Hummingbirds

Bassin' Gal · 09-19-12, 09:43 PM

Do any of you (or your better halves) put out hummingbird feeders? The little critters are defintely moving south. I have had them in south central KY for about a month now. Temp was 43 this morning and they were tanking up. I would estimate that I have somewhere between 50 - 75 right now and they are working me to death cooking up juice and cleaning feeders.

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keithdog · 09-19-12, 10:14 PM

Lucky you! I never put mine out this year, and when I do I'm lucky to have one or two around at some point. But my brother in laws house has a bunch of them. They are pure entertainment to watch.

bassboogieman · 09-19-12, 11:19 PM

Yes we have them out and they've been around. A lot of fun to watch, they are absolutely amazing in flight. They are a lot faster and turn quicker than those dang Lowrancebirds.

Jrob78 · 09-19-12, 11:39 PM

That's really cool! They are fun to watch. You probably know this, (or know that I'm full of crap) but I heard somewhere that you are supposed to stop feeding them at a certain time of year because they will stay there and die during the winter. With a constant source of food, they won't complete their migration. I don't remember what time of year exactly that is, where I heard that or if it's even true, just throwing it out there.

WatterBoy · 09-19-12, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jrob78

That's really cool! They are fun to watch. You probably know this, (or know that I'm full of crap) but I heard somewhere that you are supposed to stop feeding them at a certain time of year because they will stay there and die during the winter. With a constant source of food, they won't complete their migration. I don't remember what time of year exactly that is, where I heard that or if it's even true, just throwing it out there.

I'm certainly no expert on hummingbirds, but at this site I found this info...

"It is also important to note, (and will be mentioned in other locations on this web site), that keeping hummingbird feeders full into autumn, is very important. In fact they should be kept full until a few weeks after the Hummingbirds have not been observed at the feeder.

Hummingbirds will stock up on food before they leave and will be observed at feeders more often in the few weeks before they set out on their journey. Flowers for Hummingbirds have died off in the northern regions of North America. Taking a feeder in, which some people do, for fear of causing them to stay too long, could cause the birds a great deal of stress. Hummingbirds migrate regardless of whether your feeder is empty or full - so keep it full!"

Jrob78 · 09-19-12, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WatterBoy

I'm certainly no expert on hummingbirds, but at this site I found this info...

"It is also important to note, (and will be mentioned in other locations on this web site), that keeping hummingbird feeders full into autumn, is very important. In fact they should be kept full until a few weeks after the Hummingbirds have not been observed at the feeder.

Hummingbirds will stock up on food before they leave and will be observed at feeders more often in the few weeks before they set out on their journey. Flowers for Hummingbirds have died off in the northern regions of North America. Taking a feeder in, which some people do, for fear of causing them to stay too long, could cause the birds a great deal of stress. Hummingbirds migrate regardless of whether your feeder is empty or full - so keep it full!"

Hahahaha, thanks Dean!! See, I said I might be full of crap, happens all the time!

Bassin' Gal · 09-20-12, 07:34 AM

I have been feeding hummers for about 15 years now. I had them in AL but never in the numbers that have appeared here in KY. During the summer I usually only have 3 - 5. In mid-August the migration begins and they swarm in and I have to put out additional feeders to keep enough out until I can get home from work each evening to refill them. I do keep at least two feeders available well into November. I have to bring them in at night to keep them from freezing sometimes. I have a sister in Arkansas who had one little hummer at her house until December. They are a lot of fun to watch and we have had several that we have been able to identify for several years in a row.

lilmule · 09-20-12, 08:11 AM

I have them from late spring to winter every year not a southerly migration been here all along.I pull them in nov so as not to entice them to stay beyond their time.
Mine are largely ruby throated,subspecies.While the feeders ( I do also have those)are nice planting flowering species like yellow or orange trumpet vine etc are a more natural way of feeding and not so messy.

nofearengineer · 09-20-12, 10:06 AM

I hang a feeder right outside my living room window, so I can watch them, and they can provide something interesting for my parrot to watch during the day when I'm not home.

I seem to get only Rufus hummers, not overly colorful, but still fun to watch.

bassboogieman · 09-20-12, 10:24 AM

Quote:

I hang a feeder right outside my living room window, so I can catch them, and they can provide something interesting for me to snack on while the Hot Pockets finish up in the microwave.

I seem to get only Rufus hummers, not overly tasty, but still good with a little honey mustard dipping sauce.

That's what you really wanted to say. Go ahead, buddy, admit it...........

Bassin' Gal · 09-20-12, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassboogieman

That's what you really wanted to say. Go ahead, buddy, admit it...........

