one hundred lbs of sugar since Aug 1.  I think they're slacking off, I filled the feeders once today ( I  have 7 1-quart feeders out)

I've had my first feeder up since May and its been a fascinating and fun flurry of feathered activity.

Today I made a not so fun discovery and I am wondering if there is anything I can do as a precautionary move.

The ants and the bees have found me. And they are telling their friends.

I find it too much of a coincidence that I have been insect free all summer long and now on the exact same day my feeder has turned into the 24 hour buffet.

Am I doing something wrong? Did I neglect to do something? Or is this just something one has to live with...

Hello everyone. These are the feeders I have.



I've got one male Ruby thorat that I don't want to lose. He drinks out of my roses and porter weed but I think he just got his adult colors and isn't too familiar with the feeders. The glass one seems to get stuck and no liquid goes down into the tube part. I shook it up and nothing. It was a gift and is a National Geographic brand. My other feeder you see has faded from the sun. It was out all last year and I was wondering if there is a safe red paint I can use to repaint the flower petals?

[crossposted from cottage renovations 15_the_circle]

it's been a long time, too long, since they cleared out last year.  with each year's seasonal departure it seems like they take a part of me away with them; I'm not really whole until they return. 

already the northward migration is underway; soon they will be passing through.  some may even stay over if conditions appear suitable. 

as always, the tracking map over at hummingbirds.net is updated daily and is well worth watching.  in a way it makes the waiting easier, though the lag between first report in the region and first spotting here is always far longer than it has any right to be. 

Sorry the video quality isn't the best...the little suckers are hard to film.

 Someone sent me this link, thought I would share it here.  Sorry if it's a repost.
http://community-2.webtv.net/Velpics/HUM/

This juvenile ruby-throated hummer was found today in the woods, with no sign of a nest or mom. I took a video of it feeding this afternoon (I'm a wildlife rehabilitator).

Someone must turned the hummer spigot on-- I've seen more today than I have past 2 weeks combined.  Still not near as many as I usually have, but encouraging none the less.  Granted, I refilled all my feeders yesterday, and it's storming/raining which increases activity at the feeders, but still.  I see a lot of females, too, must mean the eggs have hatched, yes? 

Thanks to all who commented, especially sequiro and lizzie_omalley for the quick education.

Posted to my own journal first, although I meant to post here, that's why I'm annoyed.


 Hummingbird season around here is late April to late September.  I"ve got a couple feeders up, but haven't seen any yet.  Just ruby-throated where I live, but last August I had 3 or 4 dozen at any given time.  I was filling (3) 1-quart feeders and (3) 1/2-quart feeders at least once a day, sometimes 2 or 3 times a day.  I went through 75lbs of sugar that month.  Almost a full time job.  I was also feeding several other kinds of birds, but a 90mph straight-line windstorm came through and destroyed most of my seed feeders (and ripped the roof off of my house & barn), so for the time being, I'm just going to feed hummers.