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I have about 7 of these little guys in my backyard in California. It's funny to watch them do their best impressions of fighter pilots over the feeders.
Enjoyed it very much, Thanks !. I cannot tell you how many folks I have met that have no idea what we mean by "3 to one" or "4 to one". I have been stopped in Walmart by strangers who do not know and have had no experience with this terminology. I don't think it is taught this way now. I'm 60. I was a teen when my boss told me to "fill 2 vats with slmple syrup, 3 to 0ne ratio". I had to have directions. She put a 5 gal. Bucket in my hand and said "For every bucket of sugar, dissolve it in 3 buckets of water". ( Ours was very strong for drinks). Tablespoons or barrels,--- people want to know (?). I don't fill my feeders up full until I have a following. I'm going to change it at least every week to keep it from getting fermented / fouled anyway.
I used to see them frequently in Southern California. Around Lompoc, Santa Maria and Vandenburg Air Force Housing. There was a few bottle brush flowers planted in my junior high and they hung out there to feed a lot.
Another great film, Lesley! I’m glad more people know to keep feeders out through winter, because these little beauties sometimes don’t leave! In winter, I have two feeders: one outside, the other in the fridge. In the early morning I switch out the slushy or frozen feeder with the thawed one. And I have hummers still coming despite snow and ice!
Nice job, Lesley! I'm a licensed hummer bander, and have handled over 5,000 Ruby-throated. I have only one tiny correction: the bird with a single red feather in its throat was almost certainly an immature (hatch year) male. In 24 years, I've only seen two adult females with a red feather, and in both cases it was high in the throat, just below the bill.
I occasionally find their tiny - empty - nests in the bushes here in Maine. They are so tiny and intricate; truly amazing and adorable little constructions. All in all, 'rubies' are one of my favorite birds.
Here in New Hampshire, USA, I’ve been putting out a feeder for about 25 years and these amazing tiny birds never fail to amaze me. A couple of years I didn’t have my feeder out soon enough and suddenly one returned before I was ready, hovering in the exact same spot looking for where the feeder was the previous year… solidifying for me that the previous years birds may return to their exact territory again.
I moved to NH just a few years ago and was happy to see hummingbirds the first year we were here. the second year they showed up early and came right up to me as if to say "hey, where's the nectar?". I just love having them return every year. this year a female keeps visiting me in the green beans, she is gathering nectar from the green bean flowers. they will leave soon, and I always miss them.
I am so envious! I have seen hummingbirds only once, on holiday in the Caribbean. I was speechless. Pictures and videos gave me no real sense of their iridescence or their miniscule size. I couldn't believe my eyes! So beautiful. ❤️
I had one of these in my backyard yesterday. I ran inside to clean my feeder and fill it with nectar. I had a Pileated Woodpecker pecking on a telephone pole in my backyard, a Blue jay, Carolina Wren, and some Robins that recently had babies in my front yard Holly. Spring has sprung for sure.
The relationship between sapsuckers and ruby-throated hummingbirds is amazing! As sapsuckers move north and create sap wells along the way, hummingbirds come in behind and take advantage! The timing of this relationship is simply amazing! Neat to hear how they benefit the sapsuckers by keeping other birds away too!
I remember leaning about this behavior many years ago in a charming documentary that I cannot recall the name of. I wish I could remember because I'd love to get it on bluray.
East coast US here, just spotted our first Ruby Throat of the season, yesterday morning. It was an unusually warm morning, I am glad it found the feeder we put up because we have cooler days coming up. Fascinating about the partnership with Sapsuckers. I haven't seen sapsuckers here, though I love watching a pack of Downys.
I LOVE Hummingbirds!! My daughter has a stuffed animal Ruby-Throated and she LOVES it! I showed this to her and we fell in love! We are bird people so this really helped!!!💙💙💙
Something that somehow never gets mentioned is how LOUD these birds are... My one encounter with a hummingbird was when a female Ruby got into my house. I was terrified!!! I thought she was a huge hornet! It's logical enough that they're loud once you really see one in action, but somehow it just never seems to be communicated very clearly. So if you're like me and have a fear of wasps and bees? Just be aware that hummingbirds don't "hum" so much as BUZZ!! She was as upset as I was, heh. Eventually she got back out, I had no way to help her though so we just kind of...avoided each other until she figured out where the door was, again.
we have had them get stuck in our garage twice. once we put a feeder on the ground near the door and it flew out. the second time it was flying near a window, and we were able to open the window and let it out. I can't imagine one in the house! tip for anyone trying to get them to fly in one direction, put a feeder near a door or window can help.
Ruby throats are so pleasant to see flying around and visiting the feeder. The more daring hummers will do little chirps and talk to you. They perform stunts or do cute things in front of the window, or look at me almost to say thanks after they have a drink. Yesterday it was snowing in April and I saw a blue-throated hummingbird come right up to my window suddenly, looked right into my soul and just flashed it's vibrant iridescent blue neck feathers at me. It really looked like a blue-throated mountaingem... ashy black and blue. Only I live in WA state and those birds are only known to be as far north as west Texas apparently?? Well I saw one up here. It was the most vibrant blue I've ever seen... Like magic!
Seeing the 1st hummingbird is like seeing the 1st Blubird or Oriole. It's a ritual that marks the season. Have you ever seen a Hummingbird nest? Stunning.
I absolutely adore these little amazing birds. They are my favorite. A few years ago, we had a mom hummingbird who had 1 baby, when baby was old enough she brought baby to the feeder, a wasp was in the feeder, baby flew away, mom and baby returned and brought reenforcements by bringing dad to fight with the wasp. It worked and the wasp left. It was so cute. Last year I was out watering flowers and had a Hummer land on my shoulder. She wanted a shower. She got a shower while the flowers got a drink. We have 4 feeders up each year with 10 giant inpatient flowers everywhere. We have very spoiled birds. Last year we had a Hummer who would hover outside the window when her food was getting low.
Long ago, when I was a teenager I worked one summer on a slash disposal crew in the Nez Perce National Forest in Idaho. Our job was to clear branches and limbs left over from timber operations and put them in large piles to be burned in the winter months. For this work we were issued large fiber glass hard hats resembling helmets worn by soldiers in WWI. For some reason, I got a red one and every time I went out in the field 3-4 hummers would fly over to my face to investigate and it didn't matter what I was doing at the time. Swinging an axe or just walking around, there were always hummers that flew over to check out my red hard hat.
I did a study abroad in costa rica and at the time had a bright orange phone case. The hummers kept licking my camera lens! xD (sadly phone was stolen by a monkey on said trip… its true i swear)
@@FioreCiliegia I can well understand the snatch-and grab ability of a monkey that you experienced in Costa Rica. In East Africa baboons are also very adept at running off with any unguarded object and are quite good at it, especially the ones that hang out around tourist lodges.
