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

[ponytug]

Milky spore. I still see HB's eating bugs in the garden it's just that ore numbers were lower than normal last year. I know the birds are cyclical in population so that's what I assume it is but I am reducing the amount of available bugs to eat.

I saw a HB either flying barely off the ground or sitting on it or a small branch a couple years ago grabbing a bug. People tell me that can't do that but they sit on my wife metal garden trellis all the time.

I would not be concerned about milky spore. That is a bacterium that is a specific threat to just Japanese beetle larvae.

My bet would be that you are right, and it is just the cyclical nature of things. Either that, or some neighbor went all out with garden plantings for hummingbirds.

All the best,

Peter

 

[ultrarunner]

looks like they will be here soon.
I make my own nektar 4:1 boiled sugar water.

No red, benzene is not good for anyone.
Maybe a bobber in the feeders for those with bad sight?

Label says color from fruit and vegetable extract

 

[kenmbz]

Label says color from fruit and vegetable extract

And the same preservatives my grandmother used to use.

 

[goeduck]

Clipping along at around a quart every other day. Should double that soon.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

My rufous are holding mating flights. I have been flashed by a hummer, right in front of my nose. The annas that wintered over are making themselves scarce. The rufous just showed up last week, drained two feeders, and are checking out the nests. I have flickers and woodpeckers working, so there will be plenty of hummer condos.

 

[sixdogs]

A few scouts are out in south and parts of central Ohio. It's earlier than last year by a week to two. We are putting one feeder out today.

 

[BoylermanCT]

Got our first hummingbirds in CT yesterday. 2 weeks earlier than last year.

 

[sixdogs]

In Ohio we have yet to see one at the feeders but have seen them around spruce trees and possible going into the branches. There are little bugs in there so maybe eating those?One bird was flying fast and determined for those trees so maybe nest building or babies?

We don't know much about how they nest.

 

[ultrarunner]

Always had a very good turnout and nothing at the feeder so far.

 

[kenmbz]

We have had at least one on the feeder for the last two weeks.
Their nests are kind of like little round balls of sticks and moss here.
I have found a few over the winter.

We usually only see a handful each year.