1 · 05-11-2018, 02:22 PM

Had two today as I was hanging out the feeders in Meredith>>>almost landed on my head

jeffk · 05-11-2018, 03:21 PM

Just saw a female at the feeder for the first time. Have seen the male a few times.

beaner · 05-12-2018, 11:05 AM

First sighting of the season this morning....a very hungry male!

Barney Bear · 05-14-2018, 11:15 AM

Hung our hummingbird feeder out on May 7th. Saw our first female "hummer" this morning at our cottage on East Bear Island. 🐻

Merrymeeting · 05-14-2018, 06:47 PM

Put up my feeders for the first time today. No exaggeration, first bird was at the feeder before I had walked 10 feet away.

upthesaukee · 05-14-2018, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

Put up my feeders for the first time today. No exaggeration, first bird was at the feeder before I had walked 10 feet away.

I have been tardy putting out the feeders, at least by hummingbird standards, only to look out where the feeders would be, and see a hummingbird flitting back and forth, seeking food. It would fly away, and come back again.

I would mix up their food, and get it out as soon as possible, of course with any apology for being late.

Dave

04-28-2017, 02:39 PM	#1
beaner Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Wolfeboro Posts: 178 Thanks: 17 Thanked 37 Times in 23 Posts	2017 Hummingbirds Hummingbird season really snuck up in me this year! I'm putting out my feeders today, a bit later than usual. Any sightings yet?

04-29-2017, 05:13 AM	#3
jacka82942 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 67 Thanks: 1 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	none yet feeder out for a week

05-04-2017, 06:39 AM	#5
hilltopper Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Meredith Posts: 724 Thanks: 25 Thanked 107 Times in 68 Posts	5/3/17 Saw the first hummingbird of the year on one of our feeders yesterday evening. It was a male. Not sure if it was a quick pit stop as he continues north or if he's one of the "locals".

05-06-2017, 04:04 PM	#6
Nagigator Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Central Ma. Posts: 290 Thanks: 268 Thanked 55 Times in 39 Posts	nothing yet No sighting here in North Central Mass. Feeder has been out all week.

05-08-2017, 12:59 PM	#7
upthesaukee Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 5,596 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 2,452 Thanked 1,979 Times in 1,080 Posts	This morning, we saw a hummingbird flying around our azalea bush in our front yard. Made up some sugar water for them, cleaned the feeder really well, and took the chilled water, put it in the feeder, and less than two hours later, two different hummingbirds have come to the feeder. We have been feeding them for over 20 years, and they show up about Mother's Day, give or take a week. Unbelievably consistent. PS. They leave right around Labor Day. Sent from my GT-P5210 using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app __________________ I Live Here... I am always UPTHESAUKEE !!!! Last edited by upthesaukee; 05-08-2017 at 04:29 PM.

04-28-2017, 02:47 PM	#2
Diana Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 65 Thanks: 345 Thanked 15 Times in 13 Posts	Hummingbirds.net click the migration map on the left sidebar. UConn extension also says they are here in CT but I have had my feeders out all week and have not seen any yet.

04-29-2017, 08:09 AM	#4
webmaster Moderator Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 2,453 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 456 Thanked 3,819 Times in 839 Posts

The Following 7 Users Say Thank You to webmaster For This Useful Post:
Barney Bear (04-29-2017), HAMPTONS (05-08-2017), KPW (05-02-2017), Spider Girl (04-30-2017), trfour (04-29-2017), wifi (04-29-2017), Woody38 (04-29-2017)

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05-08-2017, 06:12 PM	#8
Barney Bear Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 962 Thanks: 495 Thanked 273 Times in 174 Posts	They're Back Put our hummingbird feeder out yesterday when we opened our cottage on East Bear Island this weekend. Today, a thirsty hummer showed up and sipped our homemade brew of one cup of white sugar and four cups of water. We store the delicious concoction in our refrigerator until ready for use. As yet, there are no blooms available to our tiny guests. 🐻

The Following User Says Thank You to Barney Bear For This Useful Post:
upthesaukee (05-08-2017)

05-09-2017, 10:17 AM	#9
donnamatrix Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonboro Posts: 833 Thanks: 24 Thanked 258 Times in 120 Posts	bad recipe for hummers It should be 1/4 cup sugar, to one cup water

05-09-2017, 11:27 AM	#10
Barney Bear Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 962 Thanks: 495 Thanked 273 Times in 174 Posts	Sweet Tweet For over thirty years our hummers have never complained......they always leave satisfied, with a smile on their beaks. 😋

05-09-2017, 11:50 AM	#11
thebix Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: South Down since 2009. Posts: 99 Thanks: 2 Thanked 32 Times in 23 Posts	Recipe I also use the recipe ratio that Donna and Barney mention. 4 parts of water to one part of sugar. I make one cup at a time, as Donna say, 1/4 cup sugar to one cup water. Barney just makes 4 times as much, but the same recipe portions,

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to thebix For This Useful Post:
Barney Bear (05-09-2017), upthesaukee (05-10-2017)

05-10-2017, 05:53 AM	#12
Orion Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cow Island Posts: 914 Thanks: 602 Thanked 193 Times in 91 Posts	sugar Isn't that bad for their teeth? The rocket surgeons in the MA legislature want to tax sugary drinks.

