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Hummer season...........when???

62vld204262vld2042 Member Posts: 1,029 ✭✭✭✭

Here......in far North Central Texas......I put our feeders out a few days ago. So far......no takers.

Are they showing up in your area yet??

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    Ditch-RunnerDitch-Runner Member Posts: 24,729 ✭✭✭✭

    My Wife Will be putting out feeders for the hummingbirds soon,

    usually as the flowers are blooming the trumpet vines really attract them but still a bit early And cool here

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    brier-49brier-49 Member Posts: 7,055 ✭✭✭✭

    We have them in CT for the last week

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    Horse Plains DrifterHorse Plains Drifter Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 39,513 ***** Forums Admin

    We have them now. We have a pair that live year round in one of our rhododendrons.

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    BobJudyBobJudy Member Posts: 6,516 ✭✭✭✭

    In my part of Michigan, we have had a few visiting the window feeder for about a week or so. The Baltimore Orioles showed up about the same time. Got enough sugar to make food for the hummers, but need to pick up a few jars of Welch's grape jelly for the orioles. Dang birds won't eat the cheap store brand jelly! Bob

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    Rocky RaabRocky Raab Member Posts: 14,259 ✭✭✭✭

    Hummies have been in central Texas for over a month now. Chances are, they just haven't found yours yet because they've already established their feeding route.

    I may be a bit crazy - but I didn't drive myself.
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    pulsarncpulsarnc Member Posts: 6,310 ✭✭✭✭

    Eastern north carolina we have had birds for about 3 weeks

    cry Havoc and let slip  the dogs of war..... 
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    FrogdogFrogdog Member Posts: 2,811 ✭✭✭✭
    edited May 11

    Plenty here in SE Georgia. My daughters stand still and can get them to drink straight out of their hands. Fun little critters.

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    Merlinnv12Merlinnv12 Member Posts: 1,231 ✭✭✭✭

    We’ve had a few here in NE Wa. for a couple of weeks now.
    Feisty little buggers. Fun to watch.

    .

    “What we’ve got here, is, failure to communicate.”
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    bullshotbullshot Member Posts: 14,418 ✭✭✭✭

    They are here year around.

    "Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you"
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    waltermoewaltermoe Member Posts: 2,037 ✭✭✭✭

    First one April 29th this year.

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    William81William81 Member Posts: 24,711 ✭✭✭✭

    We put the feeder out two weeks ago. First one showed up a few days later. See several daily now here in central MO…..

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    Bubba Jr.Bubba Jr. Member Posts: 8,237 ✭✭✭✭

    We have one that comes to my wife's flower pot a couple of times a day. They are fun to watch.

    Joe

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    allen griggsallen griggs Member Posts: 35,319 ✭✭✭✭

    We have one here in the Blue Ridge Mtns. of North Carolina.

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    asopasop Member Posts: 8,925 ✭✭✭✭

    Last week here in southern Wisc.

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    He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,027 ✭✭✭✭

    Walter, do your birds a favor and dump the red dye. Not good for the birds, and a very expensive way to buy sugar. Rocky has and has posted the best recipe, also the one we use.

    And we have been feeding birds in New Mexico since 20 April.

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    waltermoewaltermoe Member Posts: 2,037 ✭✭✭✭

    There’s really not that much dye in it. We make 4 cups at a time, 1 cup of sugar to 4 cups of water. Then put an 1/8 cup of Perky Pet humming bird food for color. Wife just likes a little color to the liquid.

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    He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,027 ✭✭✭✭

    None is better, they eat it quite as well clear.

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    Ditch-RunnerDitch-Runner Member Posts: 24,729 ✭✭✭✭

    My wife told me this morning while looking out the kitchen window

    A hummingbird flew in close and just looked in. I will guess saw its reflection

    my Wife said it was letting her know we're back get the feeders out now lady... lol

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    He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,027 ✭✭✭✭

    She is right, the birds remember where the feeders are year to year. Birds would appear at our front door every year, until we tracked the arrival date and put the feeders out 2 days early.

