Humming Birds

[doak]

 Had to hang the feeder today, T-H-E-Y' R-E  B-A-A-C-K. ;)
DOAK

[KONASDAD]

When you find red honey, at least you'll know where it came from.

[doak]

I don't color my juice.
Sugar water just like the Bees get, just a different ratio.
doak

[reinbeau]

Yea, no red dye in hummingbird food, there's no need for it.  It'll be a month now before they're back around here.  It's 25 out there this morning.

[randydrivesabus]

hummingbirds are kind of a good indicator of when there is a nectar flow on if you have a feeder...if you fill it often there is no flow.

[poka-bee]

Mine are back too, saw a beautiful hen Sat. I put the feeders up St Paddys day, they come a few days before or after.  No red dye either  I have a window feeder & 1 little male always looks there first & scolds me if it's not there!  Did you know they can live 5-10 years???  Amazing considering how far they travel. The displays & fights by the males are so fun to watch, like old ww2 arial battles on tv! the tttzzu tzzu sounds.  The residents are usually gone by the 4th of July then just the straggler travelers from farther N on their way S.  Next are the barn/cliff swallows, (late april)then I know summer is close!  Jody

[doak]

Filling the feeder has nothing to do with the flow.
Humming birds are like you and I, and the bees.
They still have to eat whether the honey flow is on or not.
randydrivesabus, sorry to burst your bubble. :?
doak

[randydrivesabus]

just posting my experience Doak. My point was that if they are not eating from the feeder they must be eating from somewhere else.....so they could be hitting up a neighbors feeder or they could be hitting up the flowers. My bet is on the flowers.

[doak]

Remember, bees don't visit a good number of the blossoms that the humming birds work.
Wasn't trying to be rough on you.
doak

[randydrivesabus]

Wasn't trying to be rough on you.
doak

wasn't thinking you were.

[reinbeau]

Hummingbirds regularly go from flower to flower to feeder and back to flower - I haven't seen them ignore one for the other at all.  Then again I've got lots of flowers for them to enjoy, from mid-spring to fall, so they've always got plenty of options.

[Cindi]

Doak, beautiful thread.  The hummingbirds are a delight for sure.  I haven't spied any yet, but if Jody has seen a few, I can bet my bottom dollar that a few will be coming my way soon.  I never have had many ever visit my feeder, just a now and then.  But let me tell you, do they ever love the white Nicotianna that is the hybrid that has the flowers that open during the day, beautiful. Nicotiannas ahve the most beautiful night fragrance too.  Have the most beautiful and awesome of these days, Cindi