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Posted: 5/3/2020 5:41:21 PM EDT
First time hummingbird feeder here. We have seen them flying about several times in the evening, so decided to buy a glass feeder. Filled it with the mixed clear hummingbird food, and hung the feeder from second floor balcony rail via an angled bracket. We have not seen ANY hummingbirds since putting the feeder up - a week ago. I figured we’d see them at the feeder a lot. So, are they being wary of a new feeder? Maybe it’s too close to the house? We spend time on the balcony. I’m beginning to wonder what the deal is.
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Same boat. Put one in two weeks ago and nothing. The reason I put one n because I saw two in the backyard.
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We hang them on the porches and they were on ours as soon as we put it up. I think we have some of the same birds as last year, one sits on the same branch and attacks any other that comes to it, like last year. We didn't put up the second one and the birds still go to the location and it looks like they are thinking WTF where is the feeder?
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Sounds like distance from house/windows isn’t an issue. The first evening it was up, one hummingbird flew to it and hovered a few seconds, then split. Shattered dreams LOL. Nothing seen since.
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I don't know why the one who found it the day you put it up didn't drink, but now that it's been up a week it's time to wash it out and put fresh juice in it.
I just use plain sugar and water. I put a 1/4 cup of sugar in a cup of (chlorine free) water, bring it to a boil in the microwave, and wash the feeder while it cools down. |
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Originally Posted By xtrastout: We hang them on the porches and they were on ours as soon as we put it up. I think we have some of the same birds as last year, one sits on the same branch and attacks any other that comes to it, like last year. We didn't put up the second one and the birds still go to the location and it looks like they are thinking WTF where is the feeder? View Quote Had one come and chastise me yesterday for not putting ours out yet. Put them out about an hour later. One just finally stopped by for a drink. They buzz me when I'm outside doing yardwork and the feeders are empty. |
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If you're putting a garden out, scarlet runner beans are like hummingbird crack. They're a trellis bean with have a bright orange flower.
Last year while working in the garden, I had about eight birds on the beans at once. |
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I put one out about 3 weeks ago . It took a week to be noticed , I had Hummingbirds show up for a few days . Then they were gone , I read you should replace the suger water evey 5 days or or so because it starts to ferment .
I changed it they came back . Since it has gotten hotter ( 98 to 103 ) I haven't seen them . |
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I'll just throw out a few hummer pics.
DSC_8556-Chitter by FredMan, on Flickr Hummer Hover Wings Back by FredMan, on Flickr Female Ruby-Throated Hover by FredMan, on Flickr Ruby-throated Hover by FredMan, on Flickr Speed Brakes by FredMan, on Flickr Singing In The Rain by FredMan, on Flickr |
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I’m just here for the pictures!
Still no activity on my feeder. |
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Originally Posted By Rocklock: I put one out about 3 weeks ago . It took a week to be noticed , I had Hummingbirds show up for a few days . Then they were gone , I read you should replace the suger water evey 5 days or or so because it starts to ferment . I changed it they came back . Since it has gotten hotter ( 98 to 103 ) I haven't seen them . View Quote It’s been mid 90’s here lately. The juice has to be damn hot till the sun goes down. Maybe they don’t want to burn their tongue LOL. ETA: I’m cleaning and refilling feeder shortly. Fingers crossed. |
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I get tired of ours chewing me out because the feeder is empty.
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Originally Posted By Bollocks44: It’s been mid 90’s here lately. The juice has to be damn hot till the sun goes down. Maybe they don’t want to burn their tongue LOL. ETA: I’m cleaning and refilling feeder shortly. Fingers crossed. View Quote Try putting the feeder in some shade. Ours are under the eaves and only in direct sun for a few minutes after sunrise. |
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Originally Posted By xtrastout: Try putting the feeder in some shade. Ours are under the eaves and only in direct sun for a few minutes after sunrise. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By xtrastout: Originally Posted By Bollocks44: It’s been mid 90’s here lately. The juice has to be damn hot till the sun goes down. Maybe they don’t want to burn their tongue LOL. ETA: I’m cleaning and refilling feeder shortly. Fingers crossed. Try putting the feeder in some shade. Ours are under the eaves and only in direct sun for a few minutes after sunrise. Same here, all of ours are under our eaves. In the hot part of summer they get cloudy in about 3-4 days so I clean, bleach, and fill them twice a week. |
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Originally Posted By xtrastout: Try putting the feeder in some shade. Ours are under the eaves and only in direct sun for a few minutes after sunrise. View Quote It’s pretty much shaded until about 3 pm when the sun is on the west side of the house. Sun is down around 8 pm. There’s plenty of shade on the feeder the rest of the day but the temperature is 90’s. Can’t change that LOL |
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Saw my first of the year at the feeder today (Shenandoah Valley VA).
