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

[sixdogs]

We started to get some birds the last week and one today is what I would call proof they return each year if they survive.

We just had a bird come up tp a window in an alcove where we had a feeder stuck to the glass. The bird came right up to the space where the feeder was last year, looked for a moment and scooted. No feeder there yet and the only reason to go in that alcove would be if you knew there was a feeder on the window.

I also saw this multiple times last year before we got that feeder up. Wife broke that window feeder and waiting for a new one to arrive.

 

[goeduck]

^^^ I completely agree, they have a very good sense of location. Mine hang from the fascia board on hooks and the feeders are all the same. So they come back to the exact spot.

Why I have so many now, I do not know. Usually this month is a slow one. I refilled 2 feeders with 1 cup each late on Thursday and one was already empty this morning (Saturday). The other almost empty. That is almost the rate I was at when the rufous birds migrated up the coast.

The only real difference I made this year is I only put out 1 cup per feeder even though they hold 2-1/2. The idea was for fresher food.

edit.
I forgot... The drop off I had a month ago coincided with crows in the area. I do not usually have crows and they are gone now. So maybe the crows were scaring off the hummers or raiding the nests.

 

[sixdogs]

From one year to the next, I am certain I see some repeat birds.

 

[oosik]

Wednesday I thought I saw a small bird whiz by the kitchen window. So I mixed up a batch and hung the feeder Wed evening. Thursday morning - two pair were at the feeder. Still two major wildflowers out there for them also. Western Service berry and then - Mock Orange.

 

[goeduck]

Wednesday I thought I saw a small bird whiz by the kitchen window. So I mixed up a batch and hung the feeder Wed evening. Thursday morning - two pair were at the feeder. Still two major wildflowers out there for them also. Western Service berry and then - Mock Orange.

Two pair is great! Glad they found your feeders!

 

[Larry Caldwell]

The hummers here are going through a quart of mix a day. Mix = 1 cup sugar to 1 quart water. They are nesting, so they don't hang around the feeders, just tank up and go. There will be swarms around the feeders later in the summer. We had dozens of rufous last year, but I haven't seen any yet this year, I don't know why.

 

[kenmbz]

The first round has migrated north. Knew they were around when I saw them by window and then trying to get nectar from my dogs runner pulley which is red.
Feeder up and 1/4 gone, then nothing. Regular birds came back a few days ago and the level is slowly going down.
Most I had looked like three at a time, did see some nests, so maybe more this year if they survived.

 

[psvfd]

That is amazing. We have never seen babies in a nest and have only seen nests after the season is over and storms blow them out of the trees. The nests are pretty small.

After several rainy days I was able to set up my camera only to find the nest is empty. Hope they left the nest and the weather (windy and thunder storms) did not harm the babies.

 

[psvfd]

Yahoo will take up to 20.0 MB's so maybe others are the same?

Put on Youtube

 

[Oaktree]

Thursday morning - two pair were at the feeder.

Two pairs at the same feeder at the same time? Must be a different variety than what we have here. Ours are quite territorial, I've seen one chase another away from a feeder. We have 2 feeders, out of sight from one another for this reason.

 

[sixdogs]

psvad--great videos. Thanks for posting.

 

[goeduck]

Two pairs at the same feeder at the same time? Must be a different variety than what we have here. Ours are quite territorial, I've seen one chase another away from a feeder. We have 2 feeders, out of sight from one another for this reason.

I went the other direction, I moved my feeders closer together (about 10 feet apart) and am getting more birds. I have seen 5 birds on one feeder at the same time a few times. Often 2 or 3 at once on each feeder. I use the sit down type. They used to fight more and still do a lot but there is more drinking going on. The last week I have been putting out almost a quart a day. With the feeders completely away from each other it seemed one aggressive bird would dominate each feeder. I do not know if they can not dominate two feeders and give up or if they adapt to a "there's plenty to go around" midset or what.

https://www.amazon.com/More-Birds-Hummingbird-Stations-20-Ounce/dp/B008RFSU66/ref=sr_1_54?dchild=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIn-yo6JLg8AIVoQ2tBh31lwB0EAAYASAAEgJDavD_BwE&hvadid=323470029287&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9033413&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=b&hvrand=9597119943795619824&hvtargid=kwd-313937761838&hydadcr=3478_10301634&keywords=top+hummingbird+feeder&qid=1621784743&sr=8-54

 

[PILOON]

From one year to the next, I am certain I see some repeat birds.

I agree with U.
B4 we got the feeders up they would fly up/down the windows where we usually hang our feeders, sort of saying 'Hey, where is it'.
Only a returning bird would know which window had the feeders.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

The first hatch is showing up at the feeders, little half sized hummers. They'll grow fast.

 

[oosik]

Ten day after "first sighting" and still the same two pair. Perhaps this cold weather is keeping them elsewhere.

 

[sixdogs]

I agree with U.
B4 we got the feeders up they would fly up/down the windows where we usually hang our feeders, sort of saying 'Hey, where is it'.
Only a returning bird would know which window had the feeders.

Can you imagine those little birds left last fall, flew all the way to somewhere much warmer in the Deep South and then returned to your place in Quebec? That's thousands of miles for those little wings and lots of dangers.

 

[sixdogs]

We've had great results with this feeder. It attaches with a suction cup.

Amazon.com

I think there are two versions with one made of plastic and the other of glass. Plastic is lighter while I have read that the heavier glass one can fall off. Ours is plastic.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Can you imagine those little birds left last fall, flew all the way to somewhere much warmer in the Deep South and then returned to your place in Quebec? That's thousands of miles for those little wings and lots of dangers.

I've been told hummers hitch rides on migrating geese. I don't know if that's true. I do know that we had a swarm of rufous hummers last fall that all disappeared in one day. I assume that was a mass migration as a group. This spring we have at least one nesting pair, but the majority never came back. I don't know if they went elsewhere or died.

 

[dragoneggs]

I've been told hummers hitch rides on migrating geese. I don't know if that's true. I do know that we had a swarm of rufous hummers last fall that all disappeared in one day. I assume that was a mass migration as a group. This spring we have at least one nesting pair, but the majority never came back. I don't know if they went elsewhere or died.

That's a myth... here is a link to some hummingbird myths/truths.

The Truth About Common Hummingbird Myths

Should you add red dye to hummingbird feeders? Find out as we separate hummingbird myths from hummingbird facts.

www.birdsandblooms.com

 

[sixdogs]

Put on Youtube

I have alway seen pictures of nests that look like your but around here I'm not sure of nest construction. After a big storm in the fall I often see very small and fluffy birds nest the size you would expect a HB to use. They aren't made of clay and such but rather pieces of a certain hard type of grass stems. No wide grass but rather the short and hard stems only. Do you think these are HB nests?

Saw our first two baby HB's at the feeder today. About half normal size but drank up and left in a hurry.