I'll be putting my feeders out in May, and every plant on my deck will be nectar for them! Looking forward to their return. I'd love to go to Costa Rica to see a whole lot more! 🌺
Last year I had 4 actively used hummingbird feeders. A few days ago, I thought I'd heard the wing sound of one, so put two of my feeders out again. He showed up at it the next day and I've seen both feeders being used frequently, so there might be more than one here. I'm north of Nashville and a few miles from the Kentucky border.
Thank you so much for the info!!🙏 I live in Indianapolis, & was wondering how far they'd gotten so far this year. We've had some sightings elsewhere in Indiana, so guess I better get those feeders out. 👍💗
I grew up back east, so I'm familiar with the Ruby, here on the Oregon coast, we have the Black-chinned, which is somewhat similar. As much as I love birds, I am not feeding any, except the hummers. I have a feeder outside my window, inches away, for the close up action. Which is so busy, I have to refill it about every two or three days. I recognize different individuals and they certainly recognize me, and each of them have different personalities. The black-chinned will stay all winter, which on the coast is mild. A few weeks ago the Rufous returned, and man, the males are fancy and they know it! A couple years ago I was ministering to an older man with health issues. He lived a very interesting life and was also quite observant. He told me of an event he witnessed in Alaska in spring. A flock of Canadian Geese were arriving from the south, began lowering altitude and were coming in about to land near him in a field. Before they landed he saw a darkish "cloud" depart from them and come towards him. The "cloud" buzzed right by him, it was Hummingbirds! He believed the hummers hitched a ride, probably behind the necks, on the geese. I think this may be possible. I have witnessed many things, in my lifetime, in the animal kingdom that I have never heard reported. Many years ago, when my wife was alive, I was an arborist. I wouldn't cut trees that had nesting birds, but scheduled those trees after, to the best of my ability. My wife had me collect for her, the Hummingbird nests that remained in the branches, that were found during the clean up process. After a while she had quite a collection.
I know everybody's all about the red throat patch but their emerald green feathers are almost iridescent in sunlight. Gorgeous little birds and they will come right up to you in the garden. Also they like hibiscus plants and flowers that are tube shaped, like daylilies, petunias, foxglove, and impatiens.
Eagerly awaiting the arrival of ‘our’ Ruby throats here. It’s a bit early, but rather be ready when they get here. Between them and the Baltimore Orioles, I’m constantly checking! Thank you, Leslie!
I am in Tennessee and they are here. When we first moved here, the lady had dozens of hummingbirds. Now it seems like I just have four. Guessing parents and babies.
I'm so glad to see hummingbirds in Northern Vermont! I know it couldn't be the same hummingbird that sits on a telephone wire near my house every summer, but I always refer to whichever hummingbird it is as "my little pal". Their appearance means that summer is definitely here.
In my area we get Black Chinned, Broad-tailed, and Calliope. I actually just saw a Calliope Hummingbird last night coming to my planter to eat during fall migration!❤Super tiny! At first I thought it was a Hummingbird Moth!
It’s amazing that they do so well with all the fighting they do. Thanks for the reminder Nerd as these little beauties will be here shortly as the tree swallows showed up three days ago. 👍😃✌️
No problem 👍🐦 I bet it will be nice to see them again. Awesome birds 🥰 I love tree swallows and hope to see them again this spring. It's fun watching their aerial displays.
I got my first hummingbird bird visit 2 weeks ago from a Ruby Throated Hummingbird and I live in New Mexico. Since I seen 1 I put my feeders early. I did get 1 visit 3 days but haven't gotten another visit yet
I think they might be my favorite bird. I remember my grandfather used to have one hanging out the kitchen window so he could watch them feed in the mornings.
I have had the pleasure of watching 3 nests of these little jewels over the years. One was almost at eye-level, and Mama hummer let me check in on her babies all the time. She only buzzed me off when it was feeding time. All 3 nests produced 2 babies each, and every year many come through for the summer. I’ve tried to grow flowers they like, but they seem to especially love the wild morning glories. They are definitely fearless, and I’ve many times found myself stared down as I drink my morning coffee. ❤️❤️🌺
Every year at my family's cottage in the middle of nowhere New York. I watched these hummingbirds chase each other all summer long. They are a ton of fun and we feed them plenty of sugar water that they love 😁
In my part of Central Texas we do have a few who stay through the winter and it’s usually fine as our winters tend to be on the mild side. But in Feb. 2021 we had an unusually harsh freeze and snow event here. I had a hummer I was feeding…she never moved on so I kept the feeder out. She continued to feed throughout the event, and I had to alternate between 2 feeders and change out as the nectar started to freeze. I’d even taken some video of her with my phone, feeding as the snow fell….so surreal. After several days, the weather changed and started to warm up again and she kept coming around so I at least knew I’d kept her alive. I’ve read that keeping a feeder out doesn’t keep them from leaving if they’re going to. I usually give it about a week or two and bring in the feeders if I haven’t seen a hummer feeding. This was the first time I’d ever had one here past Thanksgiving.
I've not had the pleasure to see many hummingbirds at all.... they're so tiny and so quick! I never knew about the relationship between the sapsucker woodpeckers and the hummingbirds, fascinating! I learned something new today, thanks Lesley 💙🌼🌻🐦
I love hummingbirds so much! I had a hummer that was curious about everything red I held in my hand this winter. One of the best experiences in my life!
Thank you, Lesley, I had no idea the little hummingbirds and woodpeckers collaborated so closely, very sweet. I’ve had several come to my yard for years, always a delight to see them. We have an Abelia shrub that produces an abundance of flowers that the hummingbirds love to visit. We also get tons of bumblebees and a very beautiful hummingbird moth sharing the abundance as well.
My late mother loved hummingbirds, and owls, but I think hummingbirds were her favourite. And I didn't know that Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers, my third favourite woodpecker, had a relationship to these hummingbirds.
I live in Virginia Beach & look forward to the hummingbirds every year. They come around May-June & sometimes hang around until September. It’s a labor of love to keep up w/ their feeders & watch w/ my binoculars as they come to the feeders. They are fascinating! I’ve gotten buzzed by the males when it’s time to change out the sugar water. They are very territorial:) Thanks for another great video. I really enjoy your content.
You should try getting one if those feeders that stick to a window. I have one outside my kitchen window every summer and although skittish at first, they get used to you watching them. I've had as many as 4 of them on it at one time! I get to see them up close as I'm doing the dishes, such a treat! 😀
During the first part of the pandemic, I lived with my older daughter in Texas. We had a clothesline in the yard, and my daughter bought some highly colorful clothespins- including yellow and red. One morning I spotted a Ruby Throat trying to obtain nectar from the brightest of the clothespins. It was the first time I got a really closeup look at this little bird, and I’m so grateful for that experience!
My woodpeckers here in NS visit the hummer feeders quite regularly. It's fun to watch the young ones trying to figure out how to get a drink from the confounded contraption!
I hope the oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico put out humming bird feeders during migration season! In spring and summer I get regular visits of these cuties at a feeder hanging outside my window in central Maine. It's always a thrill.
