Winter Hummies

Pete · 12-11-2005, 09:54 AM

I may have goofed by putting up a feeder at the end of summer, but we have little visitors now! I have been keeping the "nectar" fresh and the feeder clean. What else do I need to think about? Should I leave it up? Should I take it down at the end of summer next year? Should I use a different nectar formula at this time of year?

Fast Water · 12-11-2005, 10:07 AM

How far can they migrate?
At least 1,800 miles from NE U.S., across the Gulf of Mexico (600 miles without rest), all the way to Central America.

CLICK

Q: When should I take my feeder down?
A: Hummingbirds migrate in response to changing length of daylight, not the availability of food.

CLICK

Pete · 12-11-2005, 10:34 AM

Looks like it's not too unusual for them to overwinter in this part of the world. Particularly Annas when a feeder is available. Near the bottom of this page, there's an interesting map of winter hummingbird reports.

Hummingbirds In Winter

Now if I could figure out how to make the crows go away. My elderly neighbor feeds them. Yesterday evening there had to be 250 or 300 within a hundred yards of my driveway. It evokes images from Dante's Infurno!

Jennie@ifish · 12-11-2005, 10:39 AM

I would like to tell you a story.

I kept hummies all winter in Cannon Beach several years until....

Well, I have bad eyesight. :depressed:

I went to work one morning, and a little hummy was feeding. I was thrilled, because it was so cold and snowy out!

I came home from lunch and it was still feeding! Yay! Same place though. Weird!

Came home at night and it was STILL feeding! I turned on my porch light. Yep. Still there!

Puzzled, I went out and pried it's little frozen beak out of the juice.

Poor little hummy! Froze to the feeder!!!!

Pete · 12-11-2005, 10:40 AM

I'll build a little heater for them!

Small Fry · 12-11-2005, 11:57 AM

This is the second year we have had them hanging around. I haven't been feeding them but they still come looking. Kind of cool to see them around.

Old Coot · 12-11-2005, 01:23 PM

I think that our summer hummers migrate south, and northern hummers migrate to here. I have been feeding on a year-around basis for several years. This year I have at least one male and at least one female Anna's working the feeder.

A friend hung a floodlight about 6 feet from her feeder and put a perch a couple of feet from the flood. She says that on cold days the hummers like to bask in warmth of the floodlight.

Pete · 12-11-2005, 01:25 PM

Nice idea! I like that.

STGRule · 12-11-2005, 04:18 PM

I've got two that hang out at mine all day long. As soon as it's a little light in the sky they show up and don't leave until you almost can't see because of dark. I like the light idea. I may try that. Did the neighbor leave it on 24/7?

5-Cents · 12-11-2005, 05:34 PM

We keep our feeders up and filled all year!

Mr. Fisherman · 12-11-2005, 09:15 PM

I read that you should not feed in the winter. The reasons given were two fold.
First that taking the feeders in in late fall encourages migration. Birds that are fed in the winter are at risk of staying and getting caught in weather they can not survive in. Second that migrating birds breed as part of the cycle. More birds return the following year.
We have a few buzz the house each spring but have not been able to tempt them with our feeders so it hasn't been an issue for us.

Reel_Big_Fish · 12-12-2005, 09:02 AM

My mom kept her feeders out this winter and has had 3 or 4 of them coming around. The week before last she noticed it was frozen so she brought it inside to thaw it. When she was hanging it back up a humming bird landed on it before she even had it up. She can go out there and they come right up and feed. They have some awesome colors on them.

Old Coot · 12-12-2005, 05:41 PM

STG -
She only had it on during the day, and only in winter.

She was a friend, not a neighbor, and lived up in the foothills behind Silverton. During the winters she just had Annas, but in spring and summer she got a lot of Rufies and Calliopes too. One year she had something with a violet gorget visit for a week, never did figure out what it was.

Salty Walty · 12-12-2005, 09:31 PM

We have had them all year at the house for the last 2 years. Keep the nectar fresh and enjoy.

barnacle · 12-13-2005, 02:26 AM

My mom lives next door to me. She has had a feeder going year around for about 5 or 6 years now. I think the same hummers have been living in a tree across the street year around. In the winter and when it's really cold they work it hard all day long. Enjoy your hummers.