Hummingbirds (The ones that fly)

[Tanner]

Has anyone noticed how many hummingbirds are around this year. My wife has a flowering plant called a Salvia in the front yard and over the last several weeks you only have to sit out on the front porch 5 - 10 minutes before you will see one come to it's flowers.

I bought my wife a really nice glass and teak feeder for her birthday and I hung it on the eves in front of our living room window on Saturday. I came home last night and was sitting on the couch. Within a couple of minutes I saw two hummingbirds at the feeder right at our window.

I have also noticed them other places. We stayed at a cabin by Sun River in June and they were thick. In July we spent 5 days at Cottage Grove Lake Campgrounds and we were literally getting divebombed by the little buggers.

I was just wondering if anyone else had been noticing this.

[Riverkeeper]

I did last year around this time. I think around this time of year they move down from higher elevations where most of the plants have finished blooming. They end up in people's yards alot because of the ornamental flowers (which aren't on the local schedule) and feeders.

As far as I know we have two species, Anna's and Rufous hummers. The Anna's are bigger and the rufous have some reddish brown mixed in with the green coloring. My yard's full of em.

[OceanBlue]

If you like hummers and butterflies, plant budlea (butterfly plants) they come in many colors and are prolific growers. I take cuttings from mine each winter and just stick them in pots. They root and grow heartily. I've got one that quadrupled in size the first year and doubled the year after that. I just love these things!

[letsfish]

Ask Jen about those hummers-she is a real berd lover and could link you up to sights that might be able to inform you regarding actual numbers. A few years ago I saw an Oregon Field Guide show about a girl of 14 years of age who was considered an authority on the birds in the state, lived in Silverton I think.

[Riverkeeper]

Oceanblue,

Careful with that butterfly bush. Some varieties are fast becoming serious pest in some areas by escaping from gardens and establishing in natural areas, displacing native vegetation that wildlife rely on. It is an attractive plant for humans and critters, but try to make sure that yours don't spread into areas where it will not be kept in check.

I work in the noxious weed field and believe me, the list of problem plants introduced into our area grows every day. It is pretty scary.

As an alternative, red flowering current is an attractive native plant that the hummers love [img]graemlins/hearton.gif[/img] and grows well in gardens.


Darian

[Gus Orviston]

I never planted a butterlfy bush...I now have 4 of them. My neighbor has one...

I don't have as many hummers this year. last year I had loads of them, but this year they have be rather sparse.

gus

[Old Coot]

It's been a great year for hummers. The Anna's will overwinter in the valley, I have had a at least one male at my house in Salem for both of the last two winters, and last year at least one female stayed, too. The male Anna's has a splash of the same iridescent color as the throat across its forehead. It's hard to tell how many different birds are hitting your feeders because they all look alike!

You might try leaving a feeder out, changing the contents every few days to avoid mold or other nasties growing in it. I use a mix of 1 part sugar to 3-4 parts water, depending upon the weather.