Hit and run, probably passing through. It's been a very damp and chilly spring thus far. |
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Originally Posted By Bollocks44: https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/326259/BE6BC0E8-AB70-47CE-BE58-1D01F7D81793_jpe-1400002.JPG Sigh..... View Quote Show us the actual feeder. I have been through a lot of feeders. Yours might have something missing. Is the feeder made of colored glass? Red? What do the feeding flowers look like? Are there wasps on it? Probably these things are not the issue, but in my experience, sometimes it takes a LONG time for the hummers to come to your feeder. But once they start, you've got hummers forever. In my understanding, the same birds come back to the same feeders year after year. You might try mounting ANOTHER feeder on the other end of the available balcony. In addition to another point of attraction, you will find that one dominant bird runs off everybody else (except for interested females, probably.) But with TWO feeders, we find that the weaker birds also get a chance to drink. I know that's not your issue yet, but...thinking ahead. You will get hummers. You will. Have patience. |
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Originally Posted By FredMan: I'll just throw out a few hummer pics. https://live.staticflickr.com/7629/27602784935_7b999ab275_b.jpgDSC_8556-Chitter by FredMan, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/4281/34559576743_dfc17b7d7a_b.jpgHummer Hover Wings Back by FredMan, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/4384/36350113876_e9f70fffbe_b.jpgFemale Ruby-Throated Hover by FredMan, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/967/39955056470_450df32709_b.jpgRuby-throated Hover by FredMan, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48030350993_9b9bc30849_b.jpgSpeed Brakes by FredMan, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48031550463_84a9135858_b.jpgSinging In The Rain by FredMan, on Flickr View Quote AWESOME FREAKING PHOTOS!!!! I need to pick your brain about lenses and such. Won't do any good, because we don't have time, but still... Wow. |
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Originally Posted By Rocklock: Here is one . Not the grearest picture . But there it is . https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/54321/IMG_20200503_164902_jpg-1399977.JPG View Quote I like the silhouette! |
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If you still have spring flowers around they will just about ignore your feeders.
They don't hit ours until mid May even though we see them in the yard. |
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Attached File
This is my feeder. No wasps/bees/hornets/anything ever around or on it. Item Description From seller: Enjoy this dual purpose hummingbird feeder day and night! The beautiful thick hand blown glass feeder is sure to attract a variety of hummingbirds and the decorative basket and hanger has 3 built-in perches which encourages longer feeder times from your winged visitors. The feeder transforms into a decorative hanging lantern at night with the LED lights in the lid. Beautiful, thick, hand blown glass in vibrant colors Extra wide opening enables easier filling and cleaning; all parts easily remove and glass pieces are dishwasher safe Gaskets on lid and flowers provide a tight leak-free fit LED light with rechargeable battery Decorative hanging basket with perching rings allows hummingbirds to perch for more comfortable feeding Series Name: Garden Glass Illuminated Number of Ports: 3 Primary Material: Glass Depth (Inches): 6 Width (Inches): 6 Height (Inches): 11.5 Manufacturer Color/Finish: Spring Rain Color/Finish Family: Multiple colors/finishes Warranty: None 's Exclusive: No Nectar/Water Capacity (oz.): 16 Type: Hummingbird feeder Mounting Type: Hanging UNSPSC: 10121600 Built-In Ant Moat: No Bee-Resistant: Yes ETA: Tonight I watched a hummingbird fly right past the feeder and out of sight. Crazy. |
