Hummingbird migration

[Julie]

They start the hummingbird migration map the last week in February.. can't wait. Just a few weeks away from the little hummers showing up!

www.hummingbirds.net

Looking back it seems the first sightings of hummingbirds in our area was around the last week of March in 2006. In 2007 I found where I saw my first hummingbird on March 20. Everyone get your feeders cleaned up and ready to put out in March!

[cyotefishing]

I'm putting my feeders up today. From time to time I'lI catch a yankee bound hummer passing thru prior to our local average arrival date of March 20. BTW,saw a Purple Martin scout today. We take our Martin condo down in October and clean it real well and it goes into the storage building until March 7. I really should wait until March 15 but I can't help myself. Up too early, we have to keep taking it up and down on the telescopic pole to keep the sparrows nests out.

[BikerJJ]

It's almost time. Sightings on the gulf coast.

[cyotefishing]

May be a late arrival due to the weather. Purple Martins should be here now but they're not. I look for them this week after the front.

[itsgonnabeok]

And soon the boys will be cruising shallow water!!

[shortysisd]

I saw a scissortail on my fence this past Saturday!

[gonefishing2]

I saw 2 of the green humming birds yesterday kinda hanging around. Is it to early to put out the feeders?

[aa6660]

Anyone ever had any success with any of the window mounted humming bird feeders? I don't have any where to hang it from that the dog can't get to (and he likes to eat birdies), but I think I have a window or two that I could hang a feeder high enough on that he wouldn't bother it.

[gonefishing2]

Yes I have two and have used them for 2 yrs. I bought them at Home Depot but they were a little more expensive that the hangers. I like them because it looks like the little hummers are in my living room.

[cyotefishing]

I saw 2 of the green humming birds yesterday kinda hanging around. Is it to early to put out the feeders?I just got thru washing/rinsing out my Hummingbird feeders. They are drying out on the porch as we speak. I almost filled them with sugar water but I was a little hesitant. Last year I may have put them up too soon, the water got a little rancid before they ever showed up. With what you said I'll prolly go ahead and put them up tomorrow filled.
BTW. I think my wintering Goldfinches are gone. Headed North to breed. I had at least 100 all winter and I don't see any today. My feeders still had seed in them when I got home from work and that's a tell tell sign they have left for thier breeding grounds up north.

[gonefishing2]

Thanks for the info. I know nothing about the little fellows. I love sitting out on the porch and watching them. I actually had a few last year that landed on me. I had one last year that drove Scooby crazy by diving at him. I am taking one with me to SASP to put up while we are there.

[cyotefishing]

Thanks for the info. I know nothing about the little fellows. I love sitting out on the porch and watching them. I actually had a few last year that landed on me. I had one last year that drove Scooby crazy by diving at him. I am taking one with me to SASP to put up while we are there. Your place would be perfect for a Purple Martin house. They like to be close to open water away from trees. They are swallows so they swoop upon open water to drink and bath. You'll never see a PM on a birdbath.

[gonefishing2]

I have been seeing a bird with a bright yellow breast but I don't know what they are. I counted 21 in the back yard today all at one time. They love the left over stuff for the deer feeder.

[Julie]

I hadn't even realized we were getting that close to hummingbird season. Boy howdy I'm ready for it. I guess I need to clean out feeders when I get home tonight.

[shortysisd]

I have been seeing a bird with a bright yellow breast but I don't know what they are. I counted 21 in the back yard today all at one time. They love the left over stuff for the deer feeder.

We saw these too...had lots of them. I looked them up once and I think it was a Western Meadlowlark that we determined because of the yellow chest and the black V on their chest...

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/western_meadowlark/id

This site showed it is likely for these birds to be in our area during the Winter (the non breeding type).

[cyotefishing]

I have been seeing a bird with a bright yellow breast but I don't know what they are. I counted 21 in the back yard today all at one time. They love the left over stuff for the deer feeder.For the count they are prolly Goldfinches. They will eventually leave here to breed up north. The males get the bright yellow plumage to breed, we are fortunate to see it here but they breed up north.

[gonefishing2]

They really stand out. Nice and bright.

