It's hummingbird time!

[Louise Chambers]

Trishy, the large feeders are easy to find - feed stores, bird stores, big box stores, should all have them. When migration picks up, we will have at least 2 jumbo feeders up plus several smaller feeders. The more we put up, the more hummers we get, plus the orioles and woodpeckers :-)

[Sugarfoot]

All the feeding holes were filled so I had to feed by hand. :o)

[Sugarfoot]

I have six of these out for most of the Hummingbird season.
I've had them all filled lots of times
This year not to much as their has not been as many hummer's
here. Because of the heat I think. :o(

[bacato]

Interesting comments above about the baltimore orioles, I've had the same experience here this year - I even put the orange feeder back out (with orange and grape jelly). Generally I see them in april/may as they are passing through.

My hummingbird counts are way down here, this weekend is generally the peak time for migration for this area.

I too think the feeder style Louise pictured above is one of the best. I have 5 of these quart feeders up right now, refilling two or three per day. In previous years, the birds would empty 6 or 7 of these a day late august thru mid september. Here's a picture from Sept 11, 2010.

[Louise Chambers]

We thought hummer migration had peaked, but have a new influx as of yesterday. Have seen more rufous hummers this year than ever.

[Sugarfoot]

It's a female Louise, don't you know they are always late.

Nice photo

[flyin-lowe]

I have read a few conflicting reports about feeding hummers in the north. Some people say to feed them and they will know when to return south. Other people say if you keep feeding them they will not go south and then they will die from the cold or if they do start south there will be no other food for them to eat on the way. What do you guys know about this subject?

[Louise Chambers]

Keep feeding - it's a myth that feeders will keep them from migrating. Some hummingbirds winter in Texas so some folks feed them year round here.

[Dave Reynolds]

Louise -- You are right, keep feeding them, they will leave on their own time. The last of our Hummers have just left here in South Eastern Ohio, the 26th of Sept. But we still may have a straggler or two before the end of the month.

Dave

[Louise Chambers]

The front that came through south Texas over the weekend brought us some very welcome rain and cooler temps. The hummingbird faucet is almost turned off, but not quite. We noticed a new Rufous/Allen's today.

[Louise Chambers]

I guess it's time to transition from hummingbirds to monarch butterflies, since we are down to just a few hummers. I was delighted to find five monarch caterpillars chowing down on the tropical milkweed plants we grow for them. I have read that monarch numbers are very low, due to two years of drought. I am glad we can help some of them out.

[AidanRois]

It's been three days since I've seen my little guys with that cold front and all coming through, so it's safe to figure they've moved on.

[Peggy Riley]

I'm still seeing one every now and then. Saw a male just now but I'm sure with the front they'll be gone any day now.

[Louise Chambers]

We still have one or two here! Plus turned out a nice batch on monarchs over the last couple of weeks.