Last year, we put out a hummingbird feeder for the first time, and to my surprise, we actually attracted one. (S)He stayed with us for a few months and was very protective of the feeder if another little one decided to stop in for a drink. This year, I put out our feeder in early May, before I had Dylan, as I wanted to have them around much longer. Nothing for quite some time, but we finally got a visitor about 3 weeks ago. Damien said, there's a hummingbird out there and I freaked out. The water hasn't been changed since May. I had no intentions of changing out every week unless I had a hummingbird. I rushed out, got the feeder and mixed up the sugar water (I boil my water in advance and keep it in the refrigerator and add the sugar when I need it). Damien said he was drinking it just fine. I was like, it's moldy and old, it would probably kill it.
I have seen 2 others as well, but (s)he always chases them off. I wish they'd just share, there is enough sugar water for everyone. It's hard to get good shots of the hummingbird as our deck is covered so not a lot of light gets in to get the colors on the hummingbird, but this one is green. When he's not perched on the feeder bracket, he hangs out in our river birch, just in sight of the feeder so he can dive bomb any unwanted stragglers. I will sure miss them when they leave in the fall. We love watching them as they hang out all day and all night. A little trivia did you know that hummingbirds weigh the same as a penny, can flap it's wings about 80 times per second, can fly upside down and has a heart rate of 1,260 beats per minute when feeding.
8 comments:
Nice photo on the feeder! I came over after seeing your comments on Pioneer Woman's site- will continue reading!
I would love to put up a hummingbird feeder. I'll do it...someday.
We have this same feeder and put it out last year for the first time too! After loving it so much, we went and got 2 more.
Awesome...I would like to put out one as well. Maybe next year.
I told the kids we were stealing your hummingbirds... JUST KIDDING!
But we did go get a feeder so we could hang one out and attract some... only problem, the bracket we bought won't work on our "janky" deck.
The hummingbirds just showed up at our house, too! I also put out a feeder a few months ago, and I thought the birds would NEVER come! I haven't seen them yet, but Todd says he has. The feeder is right outside the kitchen window, so I have a good view of it. I am going to be on the lookout for the hummingbirds!!
Speaking of the hummingbirds, I just saw one outside! I was sitting here posting my comment on your blog when one of my cats suddenly jumped on the front window screen. I peeked outside to see why he had jumped on the screen, and lo and behold there was a hummingbird! My silly cat needs to realize hummingbirds are too fast for him to catch! Or, are they???
OK, Stephanie, I think (maybe wrong), but you boil the water and add the sugar so the sugar will dissolve really well. You really don't have to give your birds sterilized water! Also, the same birds will come back to your feeder year after year. One year we had about 20, the boys loved it. Nommie
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