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

[sixdogs]

I just moved back to the states from the island of Roatan.... I had 4 feeders up, they were drained daily... I have counted as many as 150+ birds all fighting for a drink. There were two types a smaller green version and a larger brown... They became so used to people taking their pics you could get within 2 or 3 feet from them when feeding... sometimes in the morning when I was outside and the feeders where empty they would buzz me me until I refilled them. The most interesting things was one day i saw a nest it was smaller than a teacup and the eggs were tic-tac size, I have pictures on my phone of them... I need to post.

We got loads of those small green one late in the season as transients. None during the regular season.
Post those pics. That's our goal for next year along with getting them to eat out of a feeder we are holding.

 

[goeduck]

Dang. Feeder almost needs to be filled again. I always used to quit in October but I will keep the feeder going into November for these guys from now on. I couldn’t get a picture but there we’re at least two fueling up today. I use organic sugar so the yellow color is from that.

 

[dragoneggs]

Dang. Feeder almost needs to be filled again. I always used to quit in October but I will keep the feeder going into November for these guys from now on. I couldn’t get a picture but there we’re at least two fueling up today. I use organic sugar so the yellow color is from that.
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Yes, amazing they are still around. I am going to keep one feeder up til at least the end of the year and see if they keep coming.

 

[Diggin It]

I'm beginning to wonder if keeping the feeders out is lulling them into staying around longer than normal. One of the things that signals them to go may be a dwindling food supply.

 

[dragoneggs]

I'm beginning to wonder if keeping the feeders out is lulling them into staying around longer than normal. One of the things that signals them to go may be a dwindling food supply.

I'm thinking it is temperature and innate behavior that drives them.

 

[sixdogs]

I'm thinking it is temperature and innate behavior that drives them.

That, and a biological clock is what is supposed to motivate them, not the sugar water that makes up only a portion of their diet. Still, I've never heard of birds this late.

This is just me but I would see if there is a Nat'l Hummingbird Institute, or something like that is DC or wherever, and call someone that knows. Otherwise you'll just get personal opinion. You need fact. You also could maybe research on-line for a double opinion. Just my two cents on this.

 

[goeduck]

I'm thinking it is temperature and innate behavior that drives them.

Right, with our moderate climate along the coast the weather does not chase them south as fast. And who wants to fly through all that smoke from the fires in CA?

Plus We have a few things still in bloom that I see them at as much as the feeders. Some of my fuchsias are still blooming.

 

[sixdogs]

Actually, I read that the diet of hummingbirds is mostly bugs and the feeders are a side dish boost or for the little birds. I've also seen them in cedar trees and I'm pretty sure they were eating buds.

 

[ArlyA]

Rubythroated hummers are omnivores. We've seen them chasing down little moths near our feeder. I can't speak of the other species.. They show up here looooong before any flowers bloom.

Actually, I read that the diet of hummingbirds is mostly bugs and the feeders are a side dish boost or for the little birds. I've also seen them in cedar trees and I'm pretty sure they were eating buds.

 

[goeduck]

Well I made 2 more cups of sugar water today and put it in the feeder. We will see if they empty it this late in the year.