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Post by floridagardener on Sept 3, 2013 15:38:33 GMT -5
I just spotted the first adult male Ruby-throated hummingbird at my backyard feeder. Possibly the first Winter migrant heading south to wherever it is over-wintering. Maybe I'll get lucky and it will stay for the winter here in Sebastian, Florida!
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Post by shirleem on Sept 5, 2013 9:51:51 GMT -5
thanks for the info. i'm also in Sebastian. last year I had a female ruby stay the whole winter.
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Post by floridagardener on Sept 6, 2013 0:00:00 GMT -5
shirleem - If you get any female RTH hummingbirds this year, please look at their legs to see if they might have a band on one of their legs. I had 2 female RTHs banded in my yard on January 28, 2011. The following year, the male RTHs took over the feeders in my yard and I have not had any adult females the past two years overwintering in my yard. I am wondering if either of those two females are still alive and maybe found another over-wintering place to stay somewhere else here in Sebastian.
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Post by shirleem on Sept 8, 2013 10:49:46 GMT -5
will do.
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Post by floridagardener on Sept 11, 2013 22:11:05 GMT -5
 Observed at least one adult male Ruby-throated hummingbird using the feeder. But I have also been seeing another similar bird using only the blooms. Not sure if it is the same bird or two different birds. Looking at photos I took, I can not discern any obvious difference in appearance. |
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Post by Phattkopp on Oct 21, 2013 19:30:01 GMT -5
I live in Wabasso and attempted to feed them for years in Sebastian with ONLY ONE sighting in Sebastian. I just found feeders on the clearance rack at the Sebastian Walmart so I will start again trying to feed them in Wabasso. Any suggestions?
Phattboy
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Post by Phattkopp on Oct 21, 2013 19:31:34 GMT -5
I live in Wabasso and attempted to feed them for years in Sebastian with ONLY ONE sighting in Sebastian. I just found feeders on the clearance rack at the Sebastian Walmart so I will start again trying to feed them in Wabasso. Any suggestions?
Phattboy
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Post by floridagardener on Oct 24, 2013 22:03:23 GMT -5
Phattboy - I do believe that many of the hummers I've gotten in my yard are attracted by the blooming nectar plants I grow. Firespike, Firebush, and Cuphea "David Verity" along with a variety of salvia plants such as Wendy's Wish, Salvia coccinea, Black and Blue Salvia, and even red pentas are plants that seem to attract the hummingbirds to my yard. I also grow 2 Cape Honeysuckle plants as standards which during bloom season attracts hummers, butterflies, cardinals, and bees. It's a popular plant in Winter!
I don't typically get more than 3-4 hummingbirds in my yard at once in Winter. Most have been adult male RTHS. Rare sightings in Summer of breeding females. I usually hang 4-6 feeders in Winter spaced around my backyard.
I hope this information helps you.
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Post by OliverR on Oct 26, 2013 9:33:29 GMT -5
I live in Wabasso and attempted to feed them for years in Sebastian with ONLY ONE sighting in Sebastian. I just found feeders on the clearance rack at the Sebastian Walmart so I will start again trying to feed them in Wabasso. Any suggestions? Phattboy You may already know the criteria for feeder maintenance. If you don't there's lots of good info on the Web. I've been feeding hummers for four years and have one female that returns every November. Here's my feeder cleaning process: I clean my feeders every 2-3 days - using vinegar and very hot water (soak for 10 mins) - rinse throughly with hot water. I use only Spring water - ratio of 1/4 cup sugar to 1 cup water - bring water/sugar to a boil (1-2 minutes). I make enough to last 7 days, and keep my surplus in the refrigerator. If you can't change/clean your feeders, please don't feed hummers. Bacteria and other pathogens easily builds up in feeders and can be deadly to hummers. |
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