Hummers return

Tdog · Jul 10, 2007

We saw a hummingbird yesterday & then again this morning - - the 1st ones in a couple of months. Really wierd the way they made their appearance in early spring & then vanished. These have really been tiny.

Jack

randy41 · Jul 10, 2007

do you think they disappear for a while because they found a better nectar source than your feeder and now that nectar source is no longer available?
i also notice that they do what you say.

jinman · Jul 10, 2007

A couple of days ago, I looked out and was surprised to see a huge "hummer" on our feeder. On looking closer, I saw it was a small wren or similar bird with a short beak. It was trying for all it was worth to get its beak into that flower on the feeder. After awhile, it flew around the feeder and was joined by another identical bird. Maybe it was an optical illusion, but I could swear they also were hovering and flying backwards. I've always heard only hummers can do that. I pointed it out to my wife and we both had a good laugh.

After a few moments the big birds disappeared and the hummers returned as normal. Has anyone else ever seen any birds other than hummingbirds trying to feed on nectar? I'd love to get a picture and try to identify these birds, but just didn't have time.

Kendall69 · Jul 10, 2007

jbrumberg · Jul 10, 2007

Jinman:

Great pictures

! I am quite envious. I do not know what kind of bird you had at your feeder in TX, but up here in NE I often see Eastern Kingbirds roost on the hummingbird post sniping at flying insects. They can appear to hover (stall) and fly (fall) backwards. They are voracious insect eaters and quite aggressive. Jay

Tdog · Jul 10, 2007

jinman - - no, I've never seen anything at the nectar feeder but hummingbirds. I've also heard only hummers can hover & fly backwards.

I'm happy to see ours back. I do remember that we see a lot more of them in September-October when they do their dualing/dances. It's just before they disappear for the winter.

Jack

TNhobbyfarmer · Jul 12, 2007

Tdog said:
We saw a hummingbird yesterday & then again this morning - - the 1st ones in a couple of months. Really wierd the way they made their appearance in early spring & then vanished. These have really been tiny.

Jack

I posted a month or so ago about a shortage of hummers this year. I am now having a few more show up lately but still not in numbers similar to the last couple of years.

I had an oriole on my feeder this spring. I have never in my life seen an oriole in the wild prior to that. He was putting his beak into the hole and for all the world looked like he was getting a drink. He stayed around for a week or so but hasn't been seen since.

TNhobbyfarmer · Jul 12, 2007

Forgot to mention in the earlier post about those hummer pictures. They are fantastic.

Partsman2 · Jul 13, 2007

TNhobbyfarmer said:
I posted a month or so ago about a shortage of hummers this year. I am now having a few more show up lately but still not in numbers similar to the last couple of years.

I too have noticed far fewer hummers this year compared to all prior years. We keep four quart size feeders going and in past years had to fill them at least once a day and the main feeder soemtimes twice. This year, and this should be peak season in our part of the country, the consumption is less than half that.

We had an early spring and about a 3 week drought that started in mid May this year. I'm thinking they may have moved farther north as a result.