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Post by Donna Geisdorf on Sept 29, 2010 12:16:16 GMT -5
Just discovered this site and learned something today! The hummers frequenting my Firebush plant and other assorted red blossoms in the yard are Ruby-throated w/o the red because they are either female OR young! We are seeing green on the backs but were puzzled that none of the birds have ruby throats. There are 2 or 3 that have been showing up daily for the past month or two. We hear them twittering as they enter the yard. I have 2 feeders, as well, which they also visit.
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Post by Lee on Nov 13, 2010 20:42:21 GMT -5
Hi! Where in Sarasota are you located? We have a vacation home in Venice and I was hoping that we would see some. Thanks.
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Post by Donna Geisdorf on Jun 4, 2011 14:08:51 GMT -5
We live east of I-75 off Fruitville Road (out in the country).
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Post by magicallilly on Aug 31, 2011 12:29:44 GMT -5
August 20th, a ruby throated hummingbird visited my firebush plant two days in a row.. I had hung a feeder up .. as soon as I saw it.. but has not been back.. I live in Venice, Florida.. and feel.. very fortunate to have been visited by a hummingbird! I returned from Arizona last July.. where they are very common.. and went to work planting everything I could find to lure them here.. and hung feeders as well.. it was a year later.. when I actually saw her.. it was worth the wait.. Not sure.. why she didn't come back.
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Post by Steve Backes on Aug 31, 2011 23:07:05 GMT -5
Your bird may have been migrating through. More are on their way. Keep doing what you're doing and hopefully more will stop in and maybe satay the winter.
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Post by Buzz on Oct 14, 2012 15:07:20 GMT -5
We have multiple bushes of Firespike. They started blooming in June and we have had one female RT hummer visit the blooms every evening. I have other hummingbird plants such as cupea, combretum, bottlebrush callistemon, cape honeysuckle, salmon porterweed, and salvia plus a hummingbird feeder that I keep fresh with 1 to 4 sugar solution but she only goes to the Firespike blooms. It is October now and the Firespike blooms are finishing up and we are seeing her less. We live in Sarasota county - Bahia Vista St. Tuttle Ave. area.
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Post by john buckley on Feb 10, 2015 18:35:40 GMT -5
we have 2 year round pair for at least 4 years. many salvia, fire spike, and pagoda plants among our oak trees, plus 3 feeders and 3 birdbaths. 1 mile east of 75 near Celery Fields
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Post by Steve Backes on Feb 11, 2015 6:56:52 GMT -5
John, Do you see them in late May/early June? I ask because that would indicate locally breeding birds. I don't have much data on summering hummingbirds in your area. It sounds like you may be in the same area as the first post in this thread. Steve
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Post by Joe M on Feb 14, 2015 16:25:35 GMT -5
John, I'm chiming in only to comment on your observation of, "we have 2 year round pair for at least 4 years". Often we think of humingbirds "pairing up" and being "paired" for life but that has not been documented. Rather it has been well documented that females build their nests, and provide for their hatchlings as a single parent. Hummingbirds as most birds do not mate for a season or a lifetime, hummingbirds do not "pair".
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Post by Betsy C, on Apr 24, 2015 17:33:20 GMT -5
Hi, everyone I was very interested to read your notes about hummers. I read an email today about unnamed vines with trumpet blooms 'guaranteed to attract loads of hummer to your yard'. I was sure it was a scam. However, I went online for information but was disappointed. I live in Lakewood Ranch and I have digging up ho-hum bushes that came with the house and putting in a couple of birdhouses and colorful annuals and perennials. Is there any reason to try to attract hummers in ourlimited space? Thanks, Mrsciech@verizon.net. Betsy
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Post by Alison on Jan 7, 2016 22:26:28 GMT -5
For the first time in 20 years a hummer visited my garden to drink the nectar from a pink, blooming xmas cactus 5 feet away from my front door. It turned a gloomy day into a glorious one. I live near the Ringling Museum. It was dark brown, I was too shocked to notice any other colors. Enjoy.
