Hello and question

[cobbspursuit]

Hello all. We are obviously new to the forum and I've been looking through the posts but couldn't find an answer to my question.

We are moving from Utah where hummingbirds were in abundance and we've fallen in love with the little guys.

My question is this: We are moving to Port St. Lucie Florida and was wondering if they are there and what to do to attract them.

Thank you
Cathy Cobb

[Steve Backes]

Hi Cathy,

It is possible to attract them in Port St. Lucie but your experience is likely to be different than it was in Utah. Hummingbirds are never "abundant" in Port St. Lucie but it may be possible to get a few wintering residents with landscaping, feeders, and a little luck. There's always a chance of attracting a migrant bird between August and October or March and May. Hummingbirds in Florida can be very local, in one neighborhood but not the next. Whether or not you're successful in attracting them will depend on your immediate yard as well as your neighborhood.

Hopefully, there is someone living closer to Port St. Lucie with experience feeding them who can give more specific advice.

Steve

[cobbspursuit]

Thanks Steve. We'll be living in an RV park for a while, may have to wait until we get into a house I'll check with our friends as well.

[lynne]

Hello, I live in Jupiter, about 20 min drive south of Pt St Lucie. I have tried for years to get HB's to come to my yard. Just this year at the end of January was I lucky. My cape honey succle tree was in full bloom when the first 2 showed up. They stayed only a short time then moved on. About 2 weeks later I had one hummer showed up & stayed for about a month while my Orchid trees were in bloom. I had out 2 feeders at the time and none of the birds used them. I figured there were plenty of blooms on the trees to satisfy them. I have had the feeders out for the last 2 weeks hoping to bring in some early birds this season since my trees are not in bloom yet. I do have a plumbago in bloom now thoe. Wish me luck and I hope you don't have to wait as may years as I did.

[nightowl007]

Edgewater fl. at the start of summer i moved into house with dwarf burning bushes the yellow and orange/red kind. the humming birds love them. in fact my neighbor has a humming bird feeder next door,eye view from my burning bushes. i have never seen a humming bird go over there.Humming birds are still coming. I have wanted to trim them back but don't want to take away the humming birds food source.and the bushes are starting to have berries that other birds eat.

[Joe M]

Re: Burning Bush, alas in some states has become an unwelcome visitor,
and plantings are banned as it does have invasive qualities. (Originally from Asia). Pruning is not considered necessary and generally discouraged,
however personal taste should be your guide since cutting back or pruning will do no harm. Some folks use it as a hedge planting shrub.
Your neighbor might have a feeder up but if he/she doesn't change the solution and keep it clean the birds will avoid it for good reason.
Joe M.
Lakeland

[tamarasross]

I recently moved from CT to FL and am not seeing any hummingbirds. Do they exist in West Palm Beach and what do I need to do to attract them to my yard? I have feeders and many plantings but still nothing. Help!

[lynne]

Hi Tamarasross; I live in Jupiter just north of you. I have had hummers the last 2 years but, only 1 this year for only about 2 months. She left to fly north just after Ground Hog day. I remember she showed up sometime in late December. She fed both on my cape honeysuccle tree and on the feeders. The prior year I had a total of 3 hummers. One showed up the first part of January and stayed through April. This one did not use the feeders but loved my cape honey succle and the Orchid Trees. The other 2 must have just been passing through and didn't stay but about 2 days. All three last year were immature males. This year I had a female Ruby Throat. There are some members from Miami that also get hummers but I think only in the Winter months. They migrate North in Spring. Start looking for them in November! Good Luck and let us know if you get any! Lynne