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Post by chrispy78 on Jan 31, 2019 20:27:35 GMT -8
Hi! ( This is my very first time on any forum.) I put out a hummingbird feeder about a month ago w the hope that I might finally catch a glimpse up close of these tiny but mighty birds. Just minutes after I put it out I was awestruck. I had a visit by my first hummingbird! For the last month the little guy or gal has been there every day all day long drinking the nectar and chasing away any other hummers who might have had the inkling that they may also partake of themselves at the feeder. It’s been so wonderful to watch them from my living room window. But two days ago the hummingbirds just up and vanished.
I’ve been cleaning the feeder and changing the sugar water every 4-5 days which I thought would be ok this time of year. After no visits yesterday, I changed the sugar water and cleaned the feeder again last night, but no sign of any little guys today at all. Does anyone out there have any ideas of why he or she suddenly disappeared?
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Post by oldfulica on Feb 2, 2019 9:44:38 GMT -8
Hi! ( This is my very first time on any forum.) I put out a hummingbird feeder about a month ago w the hope that I might finally catch a glimpse up close of these tiny but mighty birds. Just minutes after I put it out I was awestruck. I had a visit by my first hummingbird! For the last month the little guy or gal has been there every day all day long drinking the nectar and chasing away any other hummers who might have had the inkling that they may also partake of themselves at the feeder. It’s been so wonderful to watch them from my living room window. But two days ago the hummingbirds just up and vanished. I’ve been cleaning the feeder and changing the sugar water every 4-5 days which I thought would be ok this time of year. After no visits yesterday, I changed the sugar water and cleaned the feeder again last night, but no sign of any little guys today at all. Does anyone out there have any ideas of why he or she suddenly disappeared? Don't know why, but my hummers are AWOL too. I see them in the area so they maybe have something else on their minds. |
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Post by Gord on Feb 2, 2019 13:35:15 GMT -8
Hi and welcome to the forum. Our observations at our yard of hummingbirds has shown a trend over the last few years similar to both yours. Early winter more and more show up and we have a 'full compliment' for a couple months until late winter. Then they start to drop in numbers until we have just one or two at most by late spring. I suspect they feel the need to move for breeding? Anna's Hummingbirds can breed quite early in the season and with the mild conditions the fact we've have less at our yard already might not be surprising. We have good plantings and habitat in our yard that would be good for breeding but they shun us even after a winter of helping them get through it!  |
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Post by Randy on Feb 3, 2019 21:07:37 GMT -8
I have certainly noticed the same.
Today of note I saw a male Anna's on multiple occasions perched on a landscaping stone on the ground up against the house for a number of minutes at a time near one of my hummingbird feeders. I eventually noticed that just above where he was sitting was a dryer vent! Although the dryer wasn't running there must have still been some warm house air coming out. Industrious little guy!
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Post by nickinthegarden on Feb 4, 2019 5:29:34 GMT -8
I generally only get one or two Anna's Hummingbirds at my feeder through the winter until the Rufous arrive then they take over. On Sunday one Anna's sheltered on a wire near the feeder most of the day. It was sheltered from the snow and most of the wind. At one point the feeder froze, so I took it inside and quickly put in unfrozen food and put it back out and the poor little bird looked relieved it was back. It stayed until it was almost completely dark and then left and a while later the feeder had frozen again. I brought it in to thaw and I will put it out as it starts to get light this morning. I hope it makes it, the cold wind is pretty nasty.  Sheltering from the snow. by Nick, on Flickr |
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Post by birderbert on Feb 4, 2019 9:08:22 GMT -8
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Post by alana on May 19, 2019 11:29:49 GMT -8
Hi , I know this is months late but maybe it will be helpful for next year. I have 2 Hummingbird Feeder-heaters, I have the 15A bulbs but unfortunately it could not keep up with the -20 winds this winter. I bought a heat lamp and installed it above the heater. It was not at all not to too in the -10 to -20 winds and it kept the feeder thawed as well as attracted all kinds of birds. I will try to post a picture of the set up, I’m new here and don’t know how to do that yet! Lol
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