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Hummingbirds?!

BCNZ · 214 · 9959

us Offline Aloha

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Re: Hummingbirds?!
Reply #90 on: April 30, 2020, 03:46:03 PM
NIce.   
Esse Quam Videri


us Offline LoopCutter

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Re: Hummingbirds?!
Reply #91 on: April 30, 2020, 03:52:43 PM
 :like:  Lucky you!
If I start and end the day above ground, it is a good day!

Hope yours is as good!

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ie Offline Don Pablo

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Re: Hummingbirds?!
Reply #92 on: April 30, 2020, 07:44:33 PM
:ahhh  First hummingbird of the season!   :ahhh

Small Calliope spotted at my feeder.  :D
:ahhh better keep the cats away :ahhh
Hooked, like everyone else. ;)

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us Offline LoopCutter

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Re: Hummingbirds?!
Reply #93 on: May 01, 2020, 11:32:43 PM
Have one of wife’s new hanging flower baskets near back patio and a Ruby throat Hummer is feeding.

So now a batch of syrup is cooling and will be placed outside within the next couple hours. 

The earliest I have seen one in my area.
If I start and end the day above ground, it is a good day!

Hope yours is as good!

A SMART man always knows what to say!
   A WISE man knows whether or not to say it!!!


us Offline Nix

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Re: Hummingbirds?!
Reply #94 on: May 02, 2020, 12:23:35 AM
I've got my Calliope at my feeder right now!   :D

I love these little characters.  :tu:


us Offline Nix

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Re: Hummingbirds?!
Reply #95 on: May 02, 2020, 12:25:05 AM
:ahhh better keep the cats away :ahhh

The neighbor has a cat that stalks the birds at the feeders!   :rant:


au Offline gregozedobe

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Re: Hummingbirds?!
Reply #96 on: May 02, 2020, 05:57:39 AM
The neighbor has a cat that stalks the birds at the feeders!   :rant:

Unfortunately some cat owners believe it is OK to allow their cat outside to hunt & kill at will.  I believe it is quite wrong.  I'm sure they wouldn't like it if a dog killed their cat, and that is much the same thing as a cat killing native birds, lizards and other wildlife.

I guess you have to take extra care with where and how you place your bird feeders so cats can't get to the birds.
babola: "Enjoy your tools and don't be afraid to air your opinion and feelings here, but do it in courteous and respectable way toward others, of course."


ie Offline Don Pablo

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Re: Hummingbirds?!
Reply #97 on: May 02, 2020, 09:43:49 AM
The neighbor has a cat that stalks the birds at the feeders!   :rant:
:cry:

Better put a cowbell on his collar. >:D
Hooked, like everyone else. ;)

All hail the hook!


us Offline LoopCutter

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Re: Hummingbirds?!
Reply #98 on: May 02, 2020, 04:10:15 PM
Constant parade of Hummers, starting at nbasket of Million Bells, then Geraniums in front of Bay Window, then to Feeder #1, and last to Feeder # 2.


I suspect these are first wave migratory Trail Blazers, but will see if pattern continues through the week end.
If I start and end the day above ground, it is a good day!

Hope yours is as good!

A SMART man always knows what to say!
   A WISE man knows whether or not to say it!!!


us Offline David

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Re: Hummingbirds?!
Reply #99 on: May 04, 2020, 03:11:29 AM
The neighbor has a cat that stalks the birds at the feeders!   :rant:

That's why there's sling shots. For neighbors cats.   :D
What? Enablers! Are you serrrrious? Where? I dont see any.
Hold Fast


us Offline Aloha

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Re: Hummingbirds?!
Reply #100 on: May 04, 2020, 05:19:13 AM
Unfortunately some cat owners believe it is OK to allow their cat outside to hunt & kill at will.  I believe it is quite wrong.  I'm sure they wouldn't like it if a dog killed their cat, and that is much the same thing as a cat killing native birds, lizards and other wildlife.

I guess you have to take extra care with where and how you place your bird feeders so cats can't get to the birds.

 :iagree: We have wild cats in the area as well as peoples cats that roam free.  I've made sure to place their feeder so not only cats but prey birds cannot get to the Humming birds.  So far so good. 
Esse Quam Videri


us Offline Nix

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Re: Hummingbirds?!
Reply #101 on: May 19, 2020, 12:48:45 AM
Saw the first Rufous hummingbird of the year.

I thought these showed up a bit later in the Summer, but we are now seeing both the Calliope and Rufous. The Rufous are more showy and dramatic and add an extra layer of fun.


us Offline Aloha

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Re: Hummingbirds?!
Reply #102 on: May 19, 2020, 03:00:36 PM
Nice.  Gave a thorough clean out of my feeder last night.  When I refill I wash with hot water before I refill.  Once a month I scrub it new. 
Esse Quam Videri


us Offline Nix

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Re: Hummingbirds?!
Reply #103 on: May 19, 2020, 04:00:46 PM
Same here.  :tu:

I always give the feeder a good rinse with hot water with each refill. Just to keep it from developing sugar crystals or mildew.


us Offline Nix

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Re: Hummingbirds?!
Reply #104 on: May 20, 2020, 04:10:18 PM
Spotted this Calliope when I was checking on the nectar level in the feeder (low!):



us Offline Aloha

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Re: Hummingbirds?!
Reply #105 on: May 21, 2020, 12:17:11 AM
Nice picture.  Little bugger didn't even have time to stand. 
Esse Quam Videri


us Offline Nix

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Re: Hummingbirds?!
Reply #106 on: May 21, 2020, 01:18:03 AM
I think I made him nervous.   :-\


us Offline Nix

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Re: Hummingbirds?!
Reply #107 on: May 26, 2020, 06:49:46 PM
I've got a pair of Calliopes dueling around the feeder this morning.