My little humming bird hasn't been around. I was sad to learn about their short life spand Hope to get a picture of him. He comes so close to me sometimes I could almost pet him.
Over the years I’ve sometimes been “buzzed” by hummers when I’m reading quietly on my deck. I have no idea why they do this. Thinking I will buy a hummer feeder and see who shows up this year!
I have a ruby throated at my hummer feeder!! So far he is the only one. Last year I had three. Love watching him fly around, so fast! I didn't know they drank the sweet sap from this tree, so I did learn something today!! Thanks Lesley!!❤
I saw a video of a guy feeding a hummingbird on an oil rig... What a migration! I can't wait for the first hummingbird of the year. I'm very happy they make it this far north (northern Maine)
Oh no way. I have to see if I can find that video. What a nice person. I bet your hummingbirds will be glad to see your place when they arrive. Can you imagine all that flying from that distance they do?! 😳🐦❤
I saw a Brown Thrasher for the first time in my backyard the other day (in Central Ohio) and as I know so very little about these guys, my first instinct was to check your archived videos. A testimony to the superb quality and entertainment value of your content! From my observation, the Brown Thrasher was quite chummy with the robins. 😃
Thanks again Leslie, we will get our feeders out this week! Hoping to get some beautiful birds here in our retirement community to lighten people's days! Love your videos!
I have about 3 hummingbirds visit my nectar feeders from March till about October! Once I had seen one here on Christmas Day! I hand my feeders near the window so I can watch them❤️! Have a great day Leslie ♥️✌️! I live in Live Oak Florida 🏝️
What a wonderful surprise! A mid-week video about my fave aves! 😀 Never knew about the cooperative relationship with woodpeckers- too cool. I hope they make their way to your neck of the woods someday- they don't know what they're missing! 😋 Thank you for this- you know I enjoy all of your videos but this one is extra special. I hope you're having a great week- take care!
Ruby, throated hummingbirds are beautiful. I feel that I’m very lucky to get sight of them eating at my sugar feeder. I hope that many of them get past that first year and live a few years to be beautiful birds.
These little guys like it when I water my garden with a hose. They linger in the spray, and when I see them I hold the hose still until they're done. I don't know what they're doing; maybe bathing or drinking, but whatever it is, I'm glad to let them do it. They're so pretty!
Saw the first one of the season here in Central VA on 4/10. I usually have 3 pairs that frequent my feeders but my buddy in the rural area can have ~40 at the same time fighting over his 5 large feeders that he has to fill up daily. Quite a sight! Did not know about the sapsucker connection, we definitely have those here as well.
I'd like to see more of the hummingbird's part of the deal, keeping other critters away. I'm just not sure the sapsucker appreciates it, so much as it knows better than to mess with angry hummingbirds.
Here in my N. Georgia home, the little sugar hounds have just started showing up. I miss these guys through the winter & spend the summer planting more flowers for them & being a feeder attendant! I've almost mastered propagation of a few of their favorites, a semi-hardy Fuschia, "Angels earrings" and a Cuphea, " Vermillionaire" to share with others. I adore their antics, charm & chutzpa. Never knew they were friends with the tree perforators, always learn something here. Thanks Leslie!
We had no humming birds in our yard until one decided to adopt us. It saw we had bird feeders and dive bombed me two times over two days flying right in front of me when I was outside. I got the message and ran inside to make nectar and cool it in the freezer. I put out a feeder and within 15 minutes the bird was drinking from our new feeder. I figure it recognized we fed birds and wondered where the nectar was. They are very bold little birds, with a dominant one who 'owns' the feeder with others drinking if they can do it without being chased. I have been working outside and teh bird comes up and hovers just checking what I am doing.
Here in California we get the Anna’s hummingbirds. I love to watch them do their display dive as they a make a loud chirp. It’s hard to believe that such a tiny bird can make such a loud chirp. Thank You for a wonderful video.
Im looking forward to seeing them at my window feeder soon. Interestingly, Ive recently noticed how much color the gold finches and house finches are gaining. I never realized they changed so much. Actually i never knew that gold finches stayed here year-round until Leslie mentioned it. Thanks.
Thanks Lesley! I have Ruby Throat Hummingbirds regularly every year. I had a few Rufous Hummingbird over the years too. Every April 1st the feeders are set.
Perfect timing for this video! I live in the northernmost end of Southeast Florida, and Ruby is definitely the most commonly seen, being seen in my garden daily from Nov to early April. But we do occasionally see black chins, Anna's and Allen's. We think they must be lost. These other species have been spotted by many at our local botanical gardens in their butterfly gardens. But, like flowers, I don't view a bird as less special just because it is common. I keep adding new nectar flowers for them with about one plant addition ever other week. It's important to go around with a broom and clear the areas of my jungle from spiderwebs. Spiderwebs are a top killer of hummers! We have all heard that webs are as strong as steel when factoring density. If a hummer gets caught in it, the strength required to get out could be more energy than it can afford to expend. A weakened hummer is a dead hummer. So I am out there daily with the broom. I would also encourage anyone in a hot climate to change sugar water at least once every other day. In the summer I change mine daily. Once a week is kinda pushing it. The birdies will be drinking alcohol. During times when I know that daily changing isn't possible, I take the feeders down and let the birds use the nectar plants.
Yes, agree about the spider webs, and we have those Praying Mantids too that eat Hummingbirds, yuck! Those bugs freak me out! It's like they have a face and they watch you! Ugh! I caught one eating my monarch chrysalises too... he/she is no longer with us...
I live in north central Illinois, and I'm looking forward to these guys coming back real soon. We find them to be quite friendly and curious especially when we sit quietly on the deck.
Lesley I love your videos, and it inspires me to film my local birds so much. I cant wait to set up our Oriole and Hummingbird feeders especially and get some shots of the beautiful Ruby-Throated.
The hummingbird is so mysterious and magical. We have them every year, and I love them so much. I love when they are around. Just yesterday, one was working so close to me that I could even make out the details of his little feet. Awesome creatures!
I’m watching the bee balm coming up in yard now, a favorite of the ruby throated hummingbird. Also have columbine, hummingbird mint and jewel weed among others that they love. Last year I was getting ready to weed wack the jewel weed, that grows from under deck, it’s a weed right and noticed the hummingbird going to the orange flowers so I left it, then I learned benefits of plant for poison ivy. Thank you little hummingbird for making me learn more. Plus I give them to sugar water that they fight the red bellied woodpecker for, nothing like when out on deck and getting buzzed by hummingbird 🤗😂🥰.
I've set 3 feeders out for the first time and I must say I've been totally smitten with these little, big personality birds. There's nothing like going outside in the morning and getting buzzed by one within inches of your head. It's also a special treat to get mobbed by them after refilling the feeders and holding them in my hands. The way they make their little aggravated chirps and flaring at each other with thier aerobatics is amazing and too funny to watch.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are truly fascinating! In fact it's this tiny bird that peaked my interest in birds some ten years ago and I've been hooked ever since. I did learn something new about them in your video. I didn't know that they follow Sapsuckers to find food. Each year, I put my feeders out the first week of April (in Maryland) and I usually start seeing them around April 23rd. I can't wait for their arrival!