That would be like eating popcorn. You just couldn't get full!!! Loved the Lowrance reference too. I was wondering who would be the first. I was just not clever enough to come up with some type of reference in my OP.

bamabassman · 09-20-12, 10:04 PM

we ahve had the beauties for over 3 months here. lisa is cooking up juice mostly twice a week. watching them fight and guard over a feeder is something else,lol. when we lived in south bama, i actually saw a couple kill of an intruder hummer. sad to see, but it is mother nautre. jsut part of it. i find it truly amazing how they fly over the gulf of mexico without stopping. beautiful birds. one of my favorites. love the blue birds too. got a few houses out and gonna add more next year.

keithdog · 09-20-12, 10:55 PM

Here is a hummingbird myth I've read about a few times. Don't know if anyone here has ever heard of this. It was believed for many years that hummingbirds used to attach themselves to migrating geese to make the trip south. It was believed they were unable to make the migration all the way on their own strength. I get an image of this in my head and can't help but laugh. haha

Tavery5 · 09-21-12, 01:21 AM

I like hummers........

MississippiBoy · 09-21-12, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tavery5

I like hummers........

Bad dog....no biscuit!

Bassin' Gal · 09-21-12, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keithdog

Here is a hummingbird myth I've read about a few times. Don't know if anyone here has ever heard of this. It was believed for many years that hummingbirds used to attach themselves to migrating geese to make the trip south. It was believed they were unable to make the migration all the way on their own strength. I get an image of this in my head and can't help but laugh. haha

LOL! I have never heard that one before. What a hoot it would be to see a goose with little hummers latched on and hitching a ride!

bassboogieman · 09-21-12, 10:05 PM

Quote:

It was believed for many years that hummingbirds used to attach themselves to migrating geese to make the trip south.

What? Really? How?
Oh, no they couldn't do that - could they?
Oh crap, nevermind I don't wanna know. I have so many terrible images banging around in my head now - thanks Ketih.
What if the hummingbird mistook a boy goose for....
Well I guess being that the hummingbird is so small, a guy goose might not mind.
All that much.
Dang can ya imagine - a hummingbird goosing a goose.

bamabassman · 09-22-12, 09:08 PM

boogieman....snow blinded already.....

you REALLY need ot get out more often man. lol!

nofearengineer · 09-23-12, 03:27 PM

I just took this a few minutes ago. Only had one visitor so far today, but she keeps coming back...the little sugar junkie.

She is pretty proud of herself...

bassboogieman · 09-23-12, 03:32 PM

Looks like in BOTH pictures she's sticking her tongue out at ya.

bamabassman · 09-23-12, 06:03 PM

she IS sticking out her tounge. maybe she has a crush on your parrot bryce? she IS beautiful. i haven't seen one int he blue color. mostly what we get are the green ones. multi colored ones too. fantastic pics bryce. love it.

Bassin' Gal · 09-23-12, 09:03 PM

Fabulous pics! Thanks for sharing. Maybe she will head this way and hang out at my feeders for a while!

kennethdaysale · 09-24-12, 05:30 AM

In pic 2 do yall see the ghost of a kittens face emerging from between her breasts or is that too gay even to ask?

Bassin' Gal · 09-24-12, 07:46 AM

Good grief! I did notice her breast looked a bit strange but didn't notice the "kitten" until your post. It does look just like one!

bassboogieman · 09-24-12, 10:11 AM

If you stare at here breasts long enough................
wow Ken, paying that close attention to a hummingbird's breast?
But, yeah I do see it. Never thought I'd be checking out breasts that tiny, but yeah I see it.

09-19-12, 09:43 PM	#1
Bassin' Gal BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 387	Hummingbirds Do any of you (or your better halves) put out hummingbird feeders? The little critters are defintely moving south. I have had them in south central KY for about a month now. Temp was 43 this morning and they were tanking up. I would estimate that I have somewhere between 50 - 75 right now and they are working me to death cooking up juice and cleaning feeders.

09-19-12, 10:14 PM	#2
keithdog BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: IN Posts: 8,308	Lucky you! I never put mine out this year, and when I do I'm lucky to have one or two around at some point. But my brother in laws house has a bunch of them. They are pure entertainment to watch. __________________ Just one more cast, and then some!

09-19-12, 11:39 PM	#4
Jrob78 BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 4,671	That's really cool! They are fun to watch. You probably know this, (or know that I'm full of crap) but I heard somewhere that you are supposed to stop feeding them at a certain time of year because they will stay there and die during the winter. With a constant source of food, they won't complete their migration. I don't remember what time of year exactly that is, where I heard that or if it's even true, just throwing it out there. __________________ There are 3 kinds of people in the world…those who can count and those who can’t. HRN4L

09-20-12, 10:06 AM	#9
nofearengineer BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southwest IN Posts: 5,630	I hang a feeder right outside my living room window, so I can watch them, and they can provide something interesting for my parrot to watch during the day when I'm not home. I seem to get only Rufus hummers, not overly colorful, but still fun to watch. __________________ Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing it is not fish they are after.

