[birnam]

I don't how many hummingbirds I have every day, they're impossible to count. But today they emptied a 28oz feeder of a roughly 1:4 solution between 9am and 6pm, and I'll sometimes see as many as ten drinking or hovering near the six-hole feeder. Today will be the first day I'll have to refill it twice in one day (between morning and evening feasting), I'm guessing because we had two rainstorms they feasted before today, but I've had to refill it in fewer-than-24-hour intervals for a couple of weeks now.

So what I'm wondering is, how far do the hummers travel to get to this feeder? They can't all live right around me, right? I know hummers are territorial about their food, so I'm guessing they don't live very densely either.

[Boomer]

Originally Posted by birnam

I don't how many hummingbirds I have every day, they're impossible to count. But today they emptied a 28oz feeder of a roughly 1:4 solution between 9am and 6pm, and I'll sometimes see as many as ten drinking or hovering near the six-hole feeder. Today will be the first day I'll have to refill it twice in one day (between morning and evening feasting), I'm guessing because we had two rainstorms they feasted before today, but I've had to refill it in fewer-than-24-hour intervals for a couple of weeks now.

So what I'm wondering is, how far do the hummers travel to get to this feeder? They can't all live right around me, right? I know hummers are territorial about their food, so I'm guessing they don't live very densely either.

Hi birnam, and welcome to BF (I noticed that this was your first post), from your neighboring state of North Carolina (Charlotte).

That sounds to me like an awful lot (56-84 oz.) of Hummingbird 'nectar.' That would be quite a few Hummers consuming several times their body weight in 'nectar.' A while back, my folks were going through a similar amount of 'nectar.' I wasn't convinced that it was all being consumed by the Hummers, and suggested that the feeder was leaking. It was the kind of feeder that one fills with 'nectar,' screws on the feeding assembly (part with the holes), and then inverts (turns upside down). We put a tray under the feeder, and it became obvious that indeed there was a slow but steady drip. I am not saying that this IS true with your feeder, but I am saying that I THINK this might be a possibility.

Now, to try to answer your question. Some people in the Eastern US have dozens of Hummers feeding from their feeders. I suspect that this may be due to a large breeding population in the area, a shortage of other available food sources in the area, as well as regional higher concentrations of Hummers in the area due to migration. Here in NC, for the last few weeks, I have seen signs of the start of the migration period for several different birds...American Robins have been forming large flocks, birds that were silent over the summer are becoming more vocal, blogs and threads on websites are discussing migration, migratory shorebirds are being logged, etc. While some or all of the above may be the case for your Hummers, I still tend to believe that your feeder might be leaking. I must admit that I may be slightly biased due to a bit of envy (I have Hummers, but not the numbers that you have) . Best Wishes.

Ron Davidson

[birnam]

Thanks! I'm glad I found BF, watching and feeding birds has been so enjoyable since we moved into the country last year.

I thought about the feeder leaking two, but the only drips I've ever seen are from condensation right after I've refilled from the fridge (I've checked and it was not sticky). Also, the feeder is right next to my desk so I'm actually watching them empty it.

I had taken some video this morning: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJL-0uHWU-g

It isn't unusual to see this kind of activity during the day, and it's like this for almost an hour at dusk. Note the level of the liquid in the (28oz) feeder -- this was taken at 2:15pm, and I had just refilled it at about 9:00am!

I'm just so excited by the little guys. Usually now when I refill the feeder I'll stand outside, very still, holding the feeder in my hands before I hang it up. After 30 seconds or so they'll start to show up again. While most of them hover where the feeder should be and squeak with annoyance at me. (I've counted nine of them hovering like this about four feet from me) But, usually, at least one will be bold enough to drink out of it while I'm holding it. Feeling the wind from their wings on my arms is neat.

Today was very special, though. While I was holding the feeder, I had moved one of my fingers up so it was covering the perch next to the plastic flower -- and one of the hummers perched on my finger to drink while I was holding the feeder!

[Boomer]

birnam, thanks for sharing that great video! I can see why you are going through so much 'nectar.' The amazing thing to me is how they can still hover on such a windy day, as I can see the trees really being whipped around by the wind. Hummers are one of my favorite birds, but I have never had anywhere near that number. I may purchase a feeder similar to yours, that has many holes. My feeder has only three holes. Best Wishes.

Ron

[birnam]

Originally Posted by Boomer

Hummers are one of my favorite birds, but I have never had anywhere near that number. I may purchase a feeder similar to yours, that has many holes. My feeder has only three holes.

That's when my visits started picking up. We've actually got four feeders, but this one is their clear favorite. They won't touch the others until this one's empty or there is a huge crowd at it. There's something about the design of this one that they really like. Before this I had one with four holes but had never seen anywhere near the number of birds as I have now.

I'm amazed at what they can fly through, too. That video was after it had dried up a lot, but I had tried to take one earlier in the day to show them flying while it was raining, but the raindrops on the glass made a poor video. That's what really amazes me, that they can withstand rain!

[wings]

Birnam, count your blessings! Send some of your lil ones west.

[costaricafinca]

I don't usually post on this forum, but frequent another hummingbird forum and according to many, the amout that they fill feeders with can be up to a gallon per day!
I live in Costa Rica, and host 8 species of hummers but don't use feeders and tell the others that I couldn't afford to feed the hummers and ourselves.
The consensus of others is that the small feeders from Walmart, 97 Cents are the best!!
Many photoa are shown of even children holding these small feeders and the hummers eating quite happily. And what a good experiance for the kids!

[Highcountry]

Hi there! This time of the year we have the orange rufous mitigating through and have 8-10 buzzing around my feeders. Normally, we have 1-2 broad-tails every 5-10 minutes. In the mountains during the summer, I have seen 20-25 hummers buzzing around feeders. A lot of fun watching them.

[JeanetteD]

Great Video, Birnam
Highcountry, We just took a mini vacation to the Parker, CO. area. Elizabeth in fact and my Aunt had all kinds of the Rufous and the Broad Tail. Got some great pictures, Cousin lives in Este Park, he had a good 20 birds at his feeder he said the numbers were way down from just a few weeks before we got there.