We don't have anything similar to the hummingbirds in Europe so I find them fascinating. I wish I could see some in person 😍, what a brave and unusual little bird
I view the migration map regularly...my feeders are going up this weekend...my favorite time of year is when the hummers arrive. Thanks for the charming presentation Lesley
My sister who lives in San Diego, CA has a hummingbird feeder she hangs on her condo balcony and when she forgets to fill the feeder they complain! They get very vocal calling for more sugar water! Once feeder is refilled, they quiet down again.
Dear Lesley, I had a remarkable experience the other day in my spring Daffodil patch. I was laying in the patch admiring my new arrival beauty's of spring when a Moon Berry Clear Wing Humming bird MOTH came along to feed, and lay larva, I was really astonished, humming bird on top and a moth on the bottom. very rare. I had never seen one before
Thanks Leslie. Charming presentation. We are in Utah and have a lot of hummingbirds but later in the spring. We feed them from our deck feeders and flowers in the garden and enjoy seeing them. Thanks again and all the best. Cy
Thanks so much Lesley!! Anytime I see a hummingbird the day becomes magic!! Thank you for the tips on how to attract them, they are amazing little birds on a purely sugar diet!! :D
Despite being so tiny these are the bravest little birds. I sit on my porch but 3 feet away from their feeder and they will fly right up and check me out, zipping left and right while hovering right in my face, before swinging back to feeder. They get pretty territorial chasing each other away from the feeder as well. Quite feisty.
In my area of northern Ontario, the ruby-throats typically show up about May 15. One year I was sitting on my porch, but hadn't put the feeders out yet. One of them flew up, hovered about 4" from my face until I got up to go prepare the feeders! BTW, never use the prepared food with the red dye in it! It's harmful to the birds, and you don't need it. Most feeders have some red on them, but, in any case, they will find the sugar water solution.
These birbs are so AWESOME! We have plenty of areas with wildflowers and the types of insects they love around us, so even without specific feeders we see them every year. When we put up feeders, though, we get so many that they have aerial battles! Yes, I make sure to set the feeders out of sight of each other. There are just THAT MANY. I have gotten them to feed from my hand more than once. The thing that I found most amazing is that their feet are so warm!
They are awesome little birds, you mentioned they were bold and they are! I hang a feeder on my porch and set under the feeder on the railing and they will come in and feed and eventually get to where you can give them a gentle rub on their backs!
@@LesleytheBirdNerd there are usually 10 to 15 birds around and there is always a Bully that will sit nearby an try to run all the others off..it's chaos at the feeder sometimes...lol
I am finally in a home that I can again hang bird feeders & enjoy the different ones who come. Your videos are so helpful. To my surprise, last summer the hummingbirds drank from a small white flower "weed" that had taken over a large flowerpot! I am now ready to attract them with their own feeder as soon as earth less frozen cor the pole to go in. TU for including their feeding recipe & care of feeder. I am excited to see these remarkable birds up close again! 🙂
I'm on the shore in Maryland. Maybe 5 yrs ago now one spring I had a fat one stop by the feeder, it looked completely black to me. I have my feeders at my front door, I get to easily see them there. Last yr for the first time ever I had so many late summer I couldn't count them, all girls, I had to put out another feeder. When they come back, they buzz my door, or me if I'm in the garden.
One more month until they arrive here. I put feeders out the first of May for any early visitors, but I usually spot the first one around mid-May. I make the nectar a bit sweeter for May to help replenish their energy. Almost 3:1 water to sugar. I gradually make it a little less sweet each time I clean/refill the feeder until I reach the 4:1 ratio by early June. I have some smaller feeders that look like flowers, 'So Real' is the brand name. I have had hummingbirds drink from these feeders while I'm holding them! Once they get used to you, they come right up to you.
When I worked on a commercial fishing boat off the coast of South Carolina, small birds would often land to rest for several hours before taking off again. It's amazing that small birds can fly those kinds of distances. If I go to the grocery store and the bank in the same day, I have to have at least a 2-hour nap
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I have about 7 of these little guys in my backyard in California. It's funny to watch them do their best impressions of fighter pilots over the feeders.
Enjoyed it very much, Thanks !. I cannot tell you how many folks I have met that have no idea what we mean by "3 to one" or "4 to one". I have been stopped in Walmart by strangers who do not know and have had no experience with this terminology. I don't think it is taught this way now. I'm 60.
I was a teen when my boss told me to "fill 2 vats with slmple syrup, 3 to 0ne ratio". I had to have directions. She put a 5 gal. Bucket in my hand and said "For every bucket of sugar, dissolve it in 3 buckets of water". ( Ours was very strong for drinks). Tablespoons or barrels,--- people want to know (?). I don't fill my feeders up full until I have a following. I'm going to change it at least every week to keep it from getting fermented / fouled anyway.
@@generaljimmies3429 same! We're in north San Diego county and hv them all year. But their acrobatics when looking for mates is so much fun to watch!
I used to see them frequently in Southern California. Around Lompoc, Santa Maria and Vandenburg Air Force Housing. There was a few bottle brush flowers planted in my junior high and they hung out there to feed a lot.
Another great film, Lesley! I’m glad more people know to keep feeders out through winter, because these little beauties sometimes don’t leave!
In winter, I have two feeders: one outside, the other in the fridge. In the early morning I switch out the slushy or frozen feeder with the thawed one. And I have hummers still coming despite snow and ice!
Nice job, Lesley! I'm a licensed hummer bander, and have handled over 5,000 Ruby-throated. I have only one tiny correction: the bird with a single red feather in its throat was almost certainly an immature (hatch year) male. In 24 years, I've only seen two adult females with a red feather, and in both cases it was high in the throat, just below the bill.
No matter what we are doing in the yard we always stop to watch when these little beauties pop by to visit.
I occasionally find their tiny - empty - nests in the bushes here in Maine. They are so tiny and intricate; truly amazing and adorable little constructions. All in all, 'rubies' are one of my favorite birds.
I've seen videos of their nests and they are really beautiful. 🥰🐦
@@LesleytheBirdNerd my mom sees hummingbirds while gardening ☝️☺️
Hummingbird make nests out of spider silk.
@@DukeCannon really I didn't knew 🤨 cool 😎
I hope i see these lil guys soon, I’m between N.Y. N.J. & PA and haven’t seen any Hummingbirds yet.
Here in New Hampshire, USA, I’ve been putting out a feeder for about 25 years and these amazing tiny birds never fail to amaze me. A couple of years I didn’t have my feeder out soon enough and suddenly one returned before I was ready, hovering in the exact same spot looking for where the feeder was the previous year… solidifying for me that the previous years birds may return to their exact territory again.
I moved to NH just a few years ago and was happy to see hummingbirds the first year we were here. the second year they showed up early and came right up to me as if to say "hey, where's the nectar?". I just love having them return every year. this year a female keeps visiting me in the green beans, she is gathering nectar from the green bean flowers. they will leave soon, and I always miss them.
