OT Hummingbirds

John T · May 29, 2012

So, we have around 20 + of them (hard to count that many, they wont hold still and are always feuding) who all live in a big red maple near our porch and use our 4 feeders.

Question, if were gone say 6 weeks (too long to ask neighbors to feed them) and remove the feeders, will they stay living in our tree or move out ??? and upon our return will they re polulate or be mad and never return lol I have a ton of sugar invested the past few years and enjoy them, so curious as to what happnes if were gone 6 weeks?????

John T

Texasmark1 · May 29, 2012

6 weeks is a long time and I'd say time of year is a player. If they are migrating then they could be replaced.

Since the feed needs to be fresh, might be best to just take them down and hope for the best, or use your reliable neighbors.

One thing we learned over the years was that we would take ours down in the fall so that the birds would move on and hibernate, not stay around for the free meal. Seems that was in error as the late migrators need that feed to make the trip.

They are surely amazing at their territorial antics and what I think is really neat is to watch the male turn on the red flag on his chest. Once I found a bird dead with a broken beak. Apparently it had it's snout stuck in a feeder and another smacked em and broke it.

Mark

Richard G. · May 29, 2012

John, we only have about 4 that hang out around our feeders hanging on the front porch. They can be very aggressive and territorial about their area. Recently put up a couple of hanging plants on the porch and haven't seen them since.
Is there not some young person nearby you could pay a little to check your feeders?
Richard in NW SC

DCM · May 29, 2012

Trimming the catona aster hedge last fall, found 2 nests about 2 inches wide, nest would easily fit in a small cup, I am sure they wee hummingbird homes. Interesting to see them dual with bumblebees around a feeder.

greygoat · May 29, 2012

If your feeders went empty, or if food gets too
old,(it can ferment)they will move to find some
other source of food. They are always on the lookout for food, so if you put some fresh nector
out they may come back.If they don"t come back
this year, new ones scouting for territory will
find your feeders next season.
Hummingbirds are territorial, and a dominent male
will defend "his" supply so I always have several feeders out, about 20 feet apart!

OT Hummingbirds

John T

Well-known Member

Texasmark1

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Richard G.

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DCM

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greygoat

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