Anyone else have an unusually large number of hummingbirds this year?

[sixdogs]

I am amazed by those of you that can recognize individual birds. No way I can.

Get a couple of suction cup window feeders and stick on a window in the kitchen or somewhere they are in constant view. There are different kinds so if anyone wants a pic of the feeders that work for us, say so and I will post. Birds will become easy to recognize and all that I've seen have differing characteristics and behavior.

 

[goeduck]

^^^ that would certainly help. Mine are on the other side of semi transparent shades.

 

[goeduck]

I doubt anyone has use for these but here where we have resident Annas hummingbirds keeping the sugar water from freezing can be a chore. I typically have two feeders, one in the house and one outside shuttling them back and forth during the day. This would get me down to one feeder which would keep the sugar water fresher.


Hummingbird Feeder Heater, Hummer Hearth

 

[sixdogs]

I can't imagine a hummingbird in the cold and snow. What do they normally do for food if a feeder isn't out and kept from freezing?

 

[dragoneggs]

We get snow infrequently, but the hummers are around if you put a feeder out. I just finished refreshing my feeder a few minutes ago with another 12oz as I noticed they weren't coming around. Stale/moldy water maybe was a turn off? :confused3:

 

[Oaktree]

Get a couple of suction cup window feeders and stick on a window in the kitchen or somewhere they are in constant view. There are different kinds so if anyone wants a pic of the feeders that work for us, say so and I will post. Birds will become easy to recognize and all that I've seen have differing characteristics and behavior.

We have a 3 season enclosed porch, and our hummingbird feeder is on a hook on the eave in front of one of the windows. Not sure I'd be able to recognize individual birds. The ones we have are very skittish...the slightest move and they get scared off.

I do recognize a couple individual birds at our regular feeder...a couple woodpeckers and jays seem to have their own personality but most it's hard to tell apart.

 

[dragoneggs]

We have a 3 season enclosed porch, and our hummingbird feeder is on a hook on the eave in front of one of the windows. Not sure I'd be able to recognize individual birds. The ones we have are very skittish...the slightest move and they get scared off.

I do recognize a couple individual birds at our regular feeder...a couple woodpeckers and jays seem to have their own personality but most it's hard to tell apart.

They get to know you, honestly. I sit out on the deck in the summer reading or TBNing, and they will be feeding 5ft away. Sometimes they buzz my hair. I try not to swat them, but sometimes it is reflex. Kinda scary with that long spear near your face!

 

[sixdogs]

We have a 3 season enclosed porch, and our hummingbird feeder is on a hook on the eave in front of one of the windows. Not sure I'd be able to recognize individual birds. The ones we have are very skittish...the slightest move and they get scared off.

I do recognize a couple individual birds at our regular feeder...a couple woodpeckers and jays seem to have their own personality but most it's hard to tell apart.

Ours were very skittish at first but have calmed down considerably. They still fly off if we move, but one feeder is on the window just a few feet from us. We have a small TV in the kitchen and changing screen and bright flashes will scare them off.

We recognize birds now and this year recognized what we are near certain are returning birds from the prior year. In addition, others flew to an alcove we have on the porch where a feeder used to be last year but was not there this year. No reason to go there so they must have been here before to remember it. Several birds did that.

They get to know you, honestly. I sit out on the deck in the summer reading or TBNing, and they will be feeding 5ft away. Sometimes they buzz my hair. I try not to swat them, but sometimes it is reflex. Kinda scary with that long spear near your face!

I got a bright red hat this spring and was nealrly flown into a few times. Kind of a wake up call since it happens so fast.

 

[goeduck]

I can't imagine a hummingbird in the cold and snow. What do they normally do for food if a feeder isn't out and kept from freezing?

As dragoneggs said, our winters are mild in our marine climate but we do get below freezing at times for a week or two at a time. Annas hummingbirds have adapted using their torpor technique.

Scientists find hummingbirds practically freeze themselves at night – BGR

 

[dragoneggs]

As dragoneggs said, our winters are mild in our marine climate but we do get below freezing at times for a week or two at a time. Annas hummingbirds have adapted using their torpor technique.

Scientists find hummingbirds practically freeze themselves at night – BGR

Took them about an hour to seek out the new nectar I hung out this afternoon. A testament to keeping the sugar water and feeder fresh and clean. Hadn't seen any for over a week.