These feisty little birds are probably my favorite. The high speed antics never fail to amuse me.
I can imagine. What a ariel show they must put on. 🐦
I seen two hit mid air. I could even hear the hit they made. One fell to the ground but got right up. They are always fighting over the feeders.
They look like little warplanes to me lol. I call them warbirds
@@LesleytheBirdNerd some hummbirds can go to Mexico in one fill☝️
I am so envious! I have seen hummingbirds only once, on holiday in the Caribbean. I was speechless. Pictures and videos gave me no real sense of their iridescence or their miniscule size. I couldn't believe my eyes! So beautiful. ❤️
I had one of these in my backyard yesterday. I ran inside to clean my feeder and fill it with nectar. I had a Pileated Woodpecker pecking on a telephone pole in my backyard, a Blue jay, Carolina Wren, and some Robins that recently had babies in my front yard Holly. Spring has sprung for sure.
The relationship between sapsuckers and ruby-throated hummingbirds is amazing! As sapsuckers move north and create sap wells along the way, hummingbirds come in behind and take advantage! The timing of this relationship is simply amazing! Neat to hear how they benefit the sapsuckers by keeping other birds away too!
I remember leaning about this behavior many years ago in a charming documentary that I cannot recall the name of. I wish I could remember because I'd love to get it on bluray.
I love the buzzing sound of their wings and the tiny chirps they use as they challenge other birds. They can be feisty.
East coast US here, just spotted our first Ruby Throat of the season, yesterday morning. It was an unusually warm morning, I am glad it found the feeder we put up because we have cooler days coming up. Fascinating about the partnership with Sapsuckers. I haven't seen sapsuckers here, though I love watching a pack of Downys.
How far north are you guys? Wondering if we (in central Indiana) need to get our feeders out...
I LOVE Hummingbirds!! My daughter has a stuffed animal Ruby-Throated and she LOVES it! I showed this to her and we fell in love! We are bird people so this really helped!!!💙💙💙
Something that somehow never gets mentioned is how LOUD these birds are... My one encounter with a hummingbird was when a female Ruby got into my house. I was terrified!!! I thought she was a huge hornet! It's logical enough that they're loud once you really see one in action, but somehow it just never seems to be communicated very clearly. So if you're like me and have a fear of wasps and bees? Just be aware that hummingbirds don't "hum" so much as BUZZ!!
She was as upset as I was, heh. Eventually she got back out, I had no way to help her though so we just kind of...avoided each other until she figured out where the door was, again.
we have had them get stuck in our garage twice. once we put a feeder on the ground near the door and it flew out. the second time it was flying near a window, and we were able to open the window and let it out. I can't imagine one in the house! tip for anyone trying to get them to fly in one direction, put a feeder near a door or window can help.
Ruby throats are so pleasant to see flying around and visiting the feeder. The more daring hummers will do little chirps and talk to you. They perform stunts or do cute things in front of the window, or look at me almost to say thanks after they have a drink. Yesterday it was snowing in April and I saw a blue-throated hummingbird come right up to my window suddenly, looked right into my soul and just flashed it's vibrant iridescent blue neck feathers at me. It really looked like a blue-throated mountaingem... ashy black and blue. Only I live in WA state and those birds are only known to be as far north as west Texas apparently?? Well I saw one up here. It was the most vibrant blue I've ever seen... Like magic!
Those hummers can also be found in south central Arizona, just south of Tuscon.
Seeing the 1st hummingbird is like seeing the 1st Blubird or Oriole. It's a ritual that marks the season. Have you ever seen a Hummingbird nest? Stunning.
I absolutely adore these little amazing birds. They are my favorite. A few years ago, we had a mom hummingbird who had 1 baby, when baby was old enough she brought baby to the feeder, a wasp was in the feeder, baby flew away, mom and baby returned and brought reenforcements by bringing dad to fight with the wasp. It worked and the wasp left. It was so cute.
Last year I was out watering flowers and had a Hummer land on my shoulder. She wanted a shower. She got a shower while the flowers got a drink. We have 4 feeders up each year with 10 giant inpatient flowers everywhere. We have very spoiled birds. Last year we had a Hummer who would hover outside the window when her food was getting low.
300 hummingbird species? WOW!😮
And probably more to be discovered deep in the rainforest.
I worked in the oil patch for most of my Civil Engineering career. I can verify that there were reports of hummingbirds alighting onto oil platforms.
That would be cool if they kept a feeder for them to "reload!"
Long ago, when I was a teenager I worked one summer on a slash disposal crew in the Nez Perce National Forest in Idaho. Our job was to clear branches and limbs left over from timber operations and put them in large piles to be burned in the winter months. For this work we were issued large fiber glass hard hats resembling helmets worn by soldiers in WWI. For some reason, I got a red one and every time I went out in the field 3-4 hummers would fly over to my face to investigate and it didn't matter what I was doing at the time. Swinging an axe or just walking around, there were always hummers that flew over to check out my red hard hat.
I did a study abroad in costa rica and at the time had a bright orange phone case. The hummers kept licking my camera lens! xD (sadly phone was stolen by a monkey on said trip… its true i swear)
@@FioreCiliegia I can well understand the snatch-and grab ability of a monkey that you experienced in Costa Rica. In East Africa baboons are also very adept at running off with any unguarded object and are quite good at it, especially the ones that hang out around tourist lodges.
I'll be putting my feeders out in May, and every plant on my deck will be nectar for them! Looking forward to their return. I'd love to go to Costa Rica to see a whole lot more! 🌺
I hear you. I would love to visit Costa Rice to see the hummingbirds and all the other exotic birds.
@@LesleytheBirdNerd Right on girl!
My dream vacation!
Last year I had 4 actively used hummingbird feeders. A few days ago, I thought I'd heard the wing sound of one, so put two of my feeders out again. He showed up at it the next day and I've seen both feeders being used frequently, so there might be more than one here. I'm north of Nashville and a few miles from the Kentucky border.
Thank you so much for the info!!🙏 I live in Indianapolis, & was wondering how far they'd gotten so far this year. We've had some sightings elsewhere in Indiana, so guess I better get those feeders out. 👍💗
I love every one of your videos. You're the best bird teacher EVER. Thanks and keep up the great work.
Lots of people do. She's livin' the dream, turning bird-watching for fun into something UA-cam will monetize.
I grew up back east, so I'm familiar with the Ruby, here on the Oregon coast, we have the Black-chinned, which is somewhat similar.
As much as I love birds, I am not feeding any, except the hummers.
I have a feeder outside my window, inches away, for the close up action.
Which is so busy, I have to refill it about every two or three days.
I recognize different individuals and they certainly recognize me, and each of them have different personalities.
The black-chinned will stay all winter, which on the coast is mild.
A few weeks ago the Rufous returned, and man, the males are fancy and they know it!
A couple years ago I was ministering to an older man with health issues.
