Welcome New Members - Please Read

[mariaryan]

I am the new girl. I moved to Orlando, Fl about 2 yrs ago and I want to build a Hummingbird heaven. After my trip to Cuba where I saw them up close I decided that's what I want, however much time it takes . I haven't seen any here but my neighbor who lives 1 block from me says he saw one last April or May 2011. Have 2 feeders ready and am trying to get their favorite plants.
if any of you have any cuttings or seeds you care to trade for stamps, please let me know via email [e-mail].
Thank you for having me.
Maria Ryan
Orlando, Fl

[Joe M]

A hint for all!!!!
On the "Home" page access the last 30 posted messages for a quick read of what has been posted recently.
At the bottom of the "Home" page scroll down to Forum Statistics and click on "30 most recent posts". You can reply to these posts under the same 'thread.

Joe M.
Lakeland, L

[exxix]

new to this, so hoping i am doing it right. i am in polk city. i have been having hummers for probably 2 months. have seen maybe 5 different hummers. right now i have 2 staying. they fight over the feeder but both eventually get food. believe the are females. if the weather gets bad they seem to disapear but come back after it gets better. they have been gone as long as 3 days.

[floridagiagia]

Having seen our daughter in PA enjoying her hummbingbirds for the past several years prompted my husband and I to invest in a feeder. I put it up early in May after reading many entries on this website, which proved to be most helpful. We live in Deltona and have had at least 7 sightings since then, but since we could not identify the hummingbird except for noting they were mostly gray, I was reluctant to post anything. I decided this forum would be the best place to start...Our most recent sightings were this past Saturday- one dark grey hummingbird which appeared about 2 pm and stayed about 30 seconds and today July 12 by one dark-nearly black hummingbird that appeared at 12:45 pm about 30 seconds. We are not able to get the feeders closer to our window so are trying to keep cameras and binoculars close at hand.

[jeanmholl]

I am new to the area, moved here from CA use to have many hummingbirds there close to Yosemite, but have not seen any here in Pensacola Fl. When do they usually come to this area and what plants attract them? I miss having them around, they bring such joy and they are so beautiful. I do have a feeder out but have not had any sightings. Any information would be helpful I am in Escambia County. Thank you, Jeanne

[dano]

We are in West Palm Beach and maintain a butterfly and hummingbird garden. Last year in late October we noticed hummingbirds. We now want to max out on welcoming hummingbirds and find out which ones come here and when.
How can I focus on getting information on when hummingbirds are in Palm Beach County and how best to attract them and keep them here? There are so many messages that are irrelevant to my West Palm location, I want to limit my time at this site to get only information on my location. How can I do this?
Thanks, Dan

[lynne]

Dan, I live in Jupiter and the earliest I have had Hummers is also in October towards the end. The latest I have had them is in May. I have had no luck keeping them year round. Once migration start they head north. I have had feeders out since September with no luck so far. My cape honeysuccle is starting to bloom when it gets covered they will show up. No doubt! Not too many of us here in Palm Beach County seem to report. We are the farthest east you can go in Fla. maybe thats why we seem to see them last. This is just my opinion. All have been immature or female Rubys. Still waiting on my first adult male. Hope this has helped and goodluck. Lynne

[Steve Backes]

Dan,

Click search on the top of the Home Page. Search for West Palm Beach. Change the number days to how long you want to search (I selected 700). Change the Maximum number of Posts (I choose 20). Then click search. I found 15 posts over the past two years.

Steve

[fastphoto]

As my birds gather in my backyard, I plan to take several photos and post them on my website. Is it possible to link my website to this blog? People can then download them for their own use as long as it is not commercial.

[Steve Backes]

Fastphoto,

You're welcome to post a link if it relates to hummingbirds and/or Florida, especially if it's not a business. One related business post is allowed on the Vendor Board.

