NoTrespassing
Veteran Member
Update, I think we have seven pair of Orioles and 5 pair of Rose Breasted Gross beak now. I don't know what will happen if they all stay. I don't think I can afford to feed everyone LOL
Anyone else have an unusually large number of hummingbirds this year?
- Thread starter sixdogs
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goeduck
Super Member
I wish I had that problem. It would be cool to see. :thumbsup:
dragoneggs
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Ha ha... the eagles are definitely coming around now in 'droves'. Is that the right descriptor? Lots of bird's nests around under our deck (on the beams supporting the joists) and in the nearby trees. They all love our water fountain including the hummers. Spring is here!
rekees4300
Elite Member
We had 2 Hummers last week. Temperature dropped into the 20's Saturday and now the Hummers have vanished. Anyone know what might have happened to them? Hope the little darlings didn't freeze to death! 
ArlyA
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Just because you don't see them, doesn't mean they are not there. Below freezing temps does not kill these little guys. Unless you set a camera up, there are many more birds at your feeder than you and I will ever see. We get below freezing many nights here on the south shore of Lake Superior, yet they've already migrated past here, crossed the big lake and into Canada.
oosik
Epic Contributor
Saw the first hummingbird yesterday( 5-11-2020 ). He tapped on the kitchen window. Attract my attention - let me know its time to put out the feeder. I got busy and forgot. So today - fresh, cleaned feeder - brand new sugar water. He was on the feeder within 15 seconds.
He must be the scout. I usually get eight or ten.
He must be the scout. I usually get eight or ten.
goeduck
Super Member
I do not know if all Hummingbird types can go into torpor during cold weather, but our native ones that live here year around do... see link
Hummingbirds and Torpor - Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Hummingbirds and Torpor - Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
dragoneggs
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Good article... thanks for posting. I seem to be experiencing a lull after a lot of activity a couple weeks ago.
rekees4300
Elite Member
Thanks for posting. Learned something new today, never heard the word "Torpor" before. The Hummers that vanished Saturday returned today so they survived the 20's. :thumbsup:
OP
sixdogs
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We had a batch of hummingbirds show up this spring and a number of them went looking for food to a spot where a feeder used to be last fall but was not yet up. It was in an out of the way place and a feeder that stuck to the kitchen widow. Hardly an easy to find location so we consider it proof that the hummingbirds looking for that feeder were the same ones from last fall that fed at it. It must be true that they return to the same feeding places each year.