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Post by Courtney on May 24, 2013 10:07:44 GMT -5
Normally we have had several sightings and we have only seen one humming bird all year! My mom who also lives in N. FL. says she has not seen any!?
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Post by Rebecca on Jul 20, 2013 15:51:24 GMT -5
We live outside of Orange Park. We put a feeder up about a month ago. It only took them one day to find the feeder. We now have them all day long! We have seen at least 4 at the feeder at one time. From what we can tell they appear to be female Ruby Throated hummingbirds, and are very territorial! We wonder where the males are? They are so much fun to watch.
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Post by Dorenda on Jul 24, 2013 9:46:15 GMT -5
May I ask what type of feeder do you have? I would love to know what people are using and have had the most luck with feeding them.
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Post by lilyopath on Jul 24, 2013 10:58:27 GMT -5
Dorenda, you can go to Walmart and buy an inexpensive plastic feeder by First Nature. This red feeder with yellow flowers has a 16 oz. reservoir and a two piece base that comes apart for easy cleaning. Clean the feeder with vinegar and, maybe, once a month soak it in Clorox water. Use a nectar solution that l cup sugar to 4 cups water (or one half cup sugar and two cups water) heated to a boil on the stove. Don't fill the feeder up; only partially fill it. The hummers won't drink that much here.
Joe M. recommends a feeder from Wild Birds Unlimited, but that feeder must be ordered over the internet or you have to go to Brandon or Orlando to get one. Also, it's about $20.
I put out feeders yesterday and had a hummer in one of them before I could get back inside and to the kitchen window. I am also in south Lakeland.
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Post by Dorenda on Jul 24, 2013 11:06:59 GMT -5
I appreciate your feedback and will look at those feeders. Thank you.
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Post by f maneely on Aug 5, 2013 12:24:24 GMT -5
I live in duval county, just east of the river in San Jose. Seen 2 hummingbirds around our fig tree and have hung some feeders there. Do they come to feeders in the open or do they like them hung in shrubs or trees. Would really like to attract some of these little guys!
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Post by chasingdreams on Aug 7, 2013 8:05:46 GMT -5
We live in neptune by the sea, neptune beach, Fl We have had several for over a month now. This little cute guy comes to feeder all day everyday. Attachments:
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Post by Joe M on Aug 8, 2013 5:46:28 GMT -5
Chasingdreams,
I noted a slightly 'crossed' bill on your very nice young male.
Probably caused by an accidental run in with a window.
Joe M.
Lakeland
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Post by Suzzanna on Sept 12, 2013 17:20:49 GMT -5
I had to move and am really going to miss my hummers. I've had the same ones coming every year. Where I'm living now however they have put up 2 feeders and have had a couple little guys and gals. This is middle Sept. and have one sticking around. Anxious to see if it stays here. If it does it will be the first. I'm just totally in love with these birds.
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Post by Gail on Sept 23, 2013 19:05:02 GMT -5
Just watched half a dozen feeding on the plumbagos out front. Atlantic Beach. First time I noticed them! 5 were non description, one seemed to be yellow and brown with some red in the wings. I'm googling images now to identify them.
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Post by Gail on Sept 23, 2013 19:21:35 GMT -5
After googling I now realize the striped one was a white-lined sphinx moth aka hummingbird moth. The others were all brownish and probably hummingbird moths as well. I'll check them out again tomorrow at dusk!
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Post by molly on Jul 5, 2014 15:29:14 GMT -5
I just hung my feeder in Keystoneheights and I have birds feeding all day long
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Post by christina61612 on Jul 24, 2014 13:41:31 GMT -5
I have lived in FL for two years and I have never seen a hummingbird here. I have recently moved to Jacksonville, real close to Orange Park and have a nice place to hang a feeder, but was wondering if there are any in the area.