[clipperwiz]

I am in Winter Haven/Auburndale area of Florida. Have planted a hummingbird garden of blue salvia, dwarf bottle brush tree, Large bottle brush (In separate area), and a cape honeysuckle plant. Am planning to put lots of feeders up in about two weeks. Has shrimp plant worked for anyone? If so, what color. I may also get a powder puff bush. Sure do love my dwarf bottle brush. That is the cutest plant. NO I have not had a hummingbird yet but about six blocks away is a plant nursery and they said they have seen them in there. Will keep people posted if I see any. Oh I know in California they did like water and even would come down to drink from the hose when we were handwatering plants. Wondered if anyone had ever seen them at a small fountain?

[Steve Backes]

clipperwiz,

The red shrimp plants are great for hummingbirds. The Golden Shrimp Plants are also good. I've got a green/yellow one that does not get much use.

I've only seen a couple come to my bird bath but I've seen plenty of them showering in my sprayers and misters. They also bathe in dew or rainwater left on large leaves.

Steve

[Joe M]

'clipperwiz,
Check the "Home Pg.) and about halfway down the page:

Attracting Hummingbirds - Tips and Questions

Hummingbird Feeders
Discussions relating to feeders, including tips on maintaining them and personal preferences.

Landscaping for hummingbirds
Discussions on landscaping and types of plants for attracting hummingbirds.

Plant ExchangeA place to post plants or seeds being offered to others and/or personnal wish lists.

Hummingbird Moths/Sphinx Moths
Discussion and sharing of photos of sphinx moths.
.....................
Plenty of information for those new to Hummingbirds and also some of us "old as dirt".

Joe M.
Lakeland

[wild4hummers]

I am new here and am trying to get the word out to be on the look out for a male Rubythroat that may come to your yard. This male was in captivity for almost 3 years, held under a licensed wild life rehabber, due to a concussion that caused partial blindness. He was released unintentionally on Sunday, March 10, near Pavo, Georgia. He had not recovered his eyesight, but could maneuver quite well in a cage with familiar surroundings. There is some concern about his ability to find flowers and becoming disoriented due to his impaired vision, yet I am hopeful. He could hover and feed but had trouble with depth perception and seemed to do best when his feeder was kept in the same place in his cage. In larger surroundings he would get disoriented and tend to fly in circles and come back down to the ground. He was getting better with flying and adapting to his handy-cap while in captivity. When he flew away he flew straight, then up and was not seen after that. Healthy birds would probably attack and kill this hummer. He was not banded. Hummingbirds are tough little birds, so you never know... That is why I am posting this.

[clipperwiz]

Thanks for the information about the shrimp plants. I am looking for a red one but may also buy the yellow as it is pretty. I am specializing in Firecracker plants as those seems to be blooming constantly and also cape honeysuckles (although that is growing well, its not blooming as much). So far, no hummers but a few butterflies. Got to get those feeders up. I live in Winter Haven Central Florida.

[clipperwiz]

New message. I do have several super RED passion flower vines. I know Butterfly world in Ft Lauderdale (which also has some captive hummingbirds) grows different kinds of passion flowers. My husband is entranced by the passion flowers but what I am interested in--do they attract hummingbirds? They are blooming like crazy but the blooms only last one day.

[debbielight7]

Hi Clipperwiz. I live in Orlando and once had a red passion vine. It was an ordeal for us. It was very aggressive and started taking over everything and was escaping into the woods behind our house. Everywhere it touched the ground, it put down roots and grew like wildfire. I never saw a hummingbird or butterfly go near it. I found out it is an invasive vine and we had to hire someone to help us remove it from our yard and the adjacent woods. I would be very cautious and make sure it is contained. I did think the flowers were pretty but it was just too invasive. Hope this helps.
Debbie

[moboston]

The only "red" passionvine that attracts Gulf Frits, Zebra Longwings would be Lady Margaret and it is not a true red, more of a marroon. You need to find some Passiflora Incarnata and Suberosa if you want the native Passionvines. Incense is a hybrid that also serves as a host plant but it is very invasive. Incarnata is somewhat but I could manage it easier than Incense. Plant in the sun for Gulf Frits and in the shade for Zebra Longwings.

