More Hummingbirds

[BilletHead]

We were gone on vacation for two weeks. Made syrup for the hummingbirds. We had saved gallon milk jugs. Had a neighbor and mom feed for us. Eleven gallons were went through in those fourteen days. The frenzy has continued and we are now going through almost a gallon a day. Mrs. Billethead said we have gone through sixty pounds of sugar! I shot some photos last evening and this morning. 150 of them. Weeded some out to share. We have four feeders out so you can imagine that for every feeder photo posted the other three are just as busy. In a few short weeks all will be gone. I will miss the birds but not this hot weather. I really like the first picture where two birds are face to face looking like a mirror is involved,

BilletHead

[Flysmallie]

Nice shots.

[tho1mas]

I wondered where my birds went - now I know. Two feeders out and 3 is the most I have seen at one time.

[gramps50]

Great shots! We have 1 feeder but rarely see more than one feeding at a time. If one is feeding and another one flies up they will start chasing one another away.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I don't seem to understand the process? I have 2 feeders, seperated in order to keep one from guarding both. I never have more than 2 on a feeder and most that activity is chasing one another. I have one on the end of my long covered porch and it is visited by a hen, she tries to run me off when I use that end to exit!

[BilletHead]

I really don't know how this happens here with all the birds. During a couple of months we have a few fights going on but for the most part they feed calmly with each other. The only time lately they get a bit crazy is when all the perches/feeding ports are full and one dives in for a look it is an explosion like musical chairs. We get up early and this morning as daylight cracked they were thick. When you get that many the sound is amazing. I try to count in groups of ten. About the time I get to fifty or sixty they shift so bad I loose count. We live next to thick timber and our yard is treed up pretty good. A nice flower garden maybe helps?

BilletHead

[smallfry]

Love the pictures, especially when you catch so many in one shot. I only get to our farm every 5 days or so. To keep up with our Hummers I have to use a bulk approach. I have 16 48 ounce feeders and 2 32 ounce feeders out and I make 6 gallons of sugar water at a time. And 80-90% of the feeders will be bone dry by the time I get back, and the ones that have any residual fluid are subject to "take a number." I also buy 50 pounds of sugar at a time. I started with 1 8 ounce feeder 18 years ago. People think I'm crazy, but I enjoy watching them. I took some video this morning but have not uploaded it yet.

[Andy & JoAnne]

I have my feeder next to a big red and pink hanging flower basket. They like the plants better than the feeder. We have probably gone through 2 oz of the mix. I put it there to make life easier for them but "no", they like the blooms. I would move it but the planter is where the wife and I like to sit and chat and have our evening cocktails. We only have a couple visit us but they are getting very use to us (Do I drink too much? LOL). They will come in and hover about a foot in front of our noses. That's pretty cool since they had nothing to do with us this Spring.

[jdmidwest]

I miss the little fellers. But, with the dearth going on this time of year and 7 bee hives setting about 50 feet from the house, you don't put out sugar water. There would be a wad of bees in no time.

[BilletHead]

Way to go smallfry!