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    Rocky RaabRocky Raab Member Posts: 14,259 ✭✭✭✭
    edited May 13

    Here's how I make hummie food…

    Add one cup of rapidly boiling water to one cup of cane sugar and stir until clear. This kills any nasties that may be in the sugar.

    Now add three cups of very cold water. This provides the correct 1/4 ratio and cools it so it can be used immediately. Multiply the amounts as needed. I keep mine in a half-gallon milk bottle (thoroughly cleaned) in my little outside fridge.

    Do not add dye and do NOT use store-bought mixes. Some contain sugars and dyes that can harm the birds.

    I may be a bit crazy - but I didn't drive myself.
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    allen griggsallen griggs Member Posts: 35,319 ✭✭✭✭

    Rocky what is that feeder that you recommend?

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    Ditch-RunnerDitch-Runner Member Posts: 24,729 ✭✭✭✭

    My wife told me last night

    Her more expensive feeders don't get the same traffic as the ones she bought at the dollar tree

    So while in town earlier I bought her 6 more they are red body with small yellow flowers as the feeding ports

    Not Sure why

    its same food same Cleaning procedures and same areas

    Oh well cheap way to feed them

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    He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,027 ✭✭✭✭

    We used Best One feeders for a long time. Hard to clean. We now use First Nature feeders which have wide mouths and are easy to clean with a water bottle brush. Feeders come from that big river place.

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    Don McManusDon McManus Member Posts: 23,516 ✭✭✭✭

    My wife hates hummer season.

    Freedom and a submissive populace cannot co-exist.

    Brad Steele
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    Rocky RaabRocky Raab Member Posts: 14,259 ✭✭✭✭

    I use Best One feeders, and have no problems cleaning them.

    I may be a bit crazy - but I didn't drive myself.
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    62vld204262vld2042 Member Posts: 1,029 ✭✭✭✭

    One more thing.......

    Can hummers be "put off" by soft wind chimes.......about 10 feet away?

    I've had our two feeders out for a couple of weeks now. Cleaned and refilled every 4-5 days. Except for a couple of very fast fly-bys...…my hummer cams got nothin'.

    Any other ideas?

    Thanks........

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    Merlinnv12Merlinnv12 Member Posts: 1,231 ✭✭✭✭

    Here’s an idea. Turn your cameras on! 😜😜

    “What we’ve got here, is, failure to communicate.”
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    Rocky RaabRocky Raab Member Posts: 14,259 ✭✭✭✭

    I wouldn't think so. We have wind chimes about that same distance from two different feeders, and the hummies don't mind them at all.

    Just guessing here, but if your cameras have lights that come on when they detect something, that could be the issue.

    I may be a bit crazy - but I didn't drive myself.
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    62vld204262vld2042 Member Posts: 1,029 ✭✭✭✭

    Rocky..........

    Nope........just infrared. Got video of the neighbors big raccoon a few nights ago. She's raising a brood under the neighbors shed..........as one got partially caught in the fence yesterday.

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    Rocky RaabRocky Raab Member Posts: 14,259 ✭✭✭✭

    Hummies can be oddly picky about feeders and what's in them. The first thing I'd suggest is that you not use store-bought hummie mix for their food (if you do). Very often, they'll take one sip of that stuff and never come back. Then try to find a feeder with perches so they can land and feed. That alone can dramatically increase their interest.

    I may be a bit crazy - but I didn't drive myself.
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    62vld204262vld2042 Member Posts: 1,029 ✭✭✭✭

    Rocky........done.....and done.😉

    I use your custom recipe.......and both feeders have perches.

    I might camo-tape the camera......🤔😎

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    Rocky RaabRocky Raab Member Posts: 14,259 ✭✭✭✭

    Sounds like you're doing it as well as possible. Up to the birds now.

    I may be a bit crazy - but I didn't drive myself.
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    allen griggsallen griggs Member Posts: 35,319 ✭✭✭✭

    Last year I didn't even put up a feeder until mid-June, and I had 5 birds all summer.

    THis year I put up the feeder a month ago, and I have only one bird.

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    He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,027 ✭✭✭✭

    Word about your cooking got around dude.

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