He lived a very interesting life and was also quite observant.
He told me of an event he witnessed in Alaska in spring.
A flock of Canadian Geese were arriving from the south, began lowering altitude and were coming in about to land near him in a field.
Before they landed he saw a darkish "cloud" depart from them and come towards him.
The "cloud" buzzed right by him, it was Hummingbirds!
He believed the hummers hitched a ride, probably behind the necks, on the geese.
I think this may be possible.
I have witnessed many things, in my lifetime, in the animal kingdom that I have never heard reported.
Many years ago, when my wife was alive, I was an arborist.
I wouldn't cut trees that had nesting birds, but scheduled those trees after, to the best of my ability.
My wife had me collect for her, the Hummingbird nests that remained in the branches, that were found during the clean up process.
After a while she had quite a collection.
We are always sooo excited when our first Rubies arrive at our home in Northern Michigan. Usually about 3 pairs. Can't wait. 😁
We have jewelweed growing wild on our hillside, with bright orange trumpet-like flowers. The hummers love them, and visit them in droves!
I know everybody's all about the red throat patch but their emerald green feathers are almost iridescent in sunlight. Gorgeous little birds and they will come right up to you in the garden. Also they like hibiscus plants and flowers that are tube shaped, like daylilies, petunias, foxglove, and impatiens.
Eagerly awaiting the arrival of ‘our’ Ruby throats here. It’s a bit early, but rather be ready when they get here. Between them and the Baltimore Orioles, I’m constantly checking!
Thank you, Leslie!
I am in Tennessee and they are here. When we first moved here, the lady had dozens of hummingbirds. Now it seems like I just have four. Guessing parents and babies.
I'm so glad to see hummingbirds in Northern Vermont! I know it couldn't be the same hummingbird that sits on a telephone wire near my house every summer, but I always refer to whichever hummingbird it is as "my little pal". Their appearance means that summer is definitely here.
I love these little guys so much, I work on my backyard each year to accommodate their visits, and make sure I provide them with food and water 💦
In my area we get Black Chinned, Broad-tailed, and Calliope. I actually just saw a Calliope Hummingbird last night coming to my planter to eat during fall migration!❤Super tiny! At first I thought it was a Hummingbird Moth!
God has truly blessed us with this wonderful bird ❤
It’s amazing that they do so well with all the fighting they do. Thanks for the reminder Nerd as these little beauties will be here shortly as the tree swallows showed up three days ago. 👍😃✌️
No problem 👍🐦 I bet it will be nice to see them again. Awesome birds 🥰 I love tree swallows and hope to see them again this spring. It's fun watching their aerial displays.
I got my first hummingbird bird visit 2 weeks ago from a Ruby Throated Hummingbird and I live in New Mexico. Since I seen 1 I put my feeders early. I did get 1 visit 3 days but haven't gotten another visit yet
I think they might be my favorite bird. I remember my grandfather used to have one hanging out the kitchen window so he could watch them feed in the mornings.
I have had the pleasure of watching 3 nests of these little jewels over the years. One was almost at eye-level, and Mama hummer let me check in on her babies all the time. She only buzzed me off when it was feeding time. All 3 nests produced 2 babies each, and every year many come through for the summer. I’ve tried to grow flowers they like, but they seem to especially love the wild morning glories. They are definitely fearless, and I’ve many times found myself stared down as I drink my morning coffee. ❤️❤️🌺
Every year at my family's cottage in the middle of nowhere New York. I watched these hummingbirds chase each other all summer long. They are a ton of fun and we feed them plenty of sugar water that they love 😁
That is wonderful, Keith. You're lucky to have them. I think hummingbirds are simply amazing and can imagine I'd have lots of fun watching them. 🐦🥰
Keith---I live in Schoharie County middle of nowhere also...lol...these birds give us hours of fun ...enjoy it brother
the one with the red throat is the male hummingbird right 🤔
@@micahbirdlover8152 yes, the male that is born the first summer has a little red dot' next year he will have his full Ruby Throat.
@@LesleytheBirdNerd I know this lovely bird☝️
In my part of Central Texas we do have a few who stay through the winter and it’s usually fine as our winters tend to be on the mild side. But in Feb. 2021 we had an unusually harsh freeze and snow event here. I had a hummer I was feeding…she never moved on so I kept the feeder out. She continued to feed throughout the event, and I had to alternate between 2 feeders and change out as the nectar started to freeze. I’d even taken some video of her with my phone, feeding as the snow fell….so surreal. After several days, the weather changed and started to warm up again and she kept coming around so I at least knew I’d kept her alive. I’ve read that keeping a feeder out doesn’t keep them from leaving if they’re going to. I usually give it about a week or two and bring in the feeders if I haven’t seen a hummer feeding. This was the first time I’d ever had one here past Thanksgiving.
I've not had the pleasure to see many hummingbirds at all.... they're so tiny and so quick! I never knew about the relationship between the sapsucker woodpeckers and the hummingbirds, fascinating! I learned something new today, thanks Lesley 💙🌼🌻🐦
Gotta love it when a pair in the middle of battle zoom directly over your head and make you think you’re being attacked by a swarm of bees.
I love hummingbirds so much! I had a hummer that was curious about everything red I held in my hand this winter. One of the best experiences in my life!
Thank you, Lesley, I had no idea the little hummingbirds and woodpeckers collaborated so closely, very sweet. I’ve had several come to my yard for years, always a delight to see them. We have an Abelia shrub that produces an abundance of flowers that the hummingbirds love to visit. We also get tons of bumblebees and a very beautiful hummingbird moth sharing the abundance as well.
My late mother loved hummingbirds, and owls, but I think hummingbirds were her favourite. And I didn't know that Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers, my third favourite woodpecker, had a relationship to these hummingbirds.
I like your channel. I love birds since childhood! I breed birds 🔔👍✔😘🤩😍🥰🥰🥰
I live in Virginia Beach & look forward to the hummingbirds every year. They come around May-June & sometimes hang around until September. It’s a labor of love to keep up w/ their feeders & watch w/ my binoculars as they come to the feeders. They are fascinating! I’ve gotten buzzed by the males when it’s time to change out the sugar water. They are very territorial:) Thanks for another great video. I really enjoy your content.
You should try getting one if those feeders that stick to a window. I have one outside my kitchen window every summer and although skittish at first, they get used to you watching them. I've had as many as 4 of them on it at one time! I get to see them up close as I'm doing the dishes, such a treat! 😀
@@SweetStuffOnMonarchLane I think you’ve convinced me! That beats a pair of binoculars hands down! Thanks:)
@@amyfentress1 Awesome! Have a great summer!
During the first part of the pandemic, I lived with my
older daughter in Texas. We had a clothesline in the yard, and my daughter bought some highly colorful clothespins- including yellow and red. One morning I spotted a Ruby Throat trying to obtain nectar from the brightest of the clothespins. It was the first time I got a really closeup look at this little bird, and I’m so grateful for that experience!