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Originally Posted By Bollocks44: https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/326259/3453A7CD-F410-4205-87DA-082C768D1F43_jpe-1401705.JPG This is my feeder. No wasps/bees/hornets/anything ever around or on it. Item Description From seller: Enjoy this dual purpose hummingbird feeder day and night! The beautiful thick hand blown glass feeder is sure to attract a variety of hummingbirds and the decorative basket and hanger has 3 built-in perches which encourages longer feeder times from your winged visitors. The feeder transforms into a decorative hanging lantern at night with the LED lights in the lid. Beautiful, thick, hand blown glass in vibrant colors Extra wide opening enables easier filling and cleaning; all parts easily remove and glass pieces are dishwasher safe Gaskets on lid and flowers provide a tight leak-free fit LED light with rechargeable battery Decorative hanging basket with perching rings allows hummingbirds to perch for more comfortable feeding Series Name: Garden Glass Illuminated Number of Ports: 3 Primary Material: Glass Depth (Inches): 6 Width (Inches): 6 Height (Inches): 11.5 Manufacturer Color/Finish: Spring Rain Color/Finish Family: Multiple colors/finishes Warranty: None 's Exclusive: No Nectar/Water Capacity (oz.): 16 Type: Hummingbird feeder Mounting Type: Hanging UNSPSC: 10121600 Built-In Ant Moat: No Bee-Resistant: Yes View Quote That's beautiful! I've never seen one like it, but don't know why they wouldn't like it. It's interesting what attracts them and what doesn't. we've bought several that we liked, but they wouldn't touch them. Seems like the cheaper and the gaudier, the better, from the hummingbird point of view. Big gaudy plastic flowers suck them right in. I hate those feeders, but the birds sure love them. |
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You could try putting some big gaudy red bows or fake flowers on it to get their attention. You could take those off once they notice the actual feeding points.
I once had a hummer buzzing around my head (back when I was younger and had long hair) when I was sitting on the porch swing, wearing a giant red hair bow. It was trying to figure out if the bow was a flower. |
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They'll find it. They're the FSA of the bird world.
I left mine hanging at the cabin empty all winter. Haven't seen one even come and look at it. Decided to fill it before I drove home for a week. 1/2 hour after I hung it back up there was one hitting it. Might have been one of the same birds from last year. I should hang a second one in a different spot because the little shits are territorial and fight over it all day. |
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Saw our first fly by this am and the feeder went out in < an hour.
Had a couple skittish hit & runs on it that we saw.. Ruby Throated is all we've see here. Tough little bastards when another bird comes to the feeder. Had one light on the "bean" on my ball cap last year.. Of course "I" couldn't see it & the SO didn't have a camera...FML That woulda been a cool shot. @FredMan.. Awesome photos.. much jelly of your cam & skillz!!!! |
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Wife is going to hopefully dig out a big red bow and I’ll hang it on the hook above the feeder tomorrow.
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Y'all, we need to pay attention in the next few days--if you are anywhere near the transition zone where I'm located.
Been 80 degrees. Hummers everywhere. They're nesting for certain. Mamas sitting on tiny little eggs. And it's gonna be 33 f****ng degrees Saturday night, and again on Sunday night. Food needs to be available for sure. They will be sitting to keep the eggs from getting damaged. Food nearby will help. |
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Baby Rufous hummingbirds life cycle. Chapter 1 |
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Maybe go to a dollar store and pick up a more traditional looking cheap feeder and see if they'll come to it.
