Shooting hummingbirds

[HungLikeJesus]

I stored all of these pictures in Fotki. They just sent me a note saying that my "trial membership" was expired, but they didn't tell me when I signed up that it was a trial membership. They switched me over to a free membership, but the links that I used are no longer valid.

Now, after all that work - uploading the pictures to Fotki, linking them to posts and adding comments - they are all gone.

Sorry. A Quality Images thread without the images isn't very interesting. I don't know if I can put the pictures somewhere else (like PhotoBucket) and fix the links because the edit window has closed.

[beauregaardhooligan]

Hummingbirds are trying to fatten up and head south, and they are being *very* defensive of their feeders.
I've had a feeder in the back yard all summer that has attracted at least a couple, male and female. I suspect they mated, but they still try to run each other off.
I hung another in the corner of the house, out of sight from the 1st one, and the female found it within a couple of hours! There is also a juvenile (I think) that the female seems to tolerate a little more, but it still gets run off after a bit. They'll perch on a twig in a tree and keep an eye on the feeder. When another hummer approaches it gets dive-bombed. Their flight is very similar to a bumblebee's.
They are going through the sugar-water (1 part sugar to 4 parts water) in a flash!
btw, in this hot weather, avoid the temptation to put out a big feeder full because it can sour and go bad quickly. It's better to use a small feeder and re-fill every other day.
Feeders with perches are better so they can rest while feeding.
Also feeders with yellow are more attractive to insects, so avoid those.

[HungLikeJesus]

Originally Posted by HungLikeJesus

I stored all of these pictures in Fotki. They just sent me a note saying that my "trial membership" was expired, but they didn't tell me when I signed up that it was a trial membership. They switched me over to a free membership, but the links that I used are no longer valid.

Now, after all that work - uploading the pictures to Fotki, linking them to posts and adding comments - they are all gone.

Sorry. A Quality Images thread without the images isn't very interesting. I don't know if I can put the pictures somewhere else (like PhotoBucket) and fix the links because the edit window has closed.

I just opened this thread and all the pictures have returned (they had all disappeared about a year ago). I don't know what's going on.

We haven't put up our feeders yet this year. The hummingbirds fly to where the feeders were, then fly to the window, as if to say, "Hey, get busily!"

[beauregaardhooligan]

Originally Posted by HungLikeJesus

We haven't put up our feeders yet this year. The hummingbirds fly to where the feeders were, then fly to the window, as if to say, "Hey, get busily!"

That's *exactly* what they're saying! It is common behavior for hummers to go look in the exact same spot where the feeder use to be. I had one hanging outside my window and when I'd take it down to clean and re-fill, sometimes they'd hit the window to let me know they were waiting!
Remember, don't use colored nectar, just pure cane sugar in a 1 to 4 ratio with water. Boil the water 1st, then mix in the sugar, and let cool.
The sugar water can go bad fast in hot weather, so don't waste it by filling up a large feeder. Small feeders re-filled frequently assures fresh go-juice for them.
ByTheWay, MalWart had some really well made, easy to clean feeders in combo pack that were Made In America!
Check and see if they still have some, they make a great gift.