09-20-12, 10:04 PM	#12
bamabassman BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: cedar bluff, alabama Posts: 15,292	we ahve had the beauties for over 3 months here. lisa is cooking up juice mostly twice a week. watching them fight and guard over a feeder is something else,lol. when we lived in south bama, i actually saw a couple kill of an intruder hummer. sad to see, but it is mother nautre. jsut part of it. i find it truly amazing how they fly over the gulf of mexico without stopping. beautiful birds. one of my favorites. love the blue birds too. got a few houses out and gonna add more next year. __________________ so many lures, so little time.

09-19-12, 11:19 PM	#3
bassboogieman BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Parkesburg, Pa. Posts: 3,762	Yes we have them out and they've been around. A lot of fun to watch, they are absolutely amazing in flight. They are a lot faster and turn quicker than those dang Lowrancebirds.

09-20-12, 07:34 AM	#7
Bassin' Gal BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 387	I have been feeding hummers for about 15 years now. I had them in AL but never in the numbers that have appeared here in KY. During the summer I usually only have 3 - 5. In mid-August the migration begins and they swarm in and I have to put out additional feeders to keep enough out until I can get home from work each evening to refill them. I do keep at least two feeders available well into November. I have to bring them in at night to keep them from freezing sometimes. I have a sister in Arkansas who had one little hummer at her house until December. They are a lot of fun to watch and we have had several that we have been able to identify for several years in a row.

09-20-12, 08:11 AM	#8
lilmule BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Buchanan,Tn Posts: 2,685	I have them from late spring to winter every year not a southerly migration been here all along.I pull them in nov so as not to entice them to stay beyond their time. Mine are largely ruby throated,subspecies.While the feeders ( I do also have those)are nice planting flowering species like yellow or orange trumpet vine etc are a more natural way of feeding and not so messy.

09-20-12, 10:55 PM	#13
keithdog BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: IN Posts: 8,308	Here is a hummingbird myth I've read about a few times. Don't know if anyone here has ever heard of this. It was believed for many years that hummingbirds used to attach themselves to migrating geese to make the trip south. It was believed they were unable to make the migration all the way on their own strength. I get an image of this in my head and can't help but laugh. haha __________________ Just one more cast, and then some!

09-21-12, 01:21 AM	#14
Tavery5 BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 2,427	I like hummers........ __________________ They call me Ishmael

09-22-12, 09:08 PM	#18
bamabassman BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: cedar bluff, alabama Posts: 15,292	boogieman....snow blinded already..... you REALLY need ot get out more often man. lol! __________________ so many lures, so little time.

09-23-12, 03:27 PM	#19
nofearengineer BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southwest IN Posts: 5,630	I just took this a few minutes ago. Only had one visitor so far today, but she keeps coming back...the little sugar junkie. She is pretty proud of herself... __________________ Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing it is not fish they are after.

09-23-12, 03:32 PM	#20
bassboogieman BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Parkesburg, Pa. Posts: 3,762	Looks like in BOTH pictures she's sticking her tongue out at ya.

09-23-12, 06:03 PM	#21
bamabassman BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: cedar bluff, alabama Posts: 15,292	she IS sticking out her tounge. maybe she has a crush on your parrot bryce? she IS beautiful. i haven't seen one int he blue color. mostly what we get are the green ones. multi colored ones too. fantastic pics bryce. love it. __________________ so many lures, so little time.

09-23-12, 09:03 PM	#22
Bassin' Gal BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 387	Fabulous pics! Thanks for sharing. Maybe she will head this way and hang out at my feeders for a while!

09-24-12, 05:30 AM	#23
kennethdaysale BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: rock hill, sc Posts: 2,315	In pic 2 do yall see the ghost of a kittens face emerging from between her breasts or is that too gay even to ask? __________________ Sometimes you gotta risk it to get the biscuit.

09-24-12, 07:46 AM	#24
Bassin' Gal BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 387	Good grief! I did notice her breast looked a bit strange but didn't notice the "kitten" until your post. It does look just like one!

09-24-12, 10:11 AM	#25
bassboogieman BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Parkesburg, Pa. Posts: 3,762	If you stare at here breasts long enough................ wow Ken, paying that close attention to a hummingbird's breast? But, yeah I do see it. Never thought I'd be checking out breasts that tiny, but yeah I see it.

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