Hummingbirds

nothing yet…

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Same here!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

It’s gotta be soon.All the other little birds are home now.Have a lot of little yellow finches for the last 2 weeks and house finches.I read somewhere that the hummers ride on the backs of geese on long flights.Well the geese have been coming back by the hundreds.Hope they drop some hummers off at my yard soon (lol)

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

What do you folks feed yours? I hear sugar water is not that good for them.

Bob

-- I want to believe in a lot of things but, in the meantime I have to deal with the truth

Depends on what kind of sugar you use. Here is what you need:

The powder sugar has corn starch in it and shouldn’t be used for hummingbird feeders. Only “White granulated pure cane sugar” should be used 4:1 ratio.

More info

http://www.hummingbirds.net/feeders.html

-- Hooked on Gardening.....Ontario zone 5b

Good stuff Bullseye.
I’m again up to speed .

Cheers
Bob

-- I want to believe in a lot of things but, in the meantime I have to deal with the truth

Table sugar is most of the time made from sugar beets, so you do have to check and see if it’s cane sugar.

Best quote I’d read was that the feeders are not the solitary food source for the birds and that we’re merely just a stop off to fill up with a quick fix before going back to their main food source. So it’s safe to just use sugar and water.

They do say NOT to add food coloring as it’s not needed and the effects on the birds are not know.

-- Planting Daylilies in Kentucky, zone 6b

Good point to take into consideration from the link above

“Any feeder can attract hummers, so perhaps the most important design feature to look for is ease of disassembly and cleaning. In this respect, the basin-style feeders are much, much better than the inverted-bottle types. I recommend the HummZinger and similar well-designed basin feeders for their ruggedness as well as their ease of maintenance”

-- Hooked on Gardening.....Ontario zone 5b

the food colouring gives them ADHD
haha

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

I also use uncoloured sugar water for them.I read a few years back that the red food colouring could weaken the shells on their eggs.I don’t know if they ever proved this right or wrong but I don’t take any chances.I use white granulated sugar boiled with the water and then cooled.

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

I don’t dye the hummer-sauce either…I figure why one earth would they need another chemical in their systems?

-- Living on the square...Metro Detroit

Here it is April 27 and I still haven’t seen a hummer yet.This seems so strange.I have had them as early as April 3rd. before. Of course this is a new area for me.Maybe they come later here?

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

http://www.hummingbirds.net/map.html

This map might be helpful Bon.

-- blooz 5b - You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt. ~author unkown

Interesting re. feeders for HB’s

http://www.hummingbirds.net/feeders.html#recipe

http://www.hummingbirds.net/feeders.html

-- blooz 5b - You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt. ~author unkown

Blooz…thank you so much for the info links.It was really interesting reading.I was surprised to see that they don’t really hitch a ride on the backs of geese to cross the great lakes.And here I was waiting for them to drop a few off here. (lol)

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

Well here it is May 3 and still no hummers here.Anyone got them yet?

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

no sightings yet.
lots of goldfinches though

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Yep got them too.And the red house finches,chickadees,blue jays,robins,the black ninjas..you know …the grackles,starlings,crows. (lol)

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

I have read numerous times that you shouldnt boil the water to mix the sugar in….......just stir and let it sit in the fridge. boiling removes the minerals they need

-- Central northish Ontario

Got 2 humming birds this week. This is one of them:

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

No hummers yet but the best way to find out it hang a feeder

Think I will do that tomorrow

fascinating how they remember from year to year just where to look for them

I don’t get many, about 4-5 but I can sit for hours watching them

-- NS Zone 5B 200 KM East of Halifax cheers Bunting------Having a place to go – is a home. Having someone to love – is a family.

Thanks for the pics Eklectic.So glad to see that they are getting closer to here.I have 4 feeders up and ready for them when they finally do get here.Have had to change the liquid 3 times now(lol)
Greenthumb…Thanks for the info on boiling the water.

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

And this afternoon, the first one:

Red Breasted Grosbec!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

Well isn’t he purdy!!!!

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

This garden site is so interesting. Learning about so many different things!
You guys seems to know about everything!
I just love it here!

-- poisoncontrol, there is to much poison in the world: let's eradicate it!

Love the red breasted grosebeak pic.Wish we had them here they are so colorful.

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

Bon,
We are very lucky here. We have so many different birds and the flora is also so interesting.
Every day, we have something new showing up, be it a bird, a plant and I really enjoy sharing it with all of you.
Until 5 years ago, we lived in many cities across the country, saw a lot of nice and beautiful things but it was never this close to Mother Nature!!!
And she is so beautiful!!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

Eklectic: You are lucky.Keep sharing those pics I love em.

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

Bon:
Thank you! will do!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

Just had to share my good news with everyone.The former owner came by yesterday while I was out getting the berm ready for planting on the 24 week-end.He noticed my hummer feeders alll over and said that we get lots of them once the flowers start booming.He made my day.

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

Lucky you!!
You should have a lot of fun with them!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

No Humming Birds yet. I got a red feeder so dye is not involved. Had forgotten ratio sugar: water. Talk later Nancy

-- Nancy, Ontario

Yes, I bet he did make your day!!!! Sounds like you are going to have one glorious summer!!! :-)

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

Bon…..Blooz pretty much just lifted the links from the one I posted above, if I hadn’t posted the link about the sugar ratio, perhaps Blooz won’t have bothered.

