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Post by Joe M on Feb 11, 2012 10:38:35 GMT -5
This Female had been around all winter. She has her "own" feeder and guards it with intensity. If she follows the pattern of other females that have overwintered, she will probably leave shortly after the first migrants start coming through in a couple of weeks. Joe M Lakeland Attachments:
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Post by moboston on Feb 11, 2012 13:04:39 GMT -5
Will she leave before you adult males? I thought they were the first to leave followed by the females then immatures.
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Post by Joe M on Feb 12, 2012 9:12:15 GMT -5
Once the first 'wave of migrants go through she will follow. Usually a week or two later. Adult males appear to be the lead birds in their migration north, the males apparently lay claim to their summer feeding areas and then wait for the females to arrive. In the fall the last birds to move south are immatures who take advantage of less competition from adults to feed and prepare for their first migration south.
It appears that two of my adult males have already departed on their journey north. Only three males still around the past few days but with this cold weather they might zip back and reschedule their travel plans!
Joe M.
Lakeland
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Post by Joe M on Feb 19, 2012 12:23:53 GMT -5
Female Ruby-throated is still guarding "her" Honeysuckle flowers. Joe M. Lakeland Attachments:
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Post by marthaloul on Feb 29, 2012 21:55:19 GMT -5
Your pictures are to die for!
How on earth did you get them?
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Post by Joe M on Mar 9, 2012 16:54:53 GMT -5
I keep pretty good eye out on my feeders and today am pretty sure that I some migratory activity.
Yesterday I had only 3 birds observed but today had a total of 6 different birds. Of the 3 new arrivals two were adult male RT's and one female RT.
This is the first day this year that I am fairly certain that migratory activity is occurring. Since these birds are using my feeders I suspect they passed through on their trip south last fall and are remembering that they have a reliable refueling station here in Lakeland.
Keep an eye out for some transients.
Joe M.
Lakeland
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Post by Joe M on Mar 30, 2012 16:35:33 GMT -5
Still have my female RT here and her behavior reinforces my thought that she has a nest in the area. Only time I see her is when she visits a feeder (always the same one), but only about once an hour. Plenty of flowers around but she prefers the feeder which I suspect represents the quickest and most relaible food source, without expending a great deal of energy. She is the same female that I posted pictures of earlier. If she has a nest it is not in my yard but I will hopefully spot where she goes after feeding one of these days. I suspect a mimosa in a neighbors yard?
Have another hummer (adult male RT), still has not completed his gorget molt. Neither seem to have any interaction and use their own feeders, which are on different sides of my home.
Joe M.
Lakeland
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Post by Joe M on Apr 3, 2012 16:56:38 GMT -5
On Mar 30th I posted that I had a Female Ruy-throated and a Male.
Have to report that it was the last I saw of them! No hummers observed since the 30th, but who knows, I just may have another visitor.
Glad to hear that others are still seeing our little jewels.
"Hope springs eternal"
Joe M.
Lakeland
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Post by Joe M on Apr 7, 2012 16:58:24 GMT -5
It's been a week with little activity until I spotted Hummer visiting a coral bean plant. Totally ignoring a feeder 3 feet away. Added a poorly fabricated plastic 'flower to the feeder and today she is feeding from the feeder. Hope springs eternal! Maybe she will stick around for awhile?
Joe M.
Lakeland
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Post by Joe M on Apr 8, 2012 19:01:25 GMT -5
Still here today along with another Female Ruby-throated. Pretty unusual for me to have anything but sporadic activity once we get into April, but this year might be different? Joe M. Lakeland Attachments:
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Post by Joe M on Apr 12, 2012 9:22:11 GMT -5
Still have this little lady (Female RT), hoping to see a male around sooner or later, have not seen a male since my over wintering hummers left a month ago. Joe M. Lakeland Attachments:
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Post by marthaloul on Apr 12, 2012 21:47:20 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing the pictures! I am envious of your success.
What is the flower on reply 9?
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Post by Joe M on Apr 14, 2012 15:15:48 GMT -5
The plant is commonly known as Coral Bean and native to FL.
Am not particularly fond of them since they have very nasty thorns along the stems and must be handled with care (gloves).
Joe M.
Lakeland
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Post by Joe M on May 7, 2012 16:54:07 GMT -5
Yesterday I did not see the Female that has been here since mid Apr.
Assumed she had decided to move on but at about 12:30 today she was at "her" favorite feeder. Gave a sigh of relief since I was missing her!
At 12:50 a female hummer came in from the the south (unusual) and immediately perched on a feeder next to the bottle feeder which has no perching supports. Drank for a few seconds and lo and behold my regular Female confronted her followed by the usual hovering standoff.
Both have been back several times this afternoon, I moved the perching feeder about 10' away, and they both seem to be satisfied with no further territorial hassles. Life is good! First time I have had two hummers in the yard after Apr 1. (25 years), in my yard.
Joe M.
Lakeland
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Post by Joe M on May 12, 2012 19:14:28 GMT -5
Having reported one regular visitor to my bottle feeder and reporting another which prefers a feeder with a perching ring, lo and behold, I have another that is visiting flowers with no interest in the feeders. All are Female Ruby- throated. I am really surprised since I have no recollection of having this many (not really a lot,3) hummers during early summer months or in the summer. The Hummer that is visiting the flowers will probably figure out that those red and yellow plastic objects might be of interest and become "hooked", especially if it observes the others using the feeders.
Thought I would post this for it is of interest and might mean that we are having an increase in number of Hummers in FL. Hopefully this might be the case.
Joe M.
Lakeland
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Post by Sandy on May 14, 2012 18:04:34 GMT -5
I too live in S Lakeland and have been seeing hummers at my feeder for some time now. Problem is that I don't know if it is the same one every time. I do know that it is a female and the feeder is frequented many times a day, then she flies off to a thick wooded are near my house. Other times she will go the opposite direction. How can I tell if it is more than one?
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Post by Joe M on May 16, 2012 8:02:59 GMT -5
Would like to personally respond but as a 'guest poster' it precludes that option. If you have a decent pair of binoculars try to observe the birds on the feeder and look for slight differences, more white on the tail tips, difference in speckling on the throat (or none), missing feathers. Also look at the bill some hummers feeding on plastic feeders develope scars or bumps (always a good way to differentiate), often if they are feeding on their favorite flowers one may have pollen residue of one color another bird may have a different color (look for it on the forehead).
Just a couple of ideas, but you already picked up on one, which is watching where they go after leaving the feeder and looking for their favorite perches, hummers tend to favor one or two perches. At that point seeing one on a perch and another at the feeder, you have answered a question.
Joe M.
Lakeland
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Post by Joe M on May 24, 2012 12:58:04 GMT -5
Follow up on trying to differentiate between one or two hummers. Took this photo yesterday and the damaged bill is evident. 2 of my 3 females have damaged bills, this one is a bit more severe. Joe M. Lakeland Attachments:
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Post by Joe M on May 29, 2012 7:46:28 GMT -5
Adult Male Ruby-throated was in the yard at flowers about 4' from me yesterday. Looked over a feeder but didn't try it. First male seen here since early April.
Joe M.
Lakeland
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