What are YOU looking at?!
On top of all the other arrivals I've had lately, the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird is one of my favorites. I haven't been putting out feeders over the years, but plopped one up last year. I didn't think it was used much then - this guy found it right away this year and made my day. I just love how they buzz in from out of nowhere, drink heavily, then buzz back out. Reminds me of boys drinking beers at a beach cabana.
When he first stopped by, he sat on this perch for a good five minutes. He must have just flown in.
Taking a break from slurping for a second or two
Buzzzz! Off he goes!
I haven't had a chance to snag a photo op of Mrs. H.... yet.
I am glad you have hummingbirds visiting your feeder this year. I would like to offer a couple of possible reasons why there were few visitors last year.
ReplyDeleteIt may of been because of where the feeder was placed. If last year was your first year using feeders, the birds may not have spotted it. Try placing the feeder near some plants in your known to attract hummingbirds. If the feeder does not have enough red on it (although yours seemed to have plenty) you can always add a red ribbon hanging from the feeder.
It also could have been because your feeder was leaking or dripping. There is no perfect solution as to how to prevent hummingbird feeders from leaking or dripping - feeders will drip occasionally. However, there are several things that can be done to minimize the amount of leaking or dripping that occurs, so that you can truly enjoy your feeder.
1. Always fill the feeder completely full with cool nectar. The stopper should be inserted and the feeder quickly inverted to avoid any air entering the feeder. Tube feeders operate on a vacuum principle, and the feeder must be filled completely full in order for the vacuum to form!
2. Only hang your feeder in shade or partial shade. The cooler the feeder, the less likely it is to drip.
3. Make sure to keep the feeder very clean by regularly cleaning the vessel with hot water and a bottle brush. Soap should not be used during cleaning, because its residue may cause your feeder to drip. As an alternative, try periodically using a vinegar rinse to thoroughly clean your feeder and then rinse well with hot water.
4. As a last resort, the stopper assembly can be placed in very hot water to soften the tube. You can bend it slightly to increase the angle. This will stop dripping, but might make it more difficult for nectar to come down the tube.
5. If the dripping of this type of feeder is too much for you, then try a top-feeding hummingbird feeder instead.
Lastly, the birds may not have been visiting your feeder because your nectar solution had spoiled. It is important that your nectar solution be changed frequently, about every 2-3 days, to help prevent this from happening.
My advice is that the feeders be cleaned every time the nectar solution is changed. This can be done by placing the feeder in the dishwasher and running it through the cycle. If you wash it by hand, place the feeder in a solution of diluted bleach and water or even vinegar and water and let it soak and then scrub and rinse extremely well before refilling and hanging.
I hope these suggestions will help you and anyone else who visits your site to attract the hummingbirds to your feeders.
Hi Zoe - thanks a bunch for the information, this is great!
ReplyDeleteI have to admit when I put up last year's feeder the Hummers here had already established themselves at my neighbors house. It was really late in the year. So far this year they love me!
Again, thanks for stopping by!