Blooz….looking forward to seeing what gardening you have been up to lately eh, won’t hold my breath though!

-- Hooked on Gardening.....Ontario zone 5b

I know I am new! I know I do not have pictures of my gardens! And I am having a hard time with my zone!
I am also having a hard time with people being nasty!
Who cares where a post comes from? As long as everything is nice and peaceful!!!!

I do not understand why such nastiness is accepted and nobody says anything? I did not think it had a place on such a nice site. The best one I have come across, except for the nastiness from one person popping up every so often!

-- poisoncontrol, there is to much poison in the world: let's eradicate it!

Elkectic, your Hummer and Grosbeak pics are amazing. I don’t have these particular birds and its always such a treat seeing others. I’ve changed my feeder and hoping to coax other birds to join. My old feeder was a banquet hall for the squirrels during the day and the racoon during the night hours.

PC, I located my sites from Google search. Its a wonderful search engine.

Btw, I don’t stealing other ppls notes, pics etc.

-- blooz 5b - You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt. ~author unkown

Poisoncontrol

No I don’t understand it either.

I can’t see what Blooz has to do with anything on here . Blooz is not who someone thinks it is

Scratching me head. But this is all making it a miserable forum

it sometime is a nasty place for newbies to come

-- NS Zone 5B 200 KM East of Halifax cheers Bunting------Having a place to go – is a home. Having someone to love – is a family.

Eklectic

Oh I love the grosbeak

I have several kinds. Your pic is a nice one. I am camera challenged and can’t seem to get nice close ups like you did even with zoom

I know my camera is a cheap one so guess that is it

Bon and Blooz

I have my hummer feeder out but no hummers yet but it is early for here. One of these days they will come along, I hope.

Great links Blooz

-- NS Zone 5B 200 KM East of Halifax cheers Bunting------Having a place to go – is a home. Having someone to love – is a family.

Blooz….you are full of it, am sure it was a google search that yielded it for you, and not my link. You go on about your feeders and garden, care to share it, or are you is it just all in your dreams? You like seeing others pics eh, how about we see the birds you have or are they not good enough for this forum?

-- Hooked on Gardening.....Ontario zone 5b

This is the pink grosbeak. I had a whole flock of them all winter

They really are a very social bird. Sorry my cammie doesn’t take great pic when I try to zoom. I took this through the glass door so the glass I am sure is a bit dirty lol,lol

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/Butterfly0/PICT0047-2.jpg

-- NS Zone 5B 200 KM East of Halifax cheers Bunting------Having a place to go – is a home. Having someone to love – is a family.

Well let’s get back on track, and talk about birdies and not nasties!

We have a robin nesting in the woodshed and I decided to try and see if I could get close enough:

As I was clicking away, guess who came to check! How lucky can I get!!!:-)

And this is how close they allowed me to get:

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

Wow really wow, you are lucky!!!

what kind of cammie do you have?? such beautiful clear pictures you have

-- NS Zone 5B 200 KM East of Halifax cheers Bunting------Having a place to go – is a home. Having someone to love – is a family.

Thanks Bunting,
It is a Panasonic DMC-TZ1.
Was a birthday present!!!:-)

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

I was about to ask the same ‘E’. Wonderful pics and so clear and close. You have lots of wood to keep you warm Winter 2009. :-)

-- blooz 5b - You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt. ~author unkown

E

I thought that is what you had. I have been droling, lol,lol wanting one. But can’t right now

-- NS Zone 5B 200 KM East of Halifax cheers Bunting------Having a place to go – is a home. Having someone to love – is a family.

Could there be a FULL MOON on the horizon? LOL

-- blooz 5b - You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt. ~author unkown

“E” you have a wonderful eye and that camera of yours really becomes a wonderful tool in your hands. Great pictures … keep em’ coming. :-)

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

hummers change the game when its Badminton

-- Central northish Ontario

Greenthumb… You don’t really play badminton with the poor little darlins do you?
Eklectic… nice robin pics. love em

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

pink grosbeak – cool
robin nest – cool!!

This is most enjoyable.
Yesterday I saw that a dove has nested in a nesting box Rick put out last year. That’s exciting.

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

This morning ….Wed.May 7 at 11:30 am
While I was working on my berm I looked up and there she was.My first hummer. Yahoooo
It’s now 2:30 and she is still humming around and trying all the feeders.Couldn’t get a pic yet but I will try tomorrow cause it’s raining out right now.

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

Fantastic ! Cannot wait for your pictures!!

And MsD, it would be so neat to have pictures of that dove!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

Yippee on the hummer

re: the dove. I tried but it is up so high I can just barely see her head peeking out over the top of the sides. Maybe on a sunnier day I can get enough detail that it looks like a bird! lol

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

This is a great thread and so is the wild flower one

E we don’t have that last plant you posted

I must get outside tomorrow and take some pic. I have no done that all week

I have a very dreadful crippling disease and I suffer 24/7 horrible pain all through and this past week. well. its not been good but I am a smiler and keep right on going even if walking has been difficult these days

Oh Gad I enjoyed these threads

thank you people, me buddies Pulse button is a terrific feature. I never saw before

-- NS Zone 5B 200 KM East of Halifax cheers Bunting------Having a place to go – is a home. Having someone to love – is a family.

I am glad Bunting that this has put a smile on your face in the midst of your difficulties. Keep your many life “blessings” in eyes view … :-)

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b