A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Hobbies, Crafts and Creativity The Bird Lovers Forum 2008 annual Hummingbird Migration map(ruby throated)

The hummers were early here last year, hoping they are late this year...the poor things are gonna freeze.

It's so funny to me how the area all the way around me in a circle has hummers, and my area fills in last....It has to be the mountains and the climate here that causes that. We had a freeze last night so if they are hanging around they were shivering thru the night.

Don't worry little one, they won't freeze. ALL birds can take the LOWEST temperatures with no problems at all...AS LONG AS THEY HAVE FOOD! That's why we say keep your hummer feeders out all WINTER in Just in case you have one of those RARE hummers that do NOT fly South for the Winter.

Loz, Birds do NOT migrate in a broad front, like a wall. Instead, their migration patterns resemble tendrils of movement; long spikes that fill in and spread at regular nodes, sorta like lace, until you get a solid evenly distributed mass of birds. You and I just happen to be in one of the gaps in the "lace" at this time.

Thorn, the reason I started keeping my feeders out is because one year, in the cold of winter, I saw a hummingbird in my back yard. I didn't have out any food and felt terrible. I had always heard NOT to keep the feeders out becasue the birds wouldn't migrate properly.

I also read, in a bird book somewhere, not to keep seeds out in the summer. To only feed the birds in the winter. Is that true?

I heard once you start the winter feeding, dont quit, cause they rely on it?

I know nothing else....I am new on birds,

No, both of those Urban Myths ARE not TRUE. Hummingbirds stay in the Winter for UNKNOWN reasons. The cold doesn't bother them......BUT THEY DO NEED FOOD! Those that stay, stay not because feeders are left out, THEY STAY BECAUSE THEY WANT TO.

You can keep seeds out ALL year. I do. However, not as many birds come to the seed feeders in Summer. There is so MUCH Natural food available at that time, that they do not need to come to the feeders as much.

Thanks Thornius. I'll start keeping the feeders out all year then. This past year I took them in when it got really cold. In the winter how often do you change the food and clean them?

As often as they need it, about every three days. I have NEVER had a Winter Hummer, but people twenty miles away have. These Winter Hummers are most often Rufous Hummingbirds, a West Coast Hummer for some reason. I saw one, a male, here in Nashville the first year I started birding, about 19 years ago.

Hello!! I am new, I live in Southwest Ohio and I just hung my feeder I haven't seen one yet but I am waiting!! I can't wait.
is anyone else form southwest Ohio??
Xo

I'm anxiously waiting too, hung my feeders out a few days ago.

I'm not in Ohio, I'm in Western Maryland. Really glad you took the time out to join us. Let us know when you get your first one!

Oh don't worry I will!! This weekend I am going to plant this packect of seeds called the "hummingbird Haven" OHH! I can't wait this will be my 1st time trying seeds out. I planted carrots from seeds in my 1st. garden last year and they turned out, we will see how the "hummingbird Haven" works =)

Hi Johannamaria! I'm Thornius in Nashville, TN. I am the Bird Man here and have FIVE hummer feeders hanging for about 3 weeks now and have NO hummers yet, so don't despair. I also have about 150 red Cannas coming up that the hummers LOVE! The Cannas won't bloom until around mid July but then I'll have red flowers coming out the Wazoo (and it really hurts to have flowers come out of the Wazoo, but the Doctor gave me some cream for that.) Welcome to the forum.

LOL LOL LOL funny bird man!! now are Cannas the really big tall plants that come from bulbs? I think my mom has some of those.
Wow five is alot I have just one for now My fiance' and I just got our 1st house last year and we are trying to fix it up all I know is I want lots of flowers that all types of birds LOVE!! I have 4 seed feeders that I keep all year round.
Thanks for the welcome!!

Ok so I googled Cannas and yep my mom has some of those...wow I can't believe you have 150!! I bet the hummers bet down your door =)

I get 150 beetles on my cannnas....gave them to sister, she gets 150 rabbits on them....
No win win here.

Hello Everyone!!
I had a question...I have looked and looked and can't find when birds start nesting I have 2 birds houses up and no one has made a nest yet. =(

They may NOT nest in them. And not all birds use birdhouses. The ones that will use them are bluebirds, Woodpeckers, Chickadees, Titmouses, and Wrens. Starlings and House Sparrows also nest in birdhouses......but you DO NOT want them.

As for Cannas, they grow from eith seeds or rhyzomes (bulbs). WHen they get started, the first year you get one or two shoots per rhyzome, BUT, the rhyzome spreads in all directions, like a starfish. SO, the second year you get five to ten shoots per rhyzome. And the next year you get five to ten times more Cannas than the year before, and so on, and so on. Pretty soon your yard looks like a botanical garden. But the hummers love them, and I am rather fond of them myself.

Well I have Woodpeckers, Chickadees, Titmouses in my back yard. Awe I hope they nest in them. Woodpeckers are my FAV! I hate the Starlings they eat all of my suet. =/

I think I will have to get some cannas at some point. I want my backyard to have lots of hummers =)

Thats SO sad!!

beetles on Cannas? I've grown cannas for years....bettles....am I missing something? you talking about bugs? (hope I'm not straying too far off topic)

Better get my feeders out! They have been spotted near me!!

Japanese beetles in Pennsylvania......I dont think your area has those.
We get everything here.

Get 'em out Jess.

Put mine out a few days ago. None yet, but this warm weather should get them moving this way more.

Mine aren't.

SEND THEM UP HERE LOZ,,,,,,,,,,WANNA SEE A HUMMER......CONGRADS ARE IN ORDER.

Oh boy Loz.

No beetles in Texas? I thought those rascals went everywhere.

I hope they get there for you soon Barb and you too Thorny.

I walked around the yard for a bit with a big old cheesy smile on my face.

That is great Loz!!! It was warm here but now it is storming and tonight it is supposed to get down to 25 and possibly a chance of snow! The poor little hummers will be cold! It will be in the 50s for the next week. I will get my feeders out tonight!!

25????? That's not right!!!! It's hot here today! Pushing 80!

Thanks Loz,

Guess we cant have all the fun.

Barb yours should be there any second.....we aren't all that far apart really. Shouldn't be too much longer.

Humming birds are rare here in California;I only see one once every few years or so.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
goodie gum drops.....
I was watching tonite.......
Their so fast I miss them.

eme .........you have other nice birds in california I hear..

There are mostly annoying seagulls and crows in my area but some nice birds show up once in a while.

Show us the nice birds.LOL

oh....ok, so these beetles thrive in other zones...thanks!
Tell me the truth...........how often do you change your hummer's juice? I read they should be changed every couple of days. gotta admit here, I only change mine once or twice a week. (but I do have a lot of flowering natives that they like)

i dont put out hummer juice of food. flowers boy flowers.

I think I seen my 1st one!! But I didn't have my glasses on and when I went to get a closer look it whatever it was was gone =/
But I know its getting close!!!!!