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

[goeduck]

Eek! We don't go thru that in an entire summer. We get a few, but that's it. Dunno if we're too far north or if once summer comes there's enough flowers that they don't need to visit a feeder.

How often do you change the sugar water? I try for less than a week and that can be pushing it during warm weather. They will abandon a feeder if the sugar water gets spoiled.

I think I saw a Rufous Hummer today but I do not have much of a view point.

 

[ArlyA]

The sugar water we boil and mix for them, is basically nutrient agar. When its warmed above refrigerator temp, it grows whatever bacterial in it readily. These bacteria's growing in it will make the birds ill so if the air temps are warm, we should be changing the sugar water out. We do ours every 4 days in the warm days of summer.

 

[dragoneggs]

Just brewed up another quart. I read somewhere... or more likely my mom told me to make sure and not just melt the sugar but to give it a good boil to kill off 'anything'. Also boil the glass container. I don't go that far. That said, she came from a farm and generally overcooked everything. My dad finally got her to like medium rare steaks when I was a teenager. Don't think she ever tried sushi until I convinced her to try it in her later years! RIP Mom!!!

 

[goeduck]

I boil the water in a large Pyrex measuring cup in the microwave. I then add the sugar immediately afterwards and stir to dissolve. Then I let it cool. I then bring in an almost empty feeder, clean it, refill and hang it outside. I am more concerned about getting the feeder 100% clean than anything as that is where the scum would form. Mine are capable of bottle brush cleaning, I do not like those that I cannot clean well.

 

[dragoneggs]

I boil the water in a large Pyrex measuring cup in the microwave. I then add the sugar immediately afterwards and stir to dissolve. Then I let it cool. I then bring in an almost empty feeder, clean it, refill and hang it outside. I am more concerned about getting the feeder 100% clean than anything as that is where the scum would form. Mine are capable of bottle brush cleaning, I do not like those that I cannot clean well.

Yeah I went to 'big mouth' bottles for easier cleaning. I don't boil the glass but I do scrub all components with scalding water with a brush. Wouldn't be good enough for my mom but I'm sure I am a One Percenter on feeders.

 

[oosik]

Saw my first hummer yesterday - today there are, at least, three. Already fighting over the feeder. The Western Service berry just came into full bloom - so there is plenty out here for them. Patches of this bush stand out all over the property, now that they are in bloom. Later there will be the Mock Orange and homestead Lilac.

 

[sixdogs]

Can someone explain the need to boil sugar water? My wife knows nothing about this but maybe we should be doing it, especially since we have well water. She is meticulous about cleaning things and we want to make sure we are doing the right thing. Also, should we be used softened or unsoftened water?

 

[ArlyA]

Its to cook the chloride out of it, or sterilize it if you use well water. The theory is it will last longer in the feeder.

Can someone explain the need to boil sugar water? My wife knows nothing about this but maybe we should be doing it, especially since we have well water. She is meticulous about cleaning things and we want to make sure we are doing the right thing. Also, should we be used softened or unsoftened water?

 

[dragoneggs]

Its to cook the chloride out of it, or sterilize if it you have well. water. The theory is it will last longer in the feeder.

Yes that is my understanding as well. Honestly, I don't know how effective boiling is to rid of chloride or fluoride or whatever might be in the water, but I know when I boil vs just melting the sugar, the water seems to not foul as fast.

For me, it is the bugs that get into the feeder that cause the birds to shy away. Sometimes the birds will feed until the feeder is almost dry other times I stop getting action and the feeder is half full. Most all of the time there are crawling bugs that have entered the feeder.

 

[goeduck]

The hummers have bug and pollen debris on their beeks from feeding that does not help as it contaminates the feeder bowl. Some say not to use soap but I do, I just make sure I rinse very well and clean it often. A big feeder is not good, better small to medium then clean and refill often. I am refilling one of the two feeders every day it seems, 2 cups to each. I never did put up a third, probably should.

