Hummingbirds in May

pushylady · May 8, 2012

The other day I was talking to DH when out of the corner of my eye I saw a hummingbird hovering on above the impatiens on my balcony! I was so startled that I interrupted myself, which upset DH because he loves listening to me while watching a play-off game.

Has anyone else seen hummingbirds about already?

May seems very early to me (for SW Ontario at least) but with the unusually mild winter we had nature got kickstarted early this year. A couple of weeks ago there were thousands of butterflies everywhere because they migrated early. I guess the hummingbirds have too.
I'm worried for them as there may not be much appropriate food sources for them yet.

-_aj_- · May 8, 2012

I wish we had hummingbirds where I live, we get blue tits, sparrows, robins the odd finch but I'd love to watch hummingbirds

calico2222 · May 8, 2012

The hummingbirds were early here too! I think they showed up the end of March or beginning of April. I think the mild winter and early spring here really confused them. I only saw a few for a while but now more are showing up. They normally don't show up here until late May/early June. I just love hummingbirds!

pushylady · May 9, 2012

I just hope they get enough to eat and stick around for when the flowers start blooming. I'm deliberating growing ones that they like!

calico2222 · May 9, 2012

If the flowers aren't blooming yet, you probably should put out some food for them. Here's an easy DIY hummingbird feeder you can make.

http://almostunschoolers.blogspot.com/2011/04/homemade-hummingbird-feeder.html

And here's another one that includes how to make nectar to entice hummingbirds.

http://www.wildbirdshop.com/Birding/humfeed.html

I would definitely plant some flowers that attract them because they are so much fun to watch. Almost magical. But they may need some nourishment now.

margecat · May 10, 2012

Hummies all over returned very early this year--except to my house! I've had the feeder and plants out since mid-March. I miss them! (You may remember my hummingbiords posts from last June about when my Mom died--so they are very important to me.)

I just spent almost $200 to make them a hummingbird garden! They'd better show up soon! I planted perennials, while more expensive, will return every year, and therefore, cost less in the long run. I now have a small hummingbird/bird sanctuary in my garden!

yosemite · May 10, 2012

I put my feeder out early and am glad I did. I have hummers and also have a Baltimore Oriole that visits and drinks from the one flower that has the centre missing. I guess his beak fits in that hole better. I love watching them. One of them came right up to my balcony door this evening. I was afraid it would hit the glass but I guess it was just being nosy.

Wendy, don't buy that coloured mix - it isn't good for the birds with the red dye. I just mix 1/3 cup sugar with 2/3 cup hot water (to sterilize the water), let it cool and fill the feeder. Some folks say 4 to 1 ratio, but I make 3 to 1 and they like it.

margecat · May 11, 2012

Yosemite said:
I put my feeder out early and am glad I did. I have hummers and also have a Baltimore Oriole that visits and drinks from the one flower that has the centre missing. I guess his beak fits in that hole better. I love watching them. One of them came right up to my balcony door this evening. I was afraid it would hit the glass but I guess it was just being nosy.

Wendy, don't buy that coloured mix - it isn't good for the birds with the red dye. I just mix 1/3 cup sugar with 2/3 cup hot water (to sterilize the water), let it cool and fill the feeder. Some folks say 4 to 1 ratio, but I make 3 to 1 and they like it.

You're right about the colored nectar, though I use it in the few weeks prior to when I think they're going to migrate, so they fatten up a bit, which they also do naturally. I've often read that it's better to give them the 4 to 1 ratio, except perhaps when trying to lure them to a new feeder. Too much sugar in the mix can cause serious health problems--I think it's kidney failure. You may want to check on this.

It's also highly recommended that you boil the sugar water mixture for 2 minutes, in order to kill any bacteria, then let it cool before using. I make a batch, and store in the fridge for up to 1 week; I discard it after that. It's a pain, but better safe than sorry!

yosemite · May 11, 2012

Thanks for the advice MargeCat. I will definitely change my mix to 4 to 1 and boil it first. I wouldn't want to do anything to harm the beautiful creatures and they are worth the extra time involved.

pushylady · May 12, 2012

:doh3: Can't believe I didn't think to put out my feeder already! It's so ingrained that I put it out in summer, that I just didn't think to do it. I'm going to boil up some nectar for them today - 4:1 ratio is what I normally do.
Linda, that's awesome they're visiting you regularly. I've only seen an oriole once, and I would love to see more.
MargeCat, I'm sure you're investment will pay off when the birds all discover your garden! :clap:

Winchester · May 12, 2012

MargeCat, I'd love to see some pictures, if you don't mind. Your garden sounds very pretty. We get hummingbirds, but haven't seen any around yet. We had really warm weather earlier this spring, but April and now May, too, have been below average temps. Maybe that frightened them off to warmer areas for now.

But I happened to be looking out of the bathroom window yesterday while cleaning the bathroom and saw a lovely red bird (not sure if it was a cardinal) sitting on the edge of the bird bath in the flower bed. He was really pretty. I don't know birds that well, so can't say what he was. He looked like the same guy who's been coming in to the weigela bushes in the back yard by the pool fence.

margecat · May 12, 2012

Winchester said:
MargeCat, I'd love to see some pictures, if you don't mind. Your garden sounds very pretty. We get hummingbirds, but haven't seen any around yet. We had really warm weather earlier this spring, but April and now May, too, have been below average temps. Maybe that frightened them off to warmer areas for now.

But I happened to be looking out of the bathroom window yesterday while cleaning the bathroom and saw a lovely red bird (not sure if it was a cardinal) sitting on the edge of the bird bath in the flower bed. He was really pretty. I don't know birds that well, so can't say what he was. He looked like the same guy who's been coming in to the weigela bushes in the back yard by the pool fence.

When it's done (I'm waiting for May 15th, our last frost date), I'll try to remember to take pics! I just bought, on eBay of course(!) a pretty personalized garden tile on a stake, that will have Mom's birth & death dates and name on it:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/270731579627?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

Now, about the red bird. How big was it? I can't think of any other all-red bird in our area that's not a male cardinal. We're only supposed to have ruby-throated hummingbirds here, but only their throat areas (males) are red. On the other hand, I can't think of any all-red hummingbird, either! There have been a couple of other species seen in New Jersey over the winter, that shouldn't be here. PA does sometimes host the odd Rufous hummingbird during migration season, but this other species had never been seen this far north before. I can't remember what it was! This isn't surpirsing, though. The cardinal's real name is Northern cardinal. It was a Southern bird until the 1950's. It's range increased due to the prevalance of bird feeding and desired shrubbery.

margecat · May 12, 2012

Winchester said:
MargeCat, I'd love to see some pictures, if you don't mind. Your garden sounds very pretty. We get hummingbirds, but haven't seen any around yet. We had really warm weather earlier this spring, but April and now May, too, have been below average temps. Maybe that frightened them off to warmer areas for now.

But I happened to be looking out of the bathroom window yesterday while cleaning the bathroom and saw a lovely red bird (not sure if it was a cardinal) sitting on the edge of the bird bath in the flower bed. He was really pretty. I don't know birds that well, so can't say what he was. He looked like the same guy who's been coming in to the weigela bushes in the back yard by the pool fence.

Winchester, I had a thought--could it be a scarlet tanager? I've never seen one, but, according to my bird book, they breed in our region. Here's a site:

http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/579/_/Scarlet_Tanager.aspx

speakhandsforme · May 12, 2012

Pam, there's an easy way to tell -- the male cardinal has a pointy ruff of feathers on the top of his head.

http://www.purpleopurple.com/life-science/birds/cardinal.jpg

Hummingbirds in May

pushylady

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