Hummingbirds

Life After 50--One Man's Perspective

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (this is a male)

click image to view my photo gallery of hummers...

Hummingbirds have begun to arrive in Eastern Tennessee as of Tuesday, 3/24/2009! The first sighting report I've seen for 2009 indicated a ruby-throated hummingbird was sighted near Athens, TN on 3/24/2009. Here's a sighting map link.

Reports I've read state that migrating hummingbirds follow almost the exact same route year after year when migrating. Specific banded birds have been documented as visiting the same feeder on the same day of each year during migration. Bottom line: Put yor feeders out in early spring and then leave them out until late autumn for the passing migrants to use at least until November. Also, you might be lucky enough to see a Rufous hummingbird since they have been known to visit our eastern Tennessee area in November.

I'm leaving the information about nectar feeders in this article which is the same basic one I wrote in the spring of 2007 when the hummingbirds first arrived.

Those of you who feed these tiny beauties need to put out your feeders right away. Remember, there is no need to use colored liquid or to even buy hummingbird "nectar." Studies have shown that as long as your feeder has any red color on it that the hummingbirds will be attracted enough to check it out. It is actually better for the birds if you do NOT put food color in the liquid. Trust me, the hummingbirds couldn't care less what color the liquid is. Just hang out a red soda pop bottle cap and watch them try to drink from it! Just a spot of red is all you need.

For liquid, use this simple formula: 1/4 cup granulated sugar dissolved in 1 cup boiling water. Let the water cool a bit before pouring it into your feeder then let it cool naturally (do NOT immerse glass feeders with hot liquid in ice water or under cold water to cool it faster--those glass feeders are very prone to shatter from the stress when you do this). Why boil the water? Two reasons: 1) the sugar dissolves more readily in the hot water and 2) it helps kill any unwanted bacteria and/or fungi that may be present. Wash your feeders in hot soapy water between batches. Those plastic parts will clean right up if you drop them in a 50/50 solution of household bleach and water for a few minutes.

Some people advocate making the first batch or two a little sweeter--say 1/3 cup sugar per cup of water. I've found it makes no difference.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds are very territorial. If you have more than one feeder then try to place them so that one cannot be seen from the other (front and back of the house is a good strategy for two feeders).

Block Those Ants !

Ants like sugar water too. Make a homemade ant water barrier by cutting off the bottom of a small plastic container like a 20 oz. soft drink container. Poke a hole in the bottom and run your feeder's hanging wire/string thru this hole. Use 1 or 4 minute epoxy glue (comes in two tubes which you squeeze out and mix together just before using) to secure and waterproof the hanging wire to the water barrier. In about 30 minutes you can use it. If you've done everything just right then you can fill the container with water and ants then will be unable to move from the hanging wire to the feeder because of the water barrier. You could alternately put Vaseline in a simple shallow cup atop the feeder (surrounding the cable) but be careful because in hot weather it tends to soften and run down onto the feeder.

If you put your patio chair near the feeder location then soon enough the hummingbirds will get accustomed to seeing you there and you'll enjoy an up-close show. The males will perch somewhere near the feeder to guard it against other males and to watch for females. Hummingbirds do not pair-up like other birds....they are quite indifferent about their sexual partners and the males' strategy is to guard the feeder so that he can offer himself to every female that comes along to drink.

Click here to see my photo gallery of hummingbird pictures.

What triggers the migration south?

Those same migration research reports I'd read state that it is the amount of body fat that triggers the migration southward. Many of us have thought it was something like shorter days, cooler temperatures, etc. I'm still unconvinced otherwise. Read the report yourself here.

Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird

click image to view full gallery of photos....

Juvenile Siblings, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds

click to view this image and others...

Anti-Social? Only Some of the Time....

Most of the summer you'll notice that males dominate the activity around the feeder(s). One male will typically "own" a feeder location and will immediately pounce--from his nearby observation post--upon other males that attempt to drink from that feeder. Female visitors will be treated to the "invitation to mate" courtship display that is a series of U-shaped aerial displays. Once the female perches, the male may move rapidly back and forth, horizontally, in front of her. The rapid wing beats will make enough noise to get your attention if you are nearby during this display. If the male gets lucky the female will mate with him.

Around mid-May you'll be wondering where the females went. They're busy with incubating the two pea-sized eggs they usually lay. After hatching they'll be busy feeding the little'uns the insects they'll catch as their primary source of protein. Growing birds need protein--not sugar water. Later in the summer the youngsters will begin to visit the feeder. This is about the time when the adult female becomes more dominant around the feeders. She will "guard" the feeder while her brood drinks their fill. Juvenile siblings may be seen occupying multiple perches on the feeder station--even their mom may join them while feeding. Adult males are NOT welcome. This period of family feeding only lasts a week or so and then it is again "may the meanest, hungriest bird win."

Nightly "Hibernation"

If you watch your feeders carefully you'll notice that the males (which are much smaller than females) seem to have limited energy reserves. They will be the first visitors to the feeders at dawn and the last just before dark. We've even found them first thing in the morning hanging inverted from a feeder perch in a semi-conscious state. Researchers have discovered that hummingbirds greatly reduce their body temperature at night and go into a kind of hibernation known as a torpor.

The approach of November will provide you with much animated activity around the feeder as the juveniles have grown to full size and all sexes are competing for food to build fat reserves for the migration to Mexico. You'll notice the males leave first. Where are they going? Most winter in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean Islands. Yes, some of them fly across the Gulf of Mexico--nonstop--usually in about 12 - 18 hours, depending upon the winds. Most go via Texas and down thru Mexico as far south as Panama. In spring they'll pace their northward migration to match the availability of blooming flowers they use for food. In 2007 some people reported sightings in Tennessee as early as March 21st but I didn't see my first one until April 18th. Undoubtedly the 4-day freezing spell we had impacted them greatly. By early November most of them will have left for points south. It is OK to leave up your feeder until at least a couple of weeks beyond your last sighting. This will give you a chance to feed one of those late arriving migrants or even to see another species: The Rufuous. After Thanksgiving you may as well take down the feeders to prevent them from freezing.

We hope you enjoy watching your hummingbirds as much as we do.

Cornell University is a good source for more info.

Contact me via Email by clicking this link: Send Mail to Al Smith

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