The Following User Says Thank You to Orion For This Useful Post:
Barney Bear (05-10-2017)

05-10-2017, 07:11 AM	#13
TCC Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Wolfeboro Posts: 152 Thanks: 251 Thanked 72 Times in 30 Posts	Idle curiosity I read somewhere that flower nectar contains three sugars - sucrose (cane sugar), fructose (fruit sugar), and glucose (dextrose) - generally in a ratio of about 2:1:1. As it happens, that's about the same ratio found in molasses. (Table sugar is pure sucrose). I wonder if anyone has tried a molasses-based solution in their hummingbird feeder and, if so, if it seems to make any difference to the birds.

05-10-2017, 07:11 PM	#14
wifi Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Lakes Region Posts: 1,321 Thanks: 282 Thanked 287 Times in 169 Posts	My teeth have melted away, thinking of this

05-11-2017, 06:09 AM	#15
Merrymeeting Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham Posts: 2,226 Thanks: 302 Thanked 800 Times in 368 Posts	My feeders had visitors all day yesterday. They are definitely in the area. And I use the 4-1 water/sugar mix too.

The Following User Says Thank You to Merrymeeting For This Useful Post:
upthesaukee (05-11-2017)

05-17-2017, 07:12 AM	#16
hilltopper Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Meredith Posts: 724 Thanks: 25 Thanked 107 Times in 68 Posts	Saw my first female yesterday afternoon...

05-18-2017, 09:15 AM	#17
Hillcountry Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: In the hills Posts: 2,420 Thanks: 1,677 Thanked 786 Times in 466 Posts	1st hummingbird seen this morning...prompted these "lazy" birders to hurry to the basement to retrieve the feeders and brew a sugar water concoction for the tiny travelers...all set now!

05-18-2017, 08:25 PM	#19
dayvsea Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 115 Thanks: 45 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	I like to richen it up with small batches of 3-1 at first and at last. Then back off to 5-1 during the season..I just fill the feeder like a fifth of the way, it can go bad, important to keep it clean..keep the rest in the fridge..You don't need the food coloring, if the feeder is colored... __________________ "Honesty is the best policy."

05-20-2017, 11:59 AM	#20
indian Junior Member Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 5 Thanks: 16 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Does the hummingbird mixture attract bears? Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

05-20-2017, 12:04 PM	#21
Greene's Basin Girl Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Moultonborough, NH Posts: 1,515 Thanks: 394 Thanked 527 Times in 269 Posts	Hummingbird feeders can attract bears. Once in a while a bear will take one of mine down. I do not find it a common problem.

05-20-2017, 12:08 PM	#22
Woody38 Senior Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 577 Thanks: 46 Thanked 110 Times in 81 Posts	First Hummingbird At least the first I noticed. I put a feeder out yesterday on the kitchen window and had a visitor for breakfast. One came down to thank me this morning as I was watering the lawn near that feeder. We have several feeders in the yard in California and these birds will come up right in front on you and hover about 3 feet away. Cool. I am a retired workaholic and continuing aquaholic.

05-09-2018, 08:25 AM	#23
hilltopper Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Meredith Posts: 724 Thanks: 25 Thanked 107 Times in 68 Posts	5/6/18 No 2018 thread going so I will add to this one. Our first hummingbird was seen on Sunday morning, May the 6th.

05-09-2018, 09:17 AM	#24
noreast Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 648 Thanks: 316 Thanked 120 Times in 93 Posts	Has anyone seen the hats with the Hummingbird feeders built on? I don't know how to post stuff but I've seen some good pictures.

05-09-2018, 09:42 AM	#25
webmaster Moderator Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 2,453 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 456 Thanked 3,819 Times in 839 Posts

05-09-2018, 05:02 PM	#27
Woody38 Senior Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 577 Thanks: 46 Thanked 110 Times in 81 Posts	Caught asleep at the switch. I am going to put the feeders out ASAP. Hopefully I found a solution for those pesky squirrels. Found at Costco, a Bonide product for all kinds of animals. Sure smells like garlic to me. So far the chipmunk has disappeared.

05-09-2018, 09:08 PM	#28
jeffk Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Center Harbor Posts: 1,162 Thanks: 205 Thanked 431 Times in 248 Posts	Saw our first in Center Harbor at the feeder yesterday 5/8. He was back again today.

05-11-2018, 02:22 PM	#29
MV1 Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Meredith Posts: 25 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Had two today as I was hanging out the feeders in Meredith>>>almost landed on my head

05-11-2018, 03:21 PM	#30
jeffk Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Center Harbor Posts: 1,162 Thanks: 205 Thanked 431 Times in 248 Posts	Just saw a female at the feeder for the first time. Have seen the male a few times.

05-12-2018, 11:05 AM	#31
beaner Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Wolfeboro Posts: 178 Thanks: 17 Thanked 37 Times in 23 Posts	First sighting of the season this morning....a very hungry male!