I got to see a hummingbird up close today. I cleaned and changed the sugar water in one of my feeders and as I was hanging it, a male hummer flew up and sat on the feeder and ate while I was still holding it. A butterfly kept flying up close to the feeder and I think he was concerned that the butterfly was going to eat from 'his' feeder so he didn't pay any attention to me. It was a very cool experience.

Gary
Napoleon, OH
Zone 6a

That is cool Gary. I haven't had that experience yet.

Penny
NY
USDA hardiness zone 6a
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

Cool, Cool , Cool-- It is surprising what the little hummers will do when its totally unexpected as that was.

Steve
Martinsville, In
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 35

You don't realize how tiny they really are and how fragile looking they seem until you see them that close. I don't understand how they can migrate to Central American and back.

Gary
Napoleon, OH
Zone 6a

Gary I was thinking that same thing the other day when I saw the little male come to the feeder just about 5 ft. away. He seemed like barely a speck on the feeder. If it wasn't for his black head I might have not seen him at all. It really is amazing that such a tiny bird can understake such a journey and I won't even drive into the city.

Penny
NY
USDA hardiness zone 6a
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

I was a little disappointed up untill today since the only blooms hummers would even go to was honeysuckle and black and blue. but today late this evening I saw one check out the greggii mesa scarlet that I recently got from the nursery, now I feel better. I have not seen them use coral nymph or summer jewel as yet but that does not mean they havent used them.

Steve
Martinsville, In
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 35

I sure hope they use Summer jewel as I have quite a few. I grew those this year instead of Lady in Red but did pick up 2 Lady in Red at the farmer's market

Penny
NY
USDA hardiness zone 6a
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

Gary - That's pretty neat to have one land on the feeder you are holding! I've also had the good fortune to be very close to a hummer on a couple of occasions. Once at the feeder and once weeding near some salvia. I've also had them check me out when I've been in the yard. They come in close for a look and then zoom away. They are so curious ... or maybe the word is territorial. It's always a welcome surprise when one gets that close!

~Becky~


Click for weather forecast

Something else thats super cool with hummers. Several times this has happened when I am outside early with coffee in hand and all my flowers are in bloom up comes this hummer fluttering in my face just inches away doing the old stare down. Thats enough to give you a big rush and I love it when it happens.

Steve
Martinsville, In
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 35

I have had experiences like that too. I have a hat band, red with polka dots, and hummers love to investigate. But it is impossible to take pictures..

Sigrid

I did get to see a male run off a female Oriole from the feeder a little while ago which was p-retty cool. The male hummer flew up to the feeder and the female Oriole was drinking away. He started buzzing her until she flew off and then he was in hot persuit after her. Maybe he is happy here and will call this home for the summer.

Penny
NY
USDA hardiness zone 6a
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

It's so much fun to experience all the wonderful things these little guys do. Last year I was on my porch and a female would fly a foot from me, look at me for about 5 seconds, then fly about three feet away from me. She then would instantly fly back to me and repeated the process three times. Always the same way - the same flight pattern and all. The kids and I are going to try to hand feed them this fall.

It always fun and exciting to getting close to wildlife. Here is a video I took last year with my cell phone which show just how close you can get to hummingbirds (wait until at least 1:57.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6Uz7o9Y4WY

Mike Bons

My Hummingbird Gallery:
http://mikebons.zenfolio.com/p1019974167

fun video Mike!

Linsey
MN
USDA hardiness zone 4b
Heat zone 5
Sunset zone 43

Neat thred you started gary

glad you had the experience holding the feeder and having the hummingbird there with you

mine was two weekends ago .. i am looking at the feeder .. thinking out loud ... you guys aren't even here using these feeders .. why should i bother ...


and there he was a male ruby throat .. yep .. you guessed it i empty the little that was left and refilled it ... guess they haven't been using the feeders cuz i have at least 5 large stands of coral honeysuckle that the aphids haven't bothered (probably cuz they've been busily devouring the one in my front yard)


Vicki Lynn

Mike - Cool video! Luckily you had your cell phone to record it! I'm aspiring to try that one day.

Vicki - It seems like every time I consider taking the feeders down because I don't think the hummers are using them, sure enough ... I'll see one show up to drink from them! LOL! They've got me trained well! I keep the feeders up year round now!

Mike

Awesome cool video.

I had a little bit of a close encounter this evening unexpected. I was simply watering some plants with a light garden hose spray and this gorgeous vivid colored male comes in to the edge of the shower spray never quite going into the spray but had to be getting wet on the outside edge where it was fluttering. Then it cooly landed on a line about a foot from me and not untill I finally quit watering did it leave.

Steve
Martinsville, In
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 35

yes steve i have had that experience with ruby throats here in NJ... it is quite awesome ... they do love the water

vicki lynn