[NanaMcal]

Hi Steve,

 We set up our first feeder this spring here in Northern central Florida and have one problem. In order to view our feeder and enjoy seeing them, we had to place it in front near the dining room window.  The hummers are coming to the feeder but the feeder is exposed to so much sun that the syrup heats up during the day.  We don't have a real spot where it stays shaded enough. They appear early morning and usually  at dusk.  I am afraid the syrup is pretty warm. Is there anything we can do to provide more shade or is there a place we can buy something to place over it ( like a tent or something to shade the babies... which won't interfere at the same time ? ) Thank you so much! Suzanne

[Joe M]

May 22, 2014 7:34:28 GMT -5 NanaMcal said:

Hi Steve,

 We set up our first feeder this spring here in Northern central Florida and have one problem. In order to view our feeder and enjoy seeing them, we had to place it in front near the dining room window.  The hummers are coming to the feeder but the feeder is exposed to so much sun that the syrup heats up during the day.  We don't have a real spot where it stays shaded enough. They appear early morning and usually  at dusk.  I am afraid the syrup is pretty warm. Is there anything we can do to provide more shade or is there a place we can buy something to place over it ( like a tent or something to shade the babies... which won't interfere at the same time ? ) Thank you so much! Suzanne

Suzanne,
Just giving a hint of my own. Several commercial products available on-line under the term feeder rain guard or feeder sun guard!

bird-feeders.duncraft.com/bird-bath/Rain-Guards

I personally have a couple hummzinger types that do help. In addition, don't use the commercial red colored mix. It is more susceptible to heating and spoilage when in direct sunlight.
Home made 4/1 cane sugar mix is clear and doesn't absorb as much radiant energy from the sum.

Joe M.
Lakeland

[suzanne]

I've just moved to St. Augustine last year and had a great number of RT Hummingbirds.  I had 7 feeders out and almost always had a male or female constantly feeding. Once in a while they would even share. I've lived in central Florida and usually had these fantastic birds until late Oct.. mid-November but I haven't had a single sitting in 10 days!  I'm giving it another week before I bring in the feeders until next year!  Anyone else in the area still have Hummingbirds??  

[bud]

just a quick thank you to admin and mods for this gathering place..tip of the hat to you

bud

[connied]

Do Hummingbirds come to Brevard County on the east coast. I have been mesmerized by they're beauty since I was a child. I have only lived in Florida for 4 years and want to start a butterfly and hummingbird garden what do I need.

[donnae]

hi I am in port st lucie, trying to attract hummingbirds. do they migrate? anyone else in psl have hummingbirds? my name is donnae

[Nancy Ten]

hi. Just moved to Florida. We are from NJ and feed the Hummers from 4/15 till they left. What about Florida is it all year (I hope) or just migration time witch is when. .? Nay help would help.

[Joe M]

Nancy,
FL is a big state, where in FL have you relocated to?

[carol]

thanks for this excellent forum Steve!

[melbourne]

I'm from Nevada where hummingbirds would attack you in the yard if you let their feeders run out.  I recently saw a hummingbird in my backyard (Melbourne, Fl) going to my bottle brush trees.  I put a feeder up & have one male & one female that visit every afternoon.  They come from different directions.   The male seems very confident in using the feeder.  The female is much more timid and will sometimes leave if she can see us. Any special rules I need to follow in Florida?

[Joe M]

Melbourne,
Rules are the same for hummers regardless of where we live in the US even FL.
Sounds like you have a hummer that is just more wary of human activity. They all act differently, some seem very secure with humans present others are not. I suspect the male has experience with humans and the female has not, thus her wariness. Over time it's very likely she will become accustomed to your presence and accept you as part of the landscape with little apprehension.

I might suggest you use the "Central FL" section area of this site to post about sightings and questions about hummingbirds in your area.
The "New Members" section should be about the web site, etc. Hope that makes sense?

[zeta7]

Just want to introduce myself, i'm Phil and i live in lakeland. I love gardening and have plants an vines an trees of all sorts. I have planted a variety of plants for hummers. But i have only one bird that comes here. It has been comming for several years. I was hopeing with all the food he would bring his family.....but i guess not. hope to learn a lot from you fine folks. This bird does hang around year round.