My woodpeckers here in NS visit the hummer feeders quite regularly. It's fun to watch the young ones trying to figure out how to get a drink from the confounded contraption!
I rarely see hummingbirds in general, but when I do I enjoy them 😊.
That sapsucker fact was new to me! And my aunt in WV has ALL the hummingbirds! LOL I'd like to think that old gal stopped over for a spell! 💐🌈🪶
I can't wait for them to arrive. Our visitors last year had the same routines often landing on the same perch during each visit.
I hope the oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico put out humming bird feeders during migration season!
In spring and summer I get regular visits of these cuties at a feeder hanging outside my window in central Maine. It's always a thrill.
My little humming bird hasn't been around. I was sad to learn about their short life spand Hope to get a picture of him. He comes so close to me sometimes I could almost pet him.
Over the years I’ve sometimes been “buzzed” by hummers when I’m reading quietly on my deck.
I have no idea why they do this.
Thinking I will buy a hummer feeder and see who shows up this year!
I have a ruby throated at my hummer feeder!! So far he is the only one. Last year I had three. Love watching him fly around, so fast! I didn't know they drank the sweet sap from this tree, so I did learn something today!! Thanks Lesley!!❤
I saw a video of a guy feeding a hummingbird on an oil rig... What a migration!
I can't wait for the first hummingbird of the year. I'm very happy they make it this far north (northern Maine)
Oh no way. I have to see if I can find that video. What a nice person. I bet your hummingbirds will be glad to see your place when they arrive. Can you imagine all that flying from that distance they do?! 😳🐦❤
Literally across the Gulf of
Mexico just to fly south for the winter. Damn they're tough asf!
I saw a Brown Thrasher for the first time in my backyard the other day (in Central Ohio) and as I know so very little about these guys, my first instinct was to check your archived videos. A testimony to the superb quality and entertainment value of your content! From my observation, the Brown Thrasher was quite chummy with the robins. 😃
Thanks again Leslie, we will get our feeders out this week! Hoping to get some beautiful birds here in our retirement community to lighten people's days! Love your videos!
In Ojibwe cuture, hummingbirds are quite special. in the off chance you've been kissed by a hummingbird. thats one heckin' good omen. enjoy your life!
I have about 3 hummingbirds visit my nectar feeders from March till about October! Once I had seen one here on Christmas Day! I hand my feeders near the window so I can watch them❤️! Have a great day Leslie ♥️✌️! I live in Live Oak Florida 🏝️
How wonderful about having those hummingbirds and being able to watch form your window 🥰 thank you for the nice wishes, you have a good day too 🐦
What a wonderful surprise! A mid-week video about my fave aves! 😀 Never knew about the cooperative relationship with woodpeckers- too cool.
I hope they make their way to your neck of the woods someday- they don't know what they're missing! 😋
Thank you for this- you know I enjoy all of your videos but this one is extra special. I hope you're having a great week- take care!
Ruby, throated hummingbirds are beautiful. I feel that I’m very lucky to get sight of them eating at my sugar feeder. I hope that many of them get past that first year and live a few years to be beautiful birds.
My son in Victoria BC says he has them all year. Great little birds. PS a very nice weekday video but you know you are spoiling us
I love humming birds :) I wish more came to my area.
These little guys like it when I water my garden with a hose. They linger in the spray, and when I see them I hold the hose still until they're done. I don't know what they're doing; maybe bathing or drinking, but whatever it is, I'm glad to let them do it. They're so pretty!
Saw the first one of the season here in Central VA on 4/10. I usually have 3 pairs that frequent my feeders but my buddy in the rural area can have ~40 at the same time fighting over his 5 large feeders that he has to fill up daily. Quite a sight! Did not know about the sapsucker connection, we definitely have those here as well.
I'd like to see more of the hummingbird's part of the deal, keeping other critters away. I'm just not sure the sapsucker appreciates it, so much as it knows better than to mess with angry hummingbirds.
Here in my N. Georgia home, the little sugar hounds have just started showing up. I miss these guys through the winter & spend the summer planting more flowers for them & being a feeder attendant! I've almost mastered propagation of a few of their favorites, a semi-hardy Fuschia, "Angels earrings" and a Cuphea, " Vermillionaire" to share with others. I adore their antics, charm & chutzpa. Never knew they were friends with the tree perforators, always learn something here. Thanks Leslie!
We had no humming birds in our yard until one decided to adopt us. It saw we had bird feeders and dive bombed me two times over two days flying right in front of me when I was outside. I got the message and ran inside to make nectar and cool it in the freezer. I put out a feeder and within 15 minutes the bird was drinking from our new feeder. I figure it recognized we fed birds and wondered where the nectar was. They are very bold little birds, with a dominant one who 'owns' the feeder with others drinking if they can do it without being chased. I have been working outside and teh bird comes up and hovers just checking what I am doing.
Here in California we get the Anna’s hummingbirds. I love to watch them do their display dive as they a make a loud chirp. It’s hard to believe that such a tiny bird can make such a loud chirp. Thank You for a wonderful video.
You guys also have Costa's, Allen's, and black chinned hummers year round.
Im looking forward to seeing them at my window feeder soon. Interestingly, Ive recently noticed how much color the gold finches and house finches are gaining. I never realized they changed so much. Actually i never knew that gold finches stayed here year-round until Leslie mentioned it. Thanks.
Thanks Lesley! I have Ruby Throat Hummingbirds regularly every year. I had a few Rufous Hummingbird over the years too. Every April 1st the feeders are set.
Perfect timing for this video! I live in the northernmost end of Southeast Florida, and Ruby is definitely the most commonly seen, being seen in my garden daily from Nov to early April. But we do occasionally see black chins, Anna's and Allen's. We think they must be lost. These other species have been spotted by many at our local botanical gardens in their butterfly gardens. But, like flowers, I don't view a bird as less special just because it is common. I keep adding new nectar flowers for them with about one plant addition ever other week. It's important to go around with a broom and clear the areas of my jungle from spiderwebs. Spiderwebs are a top killer of hummers! We have all heard that webs are as strong as steel when factoring density. If a hummer gets caught in it, the strength required to get out could be more energy than it can afford to expend. A weakened hummer is a dead hummer. So I am out there daily with the broom. I would also encourage anyone in a hot climate to change sugar water at least once every other day. In the summer I change mine daily. Once a week is kinda pushing it. The birdies will be drinking alcohol. During times when I know that daily changing isn't possible, I take the feeders down and let the birds use the nectar plants.
I'm always on spider patrol as well! 😬
Yes, agree about the spider webs, and we have those Praying Mantids too that eat Hummingbirds, yuck! Those bugs freak me out! It's like they have a face and they watch you! Ugh! I caught one eating my monarch chrysalises too... he/she is no longer with us...
Thank you for reminding me, it’s time. Getting my feeders out tomorrow! …Central Ohio here. 🥰👍🏼♥️🌸
No problem. Best of luck with seeing them 🐦❤
I live in north central Illinois, and I'm looking forward to these guys coming back real soon. We find them to be quite friendly and curious especially when we sit quietly on the deck.