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Post by FloridaDrafter on Sept 19, 2014 16:45:19 GMT -5
I have lived in FL for two years and I have never seen a hummingbird here. I have recently moved to Jacksonville, real close to Orange Park and have a nice place to hang a feeder, but was wondering if there are any in the area. I'm on the Southside, near St. Lukes hospital and we have had a pretty good turnout this year. We had a few feeding in our trees and honeysuckles, then I put up a feeder at the end of July, and they are still using it. Mostly females and immature male RTH's. I've only seen 2 mature males. A few have flown right up to my face and looked me over. I have some great photo's. |
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Post by JoyH on Sept 28, 2014 17:45:32 GMT -5
We live in Orange Park and Was wondering if it is too late to put out the red hummingbird feeder? This is all new to me and I would love to see these little birds use our feeder. My Mom lives in South Carolina and they fight over her feeder so she had to get another one. Just need to know when and when not too put the feeder out. Thanks for the advise. joy
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Post by FloridaDrafter on Sept 29, 2014 22:24:13 GMT -5
Hello Joy,
Although I've been photographing birds for many years, for some reason I've never zeroed in on the hummers until spring of last year, so my knowledge about them, particularly in the Jax area, is limited. We usually start seeing them on the Southside in May, but a local bird guide (jaxbirding.com) suggested that we leave our feeder up all year. I hadn't seen any since my post of September 19, but just 2 days ago I saw a mature female at our feeder. I plan on leaving my feeder up all winter just to see what happens and to get a good handle on when they arrive and leave the area. I may be wrong, but it just seems to me that we (Jax) are a little to far West to get large numbers of hummers like they see in the Carolinas, West Florida and the Gulf states, but then it might just be that my neighborhood is void of good habitat. I base that on maps of migration routes, but we will see. It would be interesting to hear from locals on that theory.
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Post by FloridaDrafter on Sept 29, 2014 22:28:25 GMT -5
Hello Joy, Although I've been photographing birds for many years, for some reason I've never zeroed in on the hummers until spring of last year, so my knowledge about them, particularly in the Jax area, is limited. We usually start seeing them on the Southside in May, but a local bird guide (jaxbirding.com) suggested that we leave our feeder up all year. I hadn't seen any since my post of September 19, but just 2 days ago I saw a mature female at our feeder. I plan on leaving my feeder up all winter just to see what happens and to get a good handle on when they arrive and leave the area. I may be wrong, but it just seems to me that we (Jax) are a little to far West to get large numbers of hummers like they see in the Carolinas, West Florida and the Gulf states, but then it might just be that my neighborhood is void of good habitat. I base that on maps of migration routes, but we will see. It would be interesting to hear from locals on that theory. Sorry, I meant to say to far East.. |
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Post by Dennis on Dec 4, 2014 12:26:50 GMT -5
We moved to Jacksonville Beach from Central Illinois in June. We had always had success with hummingbird feeders in Illinois, so we put one up here, and have not seen a single hummingbird. Hummingbirds are only in Illinois in the summer, but what is the season here in North FLA? We have a fairly secluded lot with numerous trees, but we are quite close to a busy street, and we are about 5 blocks from the beach. Are either of these issues prohibitive of attracting hummingbirds to our feeder?
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Post by Anne on Feb 17, 2015 11:07:54 GMT -5
I would like to know when the Hummers come back in the spring? I live in Orlando, FL.
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Post by Joe M on Feb 20, 2015 18:35:02 GMT -5
I would like to know when the Hummers come back in the spring? I live in Orlando, FL. Anne, Hummers in Fl are present year round, but in much smaller numbers than further north, in the summer. We have hummers that summer here and hummers that over winter here so it all depends upon your location and how attractive your yard is to convince them to stop feed and decide to spend their time in your yard. I'm in Lakeland and for the past 20 years always had more hummers "over wintering" than those that around in the summer! I advise most folks that want to attract hummers to cultivate fall blooming (hummer friendly) plants and a few plants that bloom in the winter. A feeder or two will not suffice in my opinion, but having both blooming plants and feeders will substantially increase your success . FL is rather interesting since east of the Mississippi Ruby-throats are the only hummingbird specie observed in the summer but in FL we have many western rarities that occassional make an appearance during the winter months. Most common being Rufous, and Black-chinned but several other species are also winter vagrants. I have been blessed with 5 species confirmed here in my Lakeland yard. Can't compare that to the hundreds I host in the summer in MA but I treasure the 1/2 dozen or so hummers I have here in Lakeland in the winter months. |
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reb
New Member
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Post by reb on Mar 19, 2015 13:55:06 GMT -5
Normally we have had several sightings and we have only seen one humming bird all year! My mom who also lives in N. FL. says she has not seen any!? Hi, I am new to this but I do need advice on the dates when I could expect some Hummers. I live in the west side of Jacksonville, have 2 feeders hung out, and am hoping for the first arrival !!! can you give me some dates that I may expect them to arrive................... Reb 
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Post by Jo Heroux on Mar 24, 2015 16:41:03 GMT -5
We moved to Ormond Beach in Jan. 2015. I put my feeders out the first of March. We had a couple of sightings, but they were quick slurp and run visits. I planted some red flowers last week and low and behold we now have regular visitors on and off through the day. They are feeding from the feeders, but I am sure the red plants caught their eyes.
