dooley
Official Garden Turtle
Joined: 03 Jul 2005
Location: Arizona, U.S.A (Map)
Posts: 3130
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| Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 10:08 pm Post subject: Hummingbirds |
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It was cold this morning, only 10 degs when we got up. I was outside talking to the neighbor and saw a little puffed up hummingbird checking out the empty feeder. I came inside and refilled it and hung it back outside. I got the camera and waited and waited. He wouldn't come to the feeder while I was outside. But, I caught him sitting in the tree and got as close as I could. Do humming bird's teeth chatter? He was making a chattering noise.
He is a very small hummingbird. Maybe one of the last batch from last fall. He's mostly gray and black with a red patch on his neck.
doolely
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SongofJoy57
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 20 Oct 2007
Location: Foothills of North Carolina Z = 7a & 7b (Map)
Posts: 587
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| Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 10:45 pm Post subject: |
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Neat pic . . . It has been a long while since I saw a hummingbird in these parts.
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eileen
Moderator & Resident Taxonomist
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Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Location: Scotland (Map)
Posts: 10455
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| Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 11:52 pm Post subject: |
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Poor little mite, he's all fluffed up against the cold. I'm glad you're keeping the feeder filled Dooleyt as the food will help him to withstand the cold.
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dirt2diamonds
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 31 Oct 2007
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 409
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| Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 12:02 am Post subject: |
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The first picture u posted made the hummingbir look so big. I'm glad u posted the second pic of the little one. I did not know they hung around in the chilly weather. Thanks for sharing.
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dooley
Official Garden Turtle
Joined: 03 Jul 2005
Location: Arizona, U.S.A (Map)
Posts: 3130
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| Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 12:05 am Post subject: |
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He was all puffed up from the cold. There is a nest in one of our trees. We generally get a few who stay but not as many as the lower altitudes get. They are very territorial in summer. I try to keep one filled and most of the time two. The one in front was empty and the one in back was frozen. I redid both of them. Hopefully they ate their fill when I wasn't around.
dooley
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kaseylib
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 28 Dec 2007
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 518
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| Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 12:10 am Post subject: |
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You're so lucky in Arizona that you have so many varieties of hummers that migrate there during the winter months. Here in Wisconsin, we just have the ruby-throated ones, and only during the summer. They're so fun to watch, and I keep my feeder right next to the window so I can see them close-up.
I once visited Madeira Canyon in Arizona during the winter, and got to see a number of different hummers there...really neat!
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dooley
Official Garden Turtle
Joined: 03 Jul 2005
Location: Arizona, U.S.A (Map)
Posts: 3130
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| Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 4:48 am Post subject: |
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We have a lot of different ones in the summer but not so many in the winter. dooley
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glendann
Official Garden Angel
Joined: 19 May 2006
Location: Texas (Map)
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| Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 5:05 am Post subject: |
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I don't think theres but a few hangs around here in the winter.Those are really great pictures Dooley.
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Droopy
Slug Slaughterer
Joined: 11 Aug 2007
Location: Western Norway (Map)
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| Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 8:25 am Post subject: |
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I'm glad you're feeding them, Dooley. I hope they will reward you with life and colour come spring.
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Sherry8
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 06 Nov 2007
Location: Wisconsin...zone 4 (Map)
Posts: 624
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| Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 1:35 pm Post subject: |
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I love those little beauties...and I look forward to seeing them in the spring.....
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Penny
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 19 Nov 2007
Location: Ontario
Posts: 422
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| Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 2:38 pm Post subject: |
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Awww, he looks so sweet, i cant wait to see them back up here!
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Netty
Chaotic Gardener
Joined: 04 Nov 2006
Location: Southern Ontario zone 5
Posts: 3997
PlantStew: 1351 |
| Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 3:34 pm Post subject: |
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Great shots Dooley. I'm glad you are feeding the little guys. They need the energy to keep warm.
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stratsmom
Flower Fanatic
Joined: 23 Aug 2006
Location: Southern Oregon (Map)
Posts: 721
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| Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 4:54 pm Post subject: |
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This summer I plan to hang out SEVERAL feeders! Last year I only had 2 feeders and towards the end of the summer started to get some action! Does anyone know if you really need to buy the nectar or is sugar and water ok? Somebody told me they needed the vitamins and stuff that they put in commercial food. Is it true or are they just trying to sell me something?
Great photos!
Deanna
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Wrennie
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 21 Nov 2007
Location: Catskill Mountains NY
Posts: 534
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| Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 5:17 pm Post subject: |
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Theyre jut trying to sell you something stratsmom.
I own a wild bird shop and will let you know; the commercial powders I use but more for convenience. No boiling or cooling time. So if I forget to make some I have it as a standby. The majority of a hummingbirds diet is actually insects. Small spiders, gnats,fruit flies. This is where they get their protein from. In the summer you can save some fruit rinds & peels, place them in a tree and when the fruit flies hatch the hummers have a feast.
Boxed nectar mix ingredients: Sucrose, dextrose,tataric acid, & sodium benzoate. Not one single vitamin there.
To make your own nectar. Boil 4 parts water with 1 part sugar. Stir to be sure the sugar is all dissolved. Don't overboil, just boil till dissolved. Cool to room temperature or cooler before offering it outside. Keep the extra in a glass container in the fridge for up to a week.
Remember to clean your feeders and change the nectar at least once a week, or if it looks cloudy. Once every few days in hot weather.
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jubabe296
Official Garden Fairy
Joined: 18 Mar 2006
Location: south central Texas (Map)
Posts: 1180
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| Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 7:00 pm Post subject: |
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He is such a cute little guy Dooley!! I can't wait for them to make their return back around here. I love to watch them dart in and out of the water sprinkler in the evenings.
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