What a lovely little bird. 🥰🐦
Lesley I love your videos, and it inspires me to film my local birds so much. I cant wait to set up our Oriole and Hummingbird feeders especially and get some shots of the beautiful Ruby-Throated.
The hummingbird is so mysterious and magical. We have them every year, and I love them so much. I love when they are around. Just yesterday, one was working so close to me that I could even make out the details of his little feet. Awesome creatures!
I’m watching the bee balm coming up in yard now, a favorite of the ruby throated hummingbird. Also have columbine, hummingbird mint and jewel weed among others that they love. Last year I was getting ready to weed wack the jewel weed, that grows from under deck, it’s a weed right and noticed the hummingbird going to the orange flowers so I left it, then I learned benefits of plant for poison ivy. Thank you little hummingbird for making me learn more. Plus I give them to sugar water that they fight the red bellied woodpecker for, nothing like when out on deck and getting buzzed by hummingbird 🤗😂🥰.
Awesome 🐦🥰👍
I've set 3 feeders out for the first time and I must say I've been totally smitten with these little, big personality birds. There's nothing like going outside in the morning and getting buzzed by one within inches of your head. It's also a special treat to get mobbed by them after refilling the feeders and holding them in my hands. The way they make their little aggravated chirps and flaring at each other with thier aerobatics is amazing and too funny to watch.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are truly fascinating! In fact it's this tiny bird that peaked my interest in birds some ten years ago and I've been hooked ever since. I did learn something new about them in your video. I didn't know that they follow Sapsuckers to find food. Each year, I put my feeders out the first week of April (in Maryland) and I usually start seeing them around April 23rd. I can't wait for their arrival!
We don't have anything similar to the hummingbirds in Europe so I find them fascinating. I wish I could see some in person 😍, what a brave and unusual little bird
So true. They are unique ❤🐦
So cool that the woodpecker and the rubies are partners.
Leslie, you really opened my mind with the correlation between hummers and woodpeckers!! Excellent stuff as always! Thanks so much🇺🇸
I view the migration map regularly...my feeders are going up this weekend...my favorite time of year is when the hummers arrive. Thanks for the charming presentation Lesley
Wonderful. Wont be long now 🥰🐦 thanks for watching
My sister who lives in San Diego, CA has a hummingbird feeder she hangs on her condo balcony and when she forgets to fill the feeder they complain! They get very vocal calling for more sugar water! Once feeder is refilled, they quiet down again.
Dear Lesley, I had a remarkable experience the other day in my spring Daffodil patch. I was laying in the patch admiring my new arrival beauty's of spring when a Moon Berry Clear Wing Humming bird MOTH came along to feed, and lay larva, I was really astonished, humming bird on top and a moth on the bottom. very rare. I had never seen one before
Hi Larry, awesome creature you got to see. I saw a hummingbird moth a couple times over the years. Very beautiful and fun to watch. 🐦❤
Thanks Leslie. Charming presentation. We are in Utah and have a lot of hummingbirds but later in the spring. We feed them from our deck feeders and flowers in the garden and enjoy seeing them. Thanks again and all the best. Cy
Thanks so much Lesley!! Anytime I see a hummingbird the day becomes magic!! Thank you for the tips on how to attract them, they are amazing little birds on a purely sugar diet!! :D
Aww you're very welcome sweet lady. Much love ❤🐦
Despite being so tiny these are the bravest little birds. I sit on my porch but 3 feet away from their feeder and they will fly right up and check me out, zipping left and right while hovering right in my face, before swinging back to feeder. They get pretty territorial chasing each other away from the feeder as well. Quite feisty.
I’m always blown away by how far hummingbirds migrate. I live in northern Central Minnesota and we them here often in summer.
In my area of northern Ontario, the ruby-throats typically show up about May 15. One year I was sitting on my porch, but hadn't put the feeders out yet. One of them flew up, hovered about 4" from my face until I got up to go prepare the feeders! BTW, never use the prepared food with the red dye in it! It's harmful to the birds, and you don't need it. Most feeders have some red on them, but, in any case, they will find the sugar water solution.
These birbs are so AWESOME! We have plenty of areas with wildflowers and the types of insects they love around us, so even without specific feeders we see them every year. When we put up feeders, though, we get so many that they have aerial battles! Yes, I make sure to set the feeders out of sight of each other. There are just THAT MANY.
I have gotten them to feed from my hand more than once. The thing that I found most amazing is that their feet are so warm!
They are awesome little birds, you mentioned they were bold and they are! I hang a feeder on my porch and set under the feeder on the railing and they will come in and feed and eventually get to where you can give them a gentle rub on their backs!
Oh my gosh what a fun little bird. I'd love them for sure 🐦❤
@@LesleytheBirdNerd there are usually 10 to 15 birds around and there is always a Bully that will sit nearby an try to run all the others off..it's chaos at the feeder sometimes...lol
I love hummingbirds, very smart, quick and delicate. Beautiful and faithful creatures who come back to my feeder year after year!
The ruby throated hummingbird is a great joy. 😊
One of my greatest! 🤗
Thanks alot Lesley. Amazing coverage as always. Appreciate your time and research.
I am finally in a home that I can again hang bird feeders & enjoy the different ones who come. Your videos are so helpful. To my surprise, last summer the hummingbirds drank from a small white flower "weed" that had taken over a large flowerpot! I am now ready to attract them with their own feeder as soon as earth less frozen cor the pole to go in. TU for including their feeding recipe & care of feeder. I am excited to see these remarkable birds up close again! 🙂
I'm on the shore in Maryland. Maybe 5 yrs ago now one spring I had a fat one stop by the feeder, it looked completely black to me. I have my feeders at my front door, I get to easily see them there. Last yr for the first time ever I had so many late summer I couldn't count them, all girls, I had to put out another feeder. When they come back, they buzz my door, or me if I'm in the garden.
One more month until they arrive here. I put feeders out the first of May for any early visitors, but I usually spot the first one around mid-May. I make the nectar a bit sweeter for May to help replenish their energy. Almost 3:1 water to sugar. I gradually make it a little less sweet each time I clean/refill the feeder until I reach the 4:1 ratio by early June. I have some smaller feeders that look like flowers, 'So Real' is the brand name. I have had hummingbirds drink from these feeders while I'm holding them! Once they get used to you, they come right up to you.
Can I ask where you're located? Trying to figure out if I need to get my feeders out (in Indianapolis)...
When I worked on a commercial fishing boat off the coast of South Carolina, small birds would often land to rest for several hours before taking off again. It's amazing that small birds can fly those kinds of distances. If I go to the grocery store and the bank in the same day, I have to have at least a 2-hour nap
I just discovered your channel and boy it is a pleasure to watch. I especially like how you cover birds not in your territory. Keep up the good work!
Hummingbirds are great little birds one of my favorite birds to see Lesley! Thank you for sharing them with us, Have a wonderful Easter!👍💖😎JP