A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Hobbies, Crafts and Creativity The Bird Lovers Forum FAT HUMMER AT 6 AM...TODAY

6 AM.......This fatty was roosting in the rain............They like rain..........

love the picture barb

Thanks.......
Hey Sheri said if I was right I WAS Jiffy.lol

She got her funny bone back.THANK HEAVENS.........

Goooood Pictures Dodge!

that bird is soooooo cute. I do have my funny bone back.

Hey Dodge, I know a good Gastric Bypass Surgeon. He did wonders for me.

I will look at them sometimes and their fat then at other times their sleek looking. I thought it was just the sunlight or maybe I had alot at the feeders.
or are they just puffed up?

They ARE FAT. Hummingbirds fatten up in the late Summer to early Fall for the flight to South America. They fly nonstop from the coast of Alabama to the coast of Venezuela, crossing the Gulf of Mexico in LESS THAN 24 HOURS! When they leave Alabama, they are SO fat they can barely get airborne. When they reach Venezuela, less than 24 hours later, they are more anorexic than a super model. They immediately head to the South American flowers and Hummer feeders to fatten up. And, yes, Hummer feeders, and feeding Hummers, are as popular in South America as they are here in the U.S. and Canada.

I have had alot of traffic at the feeders lately. Some fat - some sleek looking. but i guess their heading your way!
All hummers do this???

All Ruby-Throated Hummers do this and Use the Gulf of Mexico route. I'm not sure about the West Coast Hummers. My daughter lives in Texas and right now has many of the West Coast Hummers migrating through. This week she has sent me picures of the Rufous Hummingbirds at her feeders. She is going to Scotland in two weeks for a couple of months, to stay with her fiance and his family. She sends me pictures of British birds and wildlife.

It's hard to believe the long trip it takes from there and they end up here...poor little things.

how can they get to Venezuela in 24 hours? That seems impossible. Do they fly in a straight line?

They fly in a straight line ACROSS the Gulf of Mexico, staying 5 to 10 feet above the waves, moving non-stop, at a constant speed of 100 miles an hour (Yes they really CAN fly that fast). It is 1500 - 2000 miles from Alabama to Venezuela across the Gulf of Mexico, so flying in a straight line at a constant speed of 100 miles an hour, that is a 15 to 20 hour flight, so they make the flight in less than 24 hours.

and they don't have to worry about their luggage ending up in Jersey.

No, but SOMETIMES it ends up in Rio.

Holy heck Thorn .

You sound like your on the trip with the hummers........I am enjoyin them while they last.......3 feeders and all busy................

I will miss that badly......You and Loz made me addicted to them.........

Thanks Thorn and all for looking.

Yes By pass my hummer.........
The lil cuties are soon gone in Penna.........

They'll be back in your yard next April or May, Dodge. Don't worry. Now. We need to get ready for the onslaught of Dark-Eyed Juncos, Kinglets (Ruby-Crowned AND Golden Crowned), White-Throated Sparrows, and Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers.

ok.................
One must prepare.

For the Juncos - Wild Bird and/or Black Oil Sunflower seed spread on the GROUND or a platform feeder.

White-Throated Sparrows - The same as for the Juncos

Kinglets - Suet, preferably peanut flavored suet, in a suet cage.

Sapsuckers - They generally feed themselves, drilling holes in maple and fruit trees, to drink the sap that drains out. (Be sure to buy TINY little drills and drill bits for them to use):D. They MIGHT also like suet.

Good heavens .........I dont even have a drill bit .........
daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

I think the Sapsuckers have their own......built in.