First Time seeing a Hummingbird in Florida since 2001

[NancyBradenton]

Hello. I have been a resident in Sarasota and now south east Bradenton since 2001. I moved from Raleigh, North Carolina. I frequently had Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in Raleigh. They were attracted to the red bee balm plants and the hanging Fuchsia. I bought one cheap plastic feeder, and a few days later..many visitors. In 2001, I moved to Sarasota. I never saw a Hummingbird after that. I tried to attract them unsuccessfully. A friend of mine told me he used to get Hummers, but hasn't seen one in years. I was disillusioned. All I had been attracting were bees. I gave up. Until just last week. I saw a humming bird trying to get nectar from my pink weeping Hibiscus tree. I went out and bought a new feeder. It is 4-19-14. I am waiting for my first visitor. What a pleasant Easter treat!

[dawn]

Guest here, too - looked up this site because I just saw my first hummingbird EVER in FL, after living here since '99. I moved from CO where they were so prolific in Summer we could get them to eat from our hands and I missed the little buggers terribly. This spring I planted a lot of pentas in my front beds for my butterfly-loving son, and lo and behold this morning there was a hummer checking them out. I could only see it in silhouette so could see no details, but it flitted from the pentas to a delphinium before flying off. I was so thrilled it just made my morning and it gives me hope - I have never bothered to put out a feeder before but I will this fall.

I'm in Winter Garden, west of Orlando.

[lukerjedi]

I too live in the Winter Garden area. I have been seeing a hummer about once a week since March, and then 3 times last week. It's nice to hear that someone else is seeing these birds in this area too.

[Joe M]

Nancy, Dawn and Lucerjedi,
Count yourselves as very fortunate to have a hummer during the summer months! Unlike NC, CO and places further north north, we don't see a lot of hummers in the summer months.
But we do have a fair number of hummers that winter here (Nov.-Feb.). My suggestion has long been for those from central FL to south FL to concentrate on providing feeders for them in the winter months. Winter blooming plants are also a plus but there aren't many plants that cooperate in that regard, so feeders are your best solution.
Several of us in central FL have consistently hosted a half dozen or more hummers during the winter months but hardly a one in the summer.
I haven't seen one for two months but had 6 ruby-throated from Nov.-Mar.
Winter has worked for me but the summer 'not so much!
Joe M.
Lakeland

[snooks]

Well this is new to me. I was taking my feeder in December to late February as Port Orange is so cold. I never dreamed they would come in the Winter. This year have only seen two hummingbirds unless they are the same and I guess the little one has been here less than a dozen times. I have fire bushes that are starting to bloom and they love them. They are native plants. Also have native hibiscus that may bloom soon and we will see. I had to pull the feeder out from under the tree as squirrels were removing the little white covers over the holes. Next shepherds pole. So they climbed up the pole. Now they are out in the yard with baffle and it works great but they do not have the security they did back under the trees. Change nectar every 3rd day to be sure not stagnant or fermented. One problem may be is I have 4 bird feeders close by that stay covered with cardinals, turtle doves, blue jays. Mr. Hummingbird was on the feeder a week ago and darted off when all the feeders of cardinals etc was so busy. This may be the problem. Meanwhile, I just keep up the routine. I had heard always put feeder back up as when they arrive they will look for the one that is usually there. I really think they leave Daytona during the Winter but maybe I have been wrong and should have never taken the feeder down. Looking for suggestions.

[joedub]

I too live in Winter Garden in a subdivision which has been undergoing construction for the last two years and was so happy to hear that fellow WG residents have seen hummingbirds. We moved from NJ to FL in Jan of 2011 and have not seen a hummer since moving, although I have been putting out feeders for the last two springs and summers. Joe M, thanks for the tip about putting out feeders in the winter. In central NJ (northern end of the pine barrens) we usually started seeing hummers in late March or early April and by June almost always had several pairs. The last several years we were in NJ, we would see as many as 10 to 15 ruby throated at our feeders at the same time. I'd often have to refill the feeders every day or two. Most summers, we'd have 2 or 3 feeders going constantly. I would go out to rehang the feeders after refilling and they would buzz around my head while I was hanging them up. I really miss them and hope that once the neighborhood is built out and the landscaping matures a little to provide some better habitat that we'll start seeing some.

[marthaloul]

I had a hummer down in the Chaste tree yesterday afternoon. This morning while I was working in the yard I could hear them but not see them. No doubt they were in the cuphea, coral honeysuckle, or the chaste tree again. It's good to know there are still some around. South Lakeland off Ewell Road

[mountdoralover]

Dawn and Lukerjedi,
Congrats on seeing hummers! After 14 years of trying in Apopka and then moving to Mount Dora a year ago, I've finally attracted one! I saw her on Sunday nectaring on the blooms of the Jatropha tree I'd just planted so I quickly put out a couple of mini feeders. This morning she came to one of them and was filling up. I'm hoping she'll continue to stop by on a regular basis! Will keep her feeders extra clean with fresh sugar water in them!

[mountdoralover]

Me again. UPDATE: It's one week later and Ms. Ruby has been feeding from the feeder constantly everyday. I'm absolutely thrilled!