I am just hoping these guys are planning to summer and winter with us. I moved from Michigan where I had lots of daily hummers and saw many Itty bitty ones grow to migration size. I really hope to build such a community here. We have some great hummer nest friendly trees and will have lots of blooms throughout the year and freshly filled feeders...that's all I can do.
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Post by Patti Priest on Jul 15, 2015 9:32:54 GMT -5
We live in Starke, between Gainesville & Jacksonville; have 2 regular hummingbird visitors to our feeder, daily! Not sure of the species, but think one is a Ruby Throated; one is very aggressive & territorial, fighting & diving at the other one for possession of the feeder, but they do take turns! Plan on leaving my feeder out this winter to see if they stay around, although it can get quite cold in our area of North Florida. Love watching them from my rocker on my porch, 6 feet from the feeder, & hearing their little chirps, as they approach the feeder!
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Post by Paula Jean on Aug 2, 2015 19:55:47 GMT -5
For all of you who love humming birds; as I do! I have several feeders, which I bought at Walmart in the bird section. I make very sweet sugar-water and it will draw all the little birds to your humble abode. There is store bought nectar, but make the sugar-water, they like it better. 1 part sugar, 2 parts water: Enjoy! 
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Post by Joe M on Aug 3, 2015 15:06:48 GMT -5
Paula,
There are no studies that support the use of a 1-2 ratio. The generally accepted and recommended ratio is 1-4 but 1-3 is perfectly fine! I'm surprised that you are able to dissolve the sugar easily at that concentration.
You must remember that the solution your using should replicate the sugar concentrations in the flowers that hummers use. A hummer will never find flowers that equal a 1-2 concentration in your yard, anyone else's or anywhere in the wild.
Respectfully,
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Post by Frank Clyatt on Aug 18, 2017 18:50:17 GMT -5
I live in Maderia Beach and it is August 18th. This afternoon while cooking on the grill I looked up and saw a Hummingbird on the power line in my backyard. I was born in florida and have never seen a Hummingbird. Any idea what kind it was.
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Post by Frank on May 3, 2018 11:44:56 GMT -5
I would like to know when the Hummers come back in the spring? I live in Orlando, FL. Anne, Hummers in Fl are present year round, but in much smaller numbers than further north, in the summer. We have hummers that summer here and hummers that over winter here so it all depends upon your location and how attractive your yard is to convince them to stop feed and decide to spend their time in your yard. I'm in Lakeland and for the past 20 years always had more hummers "over wintering" than those that around in the summer! I advise most folks that want to attract hummers to cultivate fall blooming (hummer friendly) plants and a few plants that bloom in the winter. A feeder or two will not suffice in my opinion, but having both blooming plants and feeders will substantially increase your success . FL is rather interesting since east of the Mississippi Ruby-throats are the only hummingbird specie observed in the summer but in FL we have many western rarities that occassional make an appearance during the winter months. Most common being Rufous, and Black-chinned but several other species are also winter vagrants. I have been blessed with 5 species confirmed here in my Lakeland yard. Can't compare that to the hundreds I host in the summer in MA but I treasure the 1/2 dozen or so hummers I have here in Lakeland in the winter months. |
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Post by Frank on May 3, 2018 11:46:31 GMT -5
I would like to know when the Hummers come back in the spring? I live in Orlando, FL. Anne, Hummers in Fl are present year round, but in much smaller numbers than further north, in the summer. We have hummers that summer here and hummers that over winter here so it all depends upon your location and how attractive your yard is to convince them to stop feed and decide to spend their time in your yard. I'm in Lakeland and for the past 20 years always had more hummers "over wintering" than those that around in the summer! I advise most folks that want to attract hummers to cultivate fall blooming (hummer friendly) plants and a few plants that bloom in the winter. A feeder or two will not suffice in my opinion, but having both blooming plants and feeders will substantially increase your success . FL is rather interesting since east of the Mississippi Ruby-throats are the only hummingbird specie observed in the summer but in FL we have many western rarities that occassional make an appearance during the winter months. Most common being Rufous, and Black-chinned but several other species are also winter vagrants. I have been blessed with 5 species confirmed here in my Lakeland yard. Can't compare that to the hundreds I host in the summer in MA but I treasure the 1/2 dozen or so hummers I have here in Lakeland in the winter months. |
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