OT: Humming birds

[daryl66]

QUOTE(jcarter @ Jul 22 2006, 09:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yesterday, out in our flower garden, one almost flew into my ear!  I think he saw his reflection in my glasses and went straight for my face, I ducked, and when he figured out what the heck I was, he sure flew away fast!  
My husband was laughing,,,,,,,,
"Hummingbird dive-bombs bespecticled Grandma in garden!"
Jane

Jane:  
My mother who spent a lot of her years on the farm where the flowers attracted them,  was terrified of the hummers.  She was convinced that they would go for your eyes. Not sure where that came from, but when I recharge the feeder(s)  I have had them stand off about a foot and just wait. They really are a kick to watch and have around. As far as getting pictures, patience and a fast shutter speed are essential.

Daryl  

[george]

Jane,
 thanks for the link which I will use in the future, as you can see the ever obliging RHP did the business for me and the pic has replaced my useless effort.
George

[kadams9181]

My mother-in-law has 33 hummingbird feeders at her place.  

It's amazing, in the evenings how many birds are around her deck.

[MamaMoose]

I don't know whetehr it's me or thge rest of you who are losing their mind(s)! I do not see in this entire threasd any reference to hummingbird pictures excerpot George's hummingbird crossing sign. It must be the heat.

MamaMoose

[iGuy]

I just wanted to add that I too think daryl's hummingbird pic is a very good one.  I have put a hummingbird feeder out in the past but didn't this year.  It does interest me though.

I built a blue bird box and within a couple of days had a pair living in it.  I also have 3 house wren houses hanging.  No luck this year.  I am surrounded by trees.  I think blue birds are more common in my area.

Post some more pics if you get some good ones, daryl.

Ryan

[jcarter]

Bluebirds!   We put out 7 new nesting boxes this year and not a single Bluebird.
We have been told that this is too close to the ocean and wind, but we tried anyway.
Ive never seen one in this area, but we will leave them up for another year.
Jane

[daryl66]

QUOTE(iGuy @ Jul 22 2006, 10:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Post some more pics if you get some good ones, daryl.

Ryan

Ryan:

 here are a couple more that I took the same day. I borrowed a friends Digital camera that is much newer than mine and had great fun that morning.





Now lets see if it works.  I am still learing how to get around on TS

Daryl

[LR827]

Hope I didn't miss anyone else mentioning this, but this thread goes very nicely with the gorgeously beautiful banner!

[iGuy]

Thanks, daryl!

Your pics influenced me to pull out our old hummingbird feeder and hang it out.  I bought some nectar hummingbird food from Walmart.

When does hummingbird season end?

Ryan

[jcarter]

The banner is indeed lovely!
All your pictures are so good, I must keep trying to get at least one good one of our hummers.  
In SE MA and RI the hummers arrive about the middle of May, but with a cold and rainy spring like this year was, they will be late.  Then they go south somewhere around late September, or whenever there are no more flowers around.
Jane

[Xairbusdriver]

QUOTE

I don't know whetehr it's me or thge rest of you who are losing their mind(s)! I do not see in this entire threasd any reference to hummingbird pictures excerpot George's hummingbird crossing sign. It must be the heat.

MamaMoose

You must really need to cool off. There must be 40 - 11 images in this thread, everyone of them is a hummingbird picture. Maybe you need to clear your cache. Just send it all to me and I'll take care of it!

Really? You don't see al the pictures?

[daryl66]

QUOTE(iGuy @ Jul 23 2006, 04:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

When does hummingbird season end?

Ryan

We are about 90 miles from the Canadian border.  The first hummer (Rufus) usually shows up about mid to late May, I usually put the feeder(s) out when I see the Tulips in bloom.  Then they disappear for about 2-4 weeks.  We think they are nesting. They stick around until mid September when it begins to cool off.  Every year is different.  This year they are an abundance.  Some years not so many.  I mix the solution for the feeders about 1 part sugar to 5 to 6 parts water.  I know the books say DO NOT use food coloring, but I do. Have been doing this for years here, and for quite a few years when we had a large garden  on the coast in northern California.
We have seen them way up north in Canada and find it hard to imagine them flying from Mexico or South America hard as they have to work.  It has been theorized (not by too many) that they come North on the backs of the migrating geese. I do know they get here approx the same time tho. So I guess to answer your question Ryan the season depends on where you live. Further south longer. Further north shorter.

Daryl