Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

ALMOST BEEKEEPING - RELATED TOPICS => FARMING & COUNTRY LIFE => Topic started by: doak on March 23, 2008, 11:57:02 pm

Title: Humming Birds
Post by: doak on March 23, 2008, 11:57:02 pm

 Had to hang the feeder today, T-H-E-Y' R-E  B-A-A-C-K. ;)
DOAK

Title: Re: Humming Birds
Post by: KONASDAD on March 24, 2008, 12:06:37 am

When you find red honey, at least you'll know where it came from.

Title: Re: Humming Birds
Post by: doak on March 24, 2008, 12:19:50 am

I don't color my juice.
Sugar water just like the Bees get, just a different ratio.
doak

Title: Re: Humming Birds
Post by: reinbeau on March 24, 2008, 08:52:52 am

Yea, no red dye in hummingbird food, there's no need for it.  It'll be a month now before they're back around here.  It's 25 out there this morning.

Title: Re: Humming Birds
Post by: randydrivesabus on March 24, 2008, 12:14:09 pm

hummingbirds are kind of a good indicator of when there is a nectar flow on if you have a feeder...if you fill it often there is no flow.

Title: Re: Humming Birds
Post by: poka-bee on March 24, 2008, 12:32:39 pm

Mine are back too, saw a beautiful hen Sat. I put the feeders up St Paddys day, they come a few days before or after.  No red dye either  I have a window feeder & 1 little male always looks there first & scolds me if it's not there!  Did you know they can live 5-10 years???  Amazing considering how far they travel. The displays & fights by the males are so fun to watch, like old ww2 arial battles on tv! the tttzzu tzzu sounds.  The residents are usually gone by the 4th of July then just the straggler travelers from farther N on their way S.  Next are the barn/cliff swallows, (late april)then I know summer is close!  Jody

Title: Re: Humming Birds
Post by: doak on March 24, 2008, 01:43:58 pm

Filling the feeder has nothing to do with the flow.
Humming birds are like you and I, and the bees.
They still have to eat whether the honey flow is on or not.
randydrivesabus, sorry to burst your bubble. :?
doak

Title: Re: Humming Birds
Post by: randydrivesabus on March 24, 2008, 02:58:28 pm

just posting my experience Doak. My point was that if they are not eating from the feeder they must be eating from somewhere else.....so they could be hitting up a neighbors feeder or they could be hitting up the flowers. My bet is on the flowers.

Title: Re: Humming Birds
Post by: doak on March 24, 2008, 03:16:54 pm

Remember, bees don't visit a good number of the blossoms that the humming birds work.
Wasn't trying to be rough on you.
doak

Title: Re: Humming Birds
Post by: randydrivesabus on March 24, 2008, 04:22:42 pm

Quote from: doak on March 24, 2008, 03:16:54 pm

Wasn't trying to be rough on you.
doak

wasn't thinking you were.

Title: Re: Humming Birds
Post by: reinbeau on March 24, 2008, 04:51:57 pm

Hummingbirds regularly go from flower to flower to feeder and back to flower - I haven't seen them ignore one for the other at all.  Then again I've got lots of flowers for them to enjoy, from mid-spring to fall, so they've always got plenty of options.

Title: Re: Humming Birds
Post by: Cindi on March 31, 2008, 01:17:01 am

Doak, beautiful thread.  The hummingbirds are a delight for sure.  I haven't spied any yet, but if Jody has seen a few, I can bet my bottom dollar that a few will be coming my way soon.  I never have had many ever visit my feeder, just a now and then.  But let me tell you, do they ever love the white Nicotianna that is the hybrid that has the flowers that open during the day, beautiful. Nicotiannas ahve the most beautiful night fragrance too.  Have the most beautiful and awesome of these days, Cindi

(http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/3930/nicotiannasensationmix6ti9.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)