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Post by vallepatt on Jul 20, 2009 11:17:42 GMT -5
HI All, I hung my first feeder this spring, in April. The feeder is hanging on the corner of our eave, about 2-3 feet from our screened porch. We have had a few sightings this summer, near it, but no hummingbirds yet, have been to it.  I change and clean it faithfully, and the side lot and back lot is vacant, and wooded. Our yard is open, and we have other bird feeders out in the yard away from the hummingbird feeder. We live near Beach Blvd and Hodges, in Jacksonville. What am I doing wrong, and what can I do to get the birds to start feeding? Thanks, a bunch. |
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Post by Steve Backes on Jul 21, 2009 19:02:38 GMT -5
Vallepatt,
I can't say that you're doing anything wrong if you are seeing hummingbirds in your yard. The layout of the neighborhood sound OK. It would be best if there were some clumps of plants around including flowers and varying heights of shrubs offering exposed perches for territorial viewing as well as some with cover for protection.
Sometimes hummingbirds will go to feeders as soon as they are hung up while other times it may take as long as a year or more. A lot depends on the number of birds and/or the age of the birds in your yard. More birds results in more competition for food which in turn pushes the birds to find the easiest food sources (feeders). Without competition, birds can feed at their leisure on the flowers that they instinctively know to be food.
Young birds are very curious and will check out all apparent sources of nectar, including anything that's red or shaped like a flower. If flowers are abundant, it may take them a long time to discover that a feeder offers food. The birds you're seeing may be these young birds that still don't recognize the feeder. With luck, as migration begins, competition with birds passing through may result in the need for feeder usage or it may bring birds who already know about feeders.
Some hummingbirds winter in Jacksonville. If you're lucky enough to host a wintering hummingbird, it will definitely learn to use feeders as the flowers begin to suffer from the cold.
I can't speak for specific localities but in general, hummingbirds can be found throughout the state year round. I'm hoping that as this site grows, we'll get enough active participants from all areas of the state that we will have someone who will be able to answer your question with personal knowledge of your area.
Steve Backes
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Post by vallepatt on Jul 21, 2009 19:10:33 GMT -5
Hi Steve,
Thanks so much for your reply.
I am glad I found your website, and am looking forward to chatting with others about hummingbirds and sightings.
As a matter of fact, just a little while ago, I saw a hummingbird (quick dart, of course) toward the back yard again. Guess, it will just take patience, and maybe when it cools off here a bit, I can plant some flowers. There is a Hibiscus under the feeder, but it is not very high this year yet, and no blooms either.
Also, we have had an adult Red-Shouldered hawk, and a young one, around, and on our other bird feeders, for about a month. This is enough to make any bird leery!
Valle
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Post by jodyjazz on Jul 27, 2009 5:17:03 GMT -5
Hi,
I put out a feeder one day and had hummers the next day. I live on the Withlacoochee River in se corner of Hernando county FL in the woods. I have always feed birds, but never hummingbirds (I am a transplant from Tampa). Now I have a pair that come to my balcony feeder whether we are out there or not, they seem to be oblivious to us. They do not look "Ruby throated" however and do not know what kind they are.
Jody
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Post by Steve Backes on Jul 27, 2009 7:04:50 GMT -5
Jody, I'm assuming that you don't think they're Ruby-throateds because you're not seeing any red. Only the adult males have the red gorget (throat). The adult females and they young birds lack any color on the throat. If you're seeing green above and white (light) below you're probably still seeing Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. Most of the "new" birds being seen now are the young that fledged this summer. Visit the species page at floridahummingbirds.net to view pictures of different ages and sexes of each species of hummingbird that have been recorded in Florida. Here's a link to that page www.floridahummingbirds.net/10201.html |
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Post by Joy on Aug 5, 2009 10:34:25 GMT -5
Hi,
At first I didn't have any hummers at the feeder. Then at a craft show I saw a booth of homemade hummingbird feeders. I started up a conversation with the vendor & told him my hummers didn't like my feeder. His first question was "what are you putting in it"?
Seems it can make a major difference. Don't use store bought stuff.
Use PURE CANE SUGAR (make sure it says pure cane) and mix 1 cup of sugar to 3 cups of water and stir. No need to boil. change every 3-4 days in the heat of summer. It may take them a little while to notice your new blend. But they seem to like the heavier blend of sugar (most recipes say 1 cup of sugar to 4 cups of water) Now they visit my feeder all the time.
Also, it helps to plant a favorite plant near the feeder - try Porterweed or bottlebrush
They could also be visiting the feeder when you're not looking! So don't give up.
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Post by johntampa on Aug 9, 2009 11:34:04 GMT -5
I having the same problem as vallepatt, no hummers at the feeder, will try one cup sugar to three cups of water....today did have one feeding at the plants around the feeder @12:04PM here in South Tampa
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Post by vallepatt on Sept 1, 2009 19:32:40 GMT -5
What a great help you all have been! I did change from the store bought mixture, and for 2 weeks now have been mixing the sugar and water, and finally have at least one young bird coming in many times daily. How much fun and exciting to watch these tiny, fluttering creatures. Thanks, Steve for your website, too.
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