Last year, (2012), I put up a great feeder outside my apartment window and loaded it with sugar. On any given day, I would see two or three and sometimes 4 hummingbirds at the feeder at the same time. Best times were early morning and just before dusk, but they could be spotted daytime as well.
I put up 2 identical feeders the 1st week of April and nothing.I’ve sighted one bird, no multiple ssightings at all. No dusk sightings save one. Are they back? Am I just too early? Sometimes, there would be a Rufus trying to claim the feeder for itself.Classic Rufus.
Has something happened with the hummingbird population in SF?
San Francisco has a moderate enough climate to have resident hummingbirds, not just migratory ones. That said, it’s spring - all the flowers are blooming, and hummers have a variety of food sources to choose from. It may be that they’re not using your feeders because they’re feeding on lots of flowers available this time of year.
It may also be that local construction projects or tree trimming disturbed them from their routines this same time last year.
Just north of San Francisco, my feeders have a lot of Anna’s bickering over them right now, and it’s been that way for the last month or so. A couple years ago some freeway construction less than a half mile away kept them from coming around, though.
I’d say keep the feeder up - they will eventually find it again.
Thanks for the info. Maybe the ones I were supporting were just pissed I didn’t feed them through the winter. :smack:
How dare NATURE with all its flowers compete with ME :eek: I’m throwing down the gauntlet and boosting the sugar content of my feeder. Last year it WAS much higher!
Just remember - don’t exceed 1 part in 5 sugar in water. They won’t like being relatively dehydrated, even if they do still drink mixes richer in sugar.
Best wishes for more hummer visitations. I haven’t been getting any Rufouses - could be the Anna’s are way too territorial over my feeders to let them in.
Ain’t it the troof? They won’t even let other Anna’s near the bloody thing. Hey! Four holes, no waiting! We’ve had some pitched. . .er. . .dogfights in the air around the feeder. Fun to watch.
I’d replace the sugar water too, if you haven’t already. If mine sits for more than a few days (which very rarely happens) it starts to look a little green and they don’t seem to like it.
I’m in Albuquerque and they’re gone in my neighborhood. I think I heard one a couple weeks ago and that’s it, and nothing new is happening that should worry them. I put out flowers that would attract them and they aren’t here.
The weird thing I’ve noticed is Hummingbird Moths, which are insects that closely resemble hummers, have appeared and are merrily attacking flowers everywhere, even in stores. Previously I think I’ve seen them three times in my life and now they’re buzzing everywhere while I don’t see hummingbirds.
I’m planning to report it to Cornell Ornithology; in the mean time does Colibri have any guesses?
I know what you mean. I was out on the porch near the feeder Monday evening, and two Anna’s were battling it out. I could actually hear the smack they made when they collided. Yeesh, they pack quite a punch into a tiny little frame.
We have resident hummingbirds here on Vancouver Island. I feed them all winter long. I figure lots of people put up feeders in the summer, when the temperature is pleasant and lots of flowers are blooming. It’s when it’s cold and flower-less that the little buggers seem to really appreciate having fresh nectar all winter long.
They are little buggers, too. They come and hover in front of my face when they feel the feeders need to be cleaned and refilled. They little and beautiful, but they ain’t shy.