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Originally Posted By Kitties-with-Sigs: Y'all, we need to pay attention in the next few days--if you are anywhere near the transition zone where I'm located. Been 80 degrees. Hummers everywhere. They're nesting for certain. Mamas sitting on tiny little eggs. And it's gonna be 33 f****ng degrees Saturday night, and again on Sunday night. Food needs to be available for sure. They will be sitting to keep the eggs from getting damaged. Food nearby will help. View Quote Yup, not going to be quite as cold here but cold enough. We saw a male doing his mating dance yesterday so I know there are girls here building nests. |
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I think it has something to do with your feeder. Too crazy looking. We run these and they work pretty good and are easy to clean.
https://www.amazon.com/Perky-Pet-8109-2-Hummingbird-Feeder-16-Ounce-Capacity/dp/B001UU01US/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=perky+pet+8109&qid=1589249744&sr=8-3 |
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Originally Posted By Kitties-with-Sigs: Bump for hummer report! View Quote Welp, a few nights ago about 8:30 we were sitting on the balcony when one flew up to the feeder. Hovered there a millisecond LOL but my SO reached over and tapped the arm of my chair to alert me and the bird vanished, then came back for a quick fly by of the feeder before splitting. That’s been it so far. Today we attached a fake flower to the feeder. The red bow has been there since last week. We shall see what happens LOL. Attached File |
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Originally Posted By Bollocks44: Welp, a few nights ago about 8:30 we were sitting on the balcony when one flew up to the feeder. Hovered there a millisecond LOL but my SO reached over and tapped the arm of my chair to alert me and the bird vanished, then came back for a quick fly by of the feeder before splitting. That’s been it so far. Today we attached a fake flower to the feeder. The red bow has been there since last week. We shall see what happens LOL. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/326259/B1CEA0FC-FC77-4EF9-907D-E8295FC2AB61_jpe-1411979.JPG View Quote Be sure there is fresh food in there. Don't want them to take their first drink and find it sour. We had that problem before when our feeder was in the sun. |
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Good call. I just changed the juice even though it was changed on Friday or Saturday.
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Try cheap feeders from Amazon. Myself and family members have tried some of the fancy ones with not much luck. Birds seem to prefer the cheap plastic feeder.
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Originally Posted By Chairborne: 3 out of 4 of our feeders are out and filled. The near freezing temps haven’t killed them all off. There was a ton of activity today, lots of dogfights. I think the cold has them really working hard for survival. View Quote Their dogfights are interesting aren't they? I don't ever see them actually tangle.Just lots of to-ing and fro-ing and fast approaches, and whoever buzzes the loudest seems to have more clout. |
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Hummer update , its been in the hi 90s here .
I go out at about 5 in the evening , the last few days they have been very busy . Usually only one at a time , they will come and dance around in the air going from one ...flower...to another . Then piff it's gone , then it comes back over and over . There was two a coouple days ago but one chased off the other one . Mine is in the shade , but it is hot . |
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Question - at what level should I fill the feeder back up? The liquid is below the flowers to the point that I wonder if the birds can reach it. Can their tongues reach? And as I’m typing I just had one land on the feeder for about 5 seconds. Then fly off. We think it was feeding. Finally some activity
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Originally Posted By Bollocks44: Question - at what level should I fill the feeder back up? The liquid is below the flowers to the point that I wonder if the birds can reach it. Can their tongues reach? And as I’m typing I just had one land on the feeder for about 5 seconds. Then fly off. We think it was feeding. Finally some activity View Quote I would keep it full while they're becoming attracted, especially. Once they start feeding regularly, you will be able to tell, by how long they stay, whether they are able to get food. They will sit and drink for several long sips usually, at peak activity. If they try and don't get anything, they won't stay. |
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Originally Posted By Bollocks44: Sound logic LOL. I just topped it off. View Quote I change the juice once a week whether they are empty or not. During the hot months I change it every 3-4 days or it can spoil and grow mold/fungus. I also keep a spray bottle of bleach solution (maybe 10%) and bleach every feeder every time. We have 3, will probably put out our 4th soon as well. All are under our eaves and the birds love them. They drank all 3 almost dry in the last week. |
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Originally Posted By Chairborne: I change the juice once a week whether they are empty or not. During the hot months I change it every 3-4 days or it can spoil and grow mold/fungus. I also keep a spray bottle of bleach solution (maybe 10%) and bleach every feeder every time. We have 3, will probably put out our 4th soon as well. All are under our eaves and the birds love them. They drank all 3 almost dry in the last week. View Quote I’m definitely going to keep it changed at least once a week if not more. I’m learning from this thread. I’m just now starting to see activity. First-time feeder. |
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