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

[ArlyA]

We haven't seen one lately but they are around here and further to the north as well. I do believe scouts go out in advance of the larger flocks. Not sure if looking for food or accommodations but there are lots of single bird sighting.

I'm afraid ruby throated hummers do not migrate in flocks or send out scoots. As far as I know, no hummers of any species do this.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

We always have a couple of annas that winter over, then get a big in-migration in the spring. So far this year there is no sign of the migration. Bird flu may have hit the little hummers hard.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Other than the two that I saw so far, it's been quiet? We do have a couple of male and a couple of female rose breasted grosbeaks tanking up on suit and sunflower seed before they continue north.

 

[NoTrespassing]

I filled the feeder but no takers so far. Seems unusual for this time of year in East Central IL.

 

[sixdogs]

We've gone through this before and others here noted the birds eat more bugs than anything else, especially in the spring.They also have nests to make and babies to deal with. Sitting on the eggs is a 24/7 thing.

I believe our best year ever started slow like this. Then I saw them coming to the feeders at dawn and dusk.

 

[ArlyA]

Did get feeders up yesterday! Only one seen here.

 

[LouNY]

My wife had her first one to her feeder yesterday.

 

[goeduck]

We always have a couple of annas that winter over, then get a big in-migration in the spring. So far this year there is no sign of the migration. Bird flu may have hit the little hummers hard.

Odd, I am north of you and we have had Rufous migration since late March, right on schedule. You might be on the April path, but it is May now, so I am not sure what is going on your way. We are actually on the downslope of the migration pattern here, I am down to about 1/2 quart per day. It will peak again in fall when the Rufous head south again. This year topped at 3/4 quart per day. All time high was 1 quart per day.

Rufous Hummingbird Migration

<p><span>Rufous Hummingbirds have the longest migration route of any other migratory hummingbird species. By now, their journey north is already underway, and many people have started spotting these feisty little hummingbirds at their hummingbi

www.perkypet.com

 

[sixdogs]

Something to mention here is feeder placement. We had some bushed grow a little too big and found the birds stopped going to the feeders near them. Birds are apparently very wary of predators lurking in them or maybe the bush could block their path of escaped if needed.

Also, early season we have seen birds in the yard and flying into trees and bushes nesting yet seen few or none at the feeders. We just figured they were eating bugs and having babies. Come fall we find many nests in the yard, even if it has been a quiet year at the feeders.

I have also not seen birds at the feeders during the day but seen them at dawn or just before and at dusk or a little later. It might be a safety thing for them?

 

[ArlyA]

Something to mention here is feeder placement. We had some bushed grow a little too big and found the birds stopped going to the feeders near them. Birds are apparently very wary of predators lurking in them or maybe the bush could block their path of escaped if needed.

Also, early season we have seen birds in the yard and flying into trees and bushes nesting yet seen few or none at the feeders. We just figured they were eating bugs and having babies. Come fall we find many nests in the yard, even if it has been a quiet year at the feeders.

I have also not seen birds at the feeders during the day but seen them at dawn or just before and at dusk or a little later. It might be a safety thing for them?

Seems that all birds like to feed in the am and late in the day.

 

[John0829]

For the last several years going outside was "interesting" with over 2 dozen hummers in dog fights all day long over the feeders but this year the most we have seen is two birds and it has been few and far between the sightings of them.

 

[lman]

Orioles are the only birds around our feeders so far.

 

[ArlyA]

For the 1st time this year, we seen a ruby at the feeder, Houghton MI.

 

[sixdogs]

We haven't been looking because of doing other things but one zoomed by me yesterday. Have a curtain covering the window view of the feeders right now because we think new birds are skittish early on.

 

[ultrarunner]

Nothing at the feeder

Ever since the formula changed the birds which were Jon stop a few years ago stopped coming…

 

[kenmbz]

I use 2 cups water to 1/2 cup sugar. 4:1
bring to Boil and cool, fill feeder.
Hummingbirds hit the feeder all day, no dyes or chemicals.

 

[John0829]

I use 2 cups water to 1/2 cup sugar. 4:1
bring to Boil and cool, fill feeder.
Hummingbirds hit the feeder all day, no dyes or chemicals.

Be sure it is pure cane sugar...

 

[sixdogs]

I use 2 cups water to 1/2 cup sugar. 4:1
bring to Boil and cool, fill feeder.
Hummingbirds hit the feeder all day, no dyes or chemicals.

That's worth a try.

 

[sixdogs]

Here's an article from the Audubon Society on feeding HB's. They discuss mixing your own and approve of it.

Hummingbird Feeding FAQs

Some good info in this article

 

[kenmbz]

Be sure it is pure cane sugar...

No, regular white sugar (refined)
Told there is a reason for not using pure, don't remember it though.
Almost every bird site for the "formula" says the same thing.