Full-on buzzing and lazer blaster sounds.

I can't tell who's winning......


us Offline Aloha

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Re: Hummingbirds?!
Reply #108 on: May 27, 2020, 04:44:32 PM
They are quite the spectacle when chasing each other.   :rofl:
Esse Quam Videri


us Offline Aloha

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Re: Hummingbirds?!
Reply #109 on: September 18, 2020, 03:54:51 PM
Still lots of activity at my feeder.  Its also been fun watching them catch gnats.  The tree the feeder is in is full so I can barely see them at the feeder but it offers cover for them while they feed.  Around this time huge spider webs in and around the tree but the hummers navigate them very well.  I've wondered if they'd be able to fly thru them or if the webs would cause trouble for them? 
Esse Quam Videri


us Offline Nix

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Re: Hummingbirds?!
Reply #110 on: September 18, 2020, 04:00:04 PM
Nice!

Our Humming birds seem to have left.....


(I saw that in the South West there is an unexplained bird die-off, including some humming birds.  :cry: )


us Offline LoopCutter

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Re: Hummingbirds?!
Reply #111 on: September 18, 2020, 04:54:56 PM
The feeders in my yard have been extremely busy the first two weeks in September, then nothing.  Now several visitors daily since Wednesday.


My thoughts are that the regulars stocked up then left.  And now the northern migrants are no moving through on the way south. 


Feeders will stay out till no more activity seen. 
If I start and end the day above ground, it is a good day!

Hope yours is as good!

A SMART man always knows what to say!
   A WISE man knows whether or not to say it!!!


ca Offline Grant Lamontagne

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Re: Hummingbirds?!
Reply #112 on: September 29, 2020, 02:30:40 AM
We visited a friend at their cottage over the summer and....

Holy crap, I have never seen so many hummingbirds in one place!

They had a half dozen feeders, and there were never any less than 5 or 6 at a feeder at any one time.

No decent pics to show for it, but they were amazing to watch.

Def
Leave the dents as they are- let your belongings show their scars as proudly as you do yours.


us Offline Aloha

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Re: Hummingbirds?!
Reply #113 on: September 29, 2020, 06:16:30 AM
 :like:

I had a client who also had lots of humming birds feed at her feeders.  I'm being entertained by mine.  I just refilled the nectar earlier.  Theyre great and I'm so happy they finally found me. 
Esse Quam Videri


us Offline Nix

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Re: Hummingbirds?!
Reply #114 on: September 30, 2020, 03:44:13 AM
Ours have headed South.....

Hope to see them next Spring!   :cheers:


us Offline Aloha

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Re: Hummingbirds?!
Reply #115 on: January 07, 2021, 05:41:26 PM
Over the last couple weeks I've noticed the hummingbirds havent been as active at the feeder.  I cleaned a refilled and while I see and hear the occasional bird its not as frequent. 
Esse Quam Videri


us Offline Aloha

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Re: Hummingbirds?!
Reply #116 on: March 23, 2021, 03:48:23 PM
While out trimming my avocado tree I spied a little nest.  They are more active at the feeder. I've been diligent at keeping it clean and full.  As I was attaching a light on the side of my house I also spied a nest in my neighbors tree that overhangs onto my side.  Then I see this little one sitting in the tree watching me. 
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Esse Quam Videri


Offline Ray S

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Re: Hummingbirds?!
Reply #117 on: March 27, 2021, 06:51:25 AM
Just found this thread yesterday and finally found the pics in my document file that I was looking for. They were taken just outside the back door of the house and were shot through the windshield of my wife's car.The thistle had somehow sprouted in an abandoned flower pot next to the house and I was going to cut it down but hesitated when I got stabbed with a bunch of the thorns on the stem.
As I was sitting in the car waiting for my wife to come out all of a sudden the little bird is buzzing around the flower. I had left my camera in the car the day before and quickly grabbed it and got off a couple of shots before he(or she)departed. Hope you enjoy them.
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us Offline Aloha

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Re: Hummingbirds?!
Reply #118 on: March 30, 2021, 08:37:50 PM
 :woohoo:  Those are great pics.  They are hungry this spring.  I've refilled it again.  I like to watch them catch the gnats too.  We get some migratory birds trying to take a sip of the nectar and its funny to watch them.  The humming birds seem amused as well until they want a sip. 

Esse Quam Videri


us Offline Aloha

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Re: Hummingbirds?!
Reply #119 on: March 30, 2021, 08:43:59 PM
I was out in my yard all day yesterday.  I've witnessed this spectacular even several times but I've never looked up why they do it, it being soar high into sky ( straight up ) then dive straight down. 

info from Hummingbird-guide. 

The mating dive is an astonishing showy flight with many loops and zigzags. Usually the male flies up to an unbelievable 150 feet in the air and then plummets straight down pulling up just before impact.

The courtship dive of the Anna’s Hummingbird is the most spectacular of all. This bird falls comparably faster than a jet fighter at full throttle or even the Space Shuttle entering the atmosphere!

It has been discovered that the Anna's hummingbird orient their display dive in relation to the sun. This makes them look like an object dropping from the sky at the great speed of 385 body lengths per second.The Anna's mating dive makes them the world's fastest bird.Then they pull up against nine times the force of gravity and survive!


I can tell you its amazing to see these birds in flight and this mating gesture is astounding.  With plenty of nectar and my  crab apple tree blooming they have plenty of food to raise a family.  We also have gnats that seem to hover near where they feed so they've got plenty to eat. 

Esse Quam Videri


 

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