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Post by Mickey on Dec 22, 2017 14:54:20 GMT -5
I live in Venice Florida and just received a hummingbird feeder for Christmas. When I'm reading these post people are saying that they have their bird feeders out. Are you guys speaking of regular bird feeders or hummingbird feeders? I'm wondering if I should keep my regular bird seed feeder in a different area. Curious as if the large birds would scare the Hummers away. Sounds like I need to be patient and just take it as a huge blessing if I am able to attract any. Any tips would certainly be welcomed thanks
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Post by Joe M on Dec 23, 2017 17:31:52 GMT -5
Mickey, Since this site is dedicated to hummer's I think your safe to assume that we are referring to "hummingbird feeders"!
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Post by Denice Crago on Dec 24, 2017 13:34:46 GMT -5
Your bird may have been migrating through. More are on their way. Keep doing what you're doing and hopefully more will stop in and maybe satay the winter. I am figuring mine are year round residents but I will have to wait and see for sure. I am in Ona, FL which is about an hour inland of Sarasota. I am pretty sure the female raised a late clutch near by, as I saw her returning to a tree multiple times a day as though she were feeding chicks, and then back to my feeder and off to catch insects. I have 2 males and a female that frequent my feeders. I think one of the smallish males was a fledge from that nest.
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Post by Joe M on Feb 1, 2018 12:39:01 GMT -5
I live in Venice Florida and just received a hummingbird feeder for Christmas. When I'm reading these post people are saying that they have their bird feeders out. Are you guys speaking of regular bird feeders or hummingbird feeders? I'm wondering if I should keep my regular bird seed feeder in a different area. Curious as if the large birds would scare the Hummers away. Sounds like I need to be patient and just take it as a huge blessing if I am able to attract any. Any tips would certainly be welcomed thanks Neglected to completely answer this question for Mickey. Generally it's recommended that hummingbird feeders be placed at least 10' away from seed feeders. I have seen the rule broken with no apparent ill effect but if the nearest seed feeder has constant heavy usage it might be wise to provide a little more separation!
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Post by Leslie S on Dec 7, 2018 11:44:07 GMT -5
Hi. I've just moved down to Bradenton from Chicago, where we greatly enjoyed our summer Ruby throat visitors.
Am I right in thinking I can see them all year round in this area?
I hope so. I just ordered four feeders. 😀
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Post by Allison on Apr 27, 2021 18:54:56 GMT -5
I was disappointed to find out how few hummingbirds are here. I also live in Venice off pinebrook. Only saw 1 year ago. I moved from panhandle where there was an abundance of them every year. Before that I lived in Virginia where there was an abundance. I keep watching and hoping another will visit my garden!
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Post by Joe M on Apr 30, 2021 11:35:31 GMT -5
I was disappointed to find out how few hummingbirds are here. I also live in Venice off pinebrook. Only saw 1 year ago. I moved from panhandle where there was an abundance of them every year. Before that I lived in Virginia where there was an abundance. I keep watching and hoping another will visit my garden! We in central and south FL share your angst! Most transplants from our northern States expect to see as many hummingbirds here as they experienced in their former residences but that's just not the case. Northern FL hummer lovers may have more than an occasional bird in the summer but still nowhere near the large numbers in most northern States. You may take heart in knowing that here in central FL we do have many Ruby- throated hummingbirds that over winter here (Sep.-Mar.). And in addition to the Ruby throats it's becoming well known that several western species also over winter in FL. Rufous and Black-chinned most often reported along with 5-6 other western species. That is one nice plus for we Floridians, the probability of seeing a hummer that you would never see in VA. I have been very patient and seen 5 species in my yard and 2 more elsewhere in central FL. Hope this helps to cheer you up a bit?
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Post by Charlotte on Jan 21, 2022 13:24:35 GMT -5
We live close to Marie Shelby and moved here from the NE. Last year I put out our feeders in March on the south side of the house in semi shade. however saw no hummers. When do you put the feeders out and where is the best place to put them?
Thanks
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Post by Joe M on Jan 28, 2022 6:59:46 GMT -5
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