[MsFrizz]

For the count they are prolly Goldfinches. They will eventually leave here to breed up north. The males get the bright yellow plumage to breed, we are fortunate to see it here but they breed up north.

I'm dissappointed. Didn't know they would all be leaving in the spring. My boyfriend put up the finch feeders this year, and I had no idea there were so many of those little birds around. This morning I counted more than 40, grouped around our feeders. There are normally 15 or 20, so I guess some are beginning to migrate.

Do the little red housefinches go north too?

[Julie]

Got my hummingbird feeder up today. According to the map they should be getting really close.

[cyotefishing]

Got my hummingbird feeder up today. According to the map they should be getting really close.My sis in Bandera saw her first hummer Thursday morning.

[gonefishing2]

Saw several at San Angelo State Park last week.

[oldgoat]

We saw our first hummingbird of the year today (3-27). We have been putting fresh food out at least once a week. Glad they are arriving.

[Traveler]

Oops, didn`t even take time to ck. that anybody else had already started a hummingbird thread. I get so excited that I just sit down and start a thread and start bragging. I am sooo excited about having my 2 little hummers. Actually one is a real Fat Albert and the other is a tiny little thing. They are both males. They must really be hungry because they have been at the feeder constantly.

[Traveler]

Guess I`ll have to keep on bragging. I put another feeder up on the South side of the house (other one on the N. side) and I am now the proud owner of 1 more hummer. YEAH!

[itsgonnabeok]

Do you think the same ones come back every year Traveler?

[shortysisd]

I don't know if it is the same ones but I have had 2 at my feeders since Monday! They're baaaaaaack!!

[BikerJJ]

I saw one a week ago but haven't seen anymore. I've even changed the food a time or two. Maybe it's this dang wind. Hopefully, they'll be back this weekend.

[Traveler]

Do you think the same ones come back every year Traveler?

Yes, I do think the same ones come back. I don`t know how long they live, but I know for sure I have had one male for 3 years. He is big, fat and has a crooked foot which does seem to deter him in the least.

[Spanky]

Put out a feeder yesterday morning. This evening I have at least three different birds sipping at it. How did they find it so fast? Makes me wonder , too, if they are the same birds from last year.

[Traveler]

According to everything that I have read re: hummingbirds.......they imprint. Spanky, have you ever heard that?

[aa6660]

I got my feeder up this past weekend. I haven't seen any action at it yet. Guess I will change out the juice this weekend and see if next week is any different.

On the other hand, I also got out a bird feeder and have had some sparrows and red-winged black birds feeding.

[Traveler]

I have still just got the 2 feeders up, but am anticipating putting up a 3rd one this week-end. I am having to refill my feeders once a day already and by night they are already getting pretty low again. I think when you live in the country you have more hummingbirds than people in town do. Less competition. Counting is very difficult since they are so fast and seem to use both feeders. That is why I separated the 2 feeders and put one out front and one out back. Just know that we have a bunch already and expect many more.

[csdom1]

we started to see them 2 weeks ago. Live in Carbon and last weekend- even in the horrible wind- they made their way to the feeders. We have 2 up.Counted 4 .

[shortysisd]

I got my feeder up this past weekend. I haven't seen any action at it yet. Guess I will change out the juice this weekend and see if next week is any different.

On the other hand, I also got out a bird feeder and have had some sparrows and red-winged black birds feeding.


Not sure if this will help but I have noticed a dramatic increase in hummers when I use the sugar and water recipe verses the nectar that you buy at the store. Seems they like the sugar water much better,

[Ranger]

My hummers usually show up around March 20th--I was a little late by a couple of days-- putting up my feeders--starter out with one but by mid-day had to put up # 2--now have 3--will have to put up #4 by this afternoon. I have always used sugar & water--keeps me hopping but I just love them. One bird usually divesbomb me when he first comes--to let me know he/she is hungrey & wants somethine to eat!!! LOL Then I put my feeder out

[TexasT]

Only have two or three and one seems to think he owns the feeder and keeps chasing the others off. Wonder if I should put up another? had two up the past couple of years, but they did not seem to like the other feeder for some reason.

[aa6660]

I gave up on the hummers and decided to just go with the regular bird feeders. Have one hanging outside of a window that the cats like to look at. I think they are finding the birds entertaining!