 

[ArlyA]

Of course the birds are not sterile in any fashion.... Nonetheless, the sugar mix we feed them with grow into something that will make them ill, same if we eat spoiled foods. If its warm out, sugar water needs to be replaced often.

The hummers have bug and pollen debris on their beeks from feeding that does not help as it contaminates the feeder bowl. Some say not to use soap but I do, I just make sure I rinse very well and clean it often. A big feeder is not good, better small to medium then clean and refill often. I am refilling one of the two feeders every day it seems, 2 cups to each. I never did put up a third, probably should.

 

[goeduck]

I woke up yesterday to 2 empty feeders. I quickly made up 2 cups of sugar water so it would cool quicker and partially filled each. Today I had to fill both with 2 cups each. The little guys were giving me a haircut as I hung the feeders back up. :laughing:

 

[dragoneggs]

I woke up yesterday to 2 empty feeders. I quickly made up 2 cups of sugar water so it would cool quicker and partially filled each. Today I had to fill both with 2 cups each. The little guys were giving me a haircut as I hung the feeders back up. :laughing:

You are getting far more action than me. Lots around but they aren't emptying the tank before I feel guilty and mix up another batch. My wife thinks they know me though as I can sit about 4ft away and they still visit and even buzz my hair. Might be the manly shampoo!

 

[goeduck]

Okay things are getting a little out of hand around here. Yesterday I filled both feeders, 4 cups of sugar water total. Today both were empty and I just finished filling the second one. I had to shoo away a couple of them to take that feeder down and then one decided to give me a another haircut as I hung it back up after filling. These guys are drinking me out of house and home, it is hard to keep up. This morning I had to make an emergency trip to the grocery store and get 8 more pounds of sugar. :banghead: :banghead:

I was in Bremerton and I forgot to stop at Wilco to get that 3rd feeder.

 

[Gem99ultra]

Contrary to what most are reporting, we here in mid-Georgia had a little burst of hummers back in early April. They've apparently kept on moving. We've had an unusual heat wave this past few weeks, so I suppose the temperature has been too hot for them to hang out here for the summer.

Last week we had 3 hummers, this week zero. Heck - it's been so hot that even the Carpenter bees are hiding out! Geez - how much longer is it before Fall gets here?

 

[sixdogs]

We have never had so many hummingbirds in Ohio. For maybe 5 years we had disappointing results and wondered if we should quit. We didn't and last year had hundreds of birds, especially very late in the season as transients moved south. This spring we again had dozens of birds heading north and many days had 30 birds or even more.

We've now settled down to maybe 20-25 birds a day. The best feeder for us is the Perky Pet one that sticks on the window and is flat on the back. No leaks and no ants. Get the plastic one since the glass one is too heavy for the suction cups. This is like the one we use and we got it at Rural King but whatever works for you.




If you're getting slow results know that birds eat lots of bugs in a day as well and warm weather brings the bugs that might be lessening the need for the feeders.

 

[buickanddeere]

We just have one pair of humming buddies and one pair of orioles . First year that we have had orioles stay. This year the humming bird feeder was modified to also allow the Orioles to partake .
Daily Placing half a sliced orange on the window sill has been a treat for the orioles .

 

[goeduck]

I was hoping the hummers would keep the mosquitos in check. Maybe time for bat boxes?

 

[dragoneggs]

I was hoping the hummers would keep the mosquitos in check. Maybe time for bat boxes?

We are blessed here with no mosquitoes at our current residence... making dining and entertaining outside a pleasure. Quite the opposite of our last house where sunset was a loud wake up call for those nasty buggers!

 

[dragoneggs]

Holy cow! Freshened up my two feeders with 32oz of nectar last night and right now we have the largest number of hummers at the same time I have ever seen! Aerial dog fights galore!!! I wish I could get pics of this that do it justice. So far, counted max of 8 at once around the feeders. 4 on one, 2 on the other and 2 in flight not waiting their turn!

From my window and iPhone zoomed in...