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beauregaardhooligan · 08-30-2007, 12:41 PM

Hummingbirds are trying to fatten up and head south, and they are being *very* defensive of their feeders.
I've had a feeder in the back yard all summer that has attracted at least a couple, male and female. I suspect they mated, but they still try to run each other off.
I hung another in the corner of the house, out of sight from the 1st one, and the female found it within a couple of hours! There is also a juvenile (I think) that the female seems to tolerate a little more, but it still gets run off after a bit. They'll perch on a twig in a tree and keep an eye on the feeder. When another hummer approaches it gets dive-bombed. Their flight is very similar to a bumblebee's.
They are going through the sugar-water (1 part sugar to 4 parts water) in a flash!
btw, in this hot weather, avoid the temptation to put out a big feeder full because it can sour and go bad quickly. It's better to use a small feeder and re-fill every other day.
Feeders with perches are better so they can rest while feeding.
Also feeders with yellow are more attractive to insects, so avoid those.

08-30-2007, 12:41 PM	#37
beauregaardhooligan Elite Elitist Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 323	The Hummer Wars are on! Hummingbirds are trying to fatten up and head south, and they are being very defensive of their feeders. I've had a feeder in the back yard all summer that has attracted at least a couple, male and female. I suspect they mated, but they still try to run each other off. I hung another in the corner of the house, out of sight from the 1st one, and the female found it within a couple of hours! There is also a juvenile (I think) that the female seems to tolerate a little more, but it still gets run off after a bit. They'll perch on a twig in a tree and keep an eye on the feeder. When another hummer approaches it gets dive-bombed. Their flight is very similar to a bumblebee's. They are going through the sugar-water (1 part sugar to 4 parts water) in a flash! btw, in this hot weather, avoid the temptation to put out a big feeder full because it can sour and go bad quickly. It's better to use a small feeder and re-fill every other day. Feeders with perches are better so they can rest while feeding. Also feeders with yellow are more attractive to insects, so avoid those.