Let the Battles Begin!

[Rick]

I have five hummingbird feeders spaced around the back and about seven hummingbirds vying for ownership. A couple are northern birds (I'm sure) that just arrived and the rest are regular summer renters. Each has staked out a piece of turf and the aerial combat is intense. Each one trying to fatten up for the long flight south to Mexico or S.A. or where ever they choose to over winter.

The regulars don't mind me. In fact, they will hover about arms length out if I get near one of the feeders. A lot of bravado for such little guys.

The temps dropped to about 48F last night so I'm sure they will step things up a notch and more northern birds will be passing through. I've seen 12 or so hummers chasing each other around the yard this time of year and it looks like a dog fight scene from WWII.

One more of nature's free shows.

[rebel]

When they come back in the spring they aren't shy about telling you to get the feeders out. They almost come into the house to say "we're back".

I guess it's time to get more feeders out and help these and other types for their journey south.

[Rick]

I always watch the site hummingbirds.net. They have a migration map that I watch for the northward advance in the spring. When the hummers hit Kentucky I put out the feeds. Not even a hummingbird will stay in Kentucky longer than they have too. Hey! Just kidding, just kidding.:D

[crashdive123]

Every morining and evening we watch the hummingbird show. They feed for a while, go rest on a branch up above their feeding area. If another hummer comes along it is, as you said, like watching arial combat.

[gourdhead1997]

Hey Rick, you might check with your Hoosier feathered friends and see where all their cousins spend their summer. My two feeders collect up to 10-12 at a time. They remind me of a swarm of bees. I also get a kick when I am on my porch because it sounds like the light sabers from Star Wars. ( Yeah, I know, weird!) They are pretty amazing on how aggressive they get. You would swear they are going to kill each other but they always seem to work it out. Just kidding on the hoosier thing I'm one of those Ky hillbillies!

[bulrush]

Just last week a hummer flew right by my head. It did sound like a small get engine.

[ClayPick]

The mercury went below freezing last night and the last my hummers took off 2 days ago. The feeders will stay out for another week or so for the straglers. I'm always looking for deals on sugar, we where putting out 8 to 12 cups of sugar water a day!

[nell67]

When they come back in the spring they aren't shy about telling you to get the feeders out. They almost come into the house to say "we're back".

I guess it's time to get more feeders out and help these and other types for their journey south.
Amost??? Leave your door wide open and they will,I have no screen door,and I had the door open while cleaning,and 2 of them flew half way into the house,buzzed around a few minutes,and went back out,guess I was a little late hanging the feeders

[Rick]

Hard to believe it's that time of year again but the hummers are creating havoc in the backyard. Every feeder has one of more hummingbirds that has claimed it and the battles are going non-stop. I have a feeder on each end of my garden and when I'm out there they buzz all around me. It's cool to me but it's pretty serious business for them. Won't be long they will look like little golf balls and then be heading south.

[crashdive123]

They are fun to watch. Veeeery territorial critters.

[Justin Case]

I had always heard that you are supposed to stop feeding them at a certain time so the will migrate,, BUT, I did a quick search and found this to be Bull****,
http://www.birdwatching.com/tips/hummingbird_schedule.html

[Rick]

They leave when they are ready to leave. I suspect we're getting some northern birds that are already migrating. I have more in the yard than I usually do. They are so people tolerant. I've had them hover next to my head at 2 feet just sizing me up and then moving on like it was on their list of things to do for the day. As long as you don't move they don't mind you. I've even been watering the garden and they will come right in and hover like they are watching me.

Most are females this year with one male. The last few years I've had many more males.

[Camp10]

I still had a few up at camp this past weekend. I doubt they will still be around when I get back up there. They are fun to watch.

[Justin Case]

They leave when they are ready to leave. I suspect we're getting some northern birds that are already migrating. I have more in the yard than I usually do. They are so people tolerant. I've had them hover next to my head at 2 feet just sizing me up and then moving on like it was on their list of things to do for the day. As long as you don't move they don't mind you. I've even been watering the garden and they will come right in and hover like they are watching me.

Most are females this year with one male. The last few years I've had many more males.

Trying to decide if your eyes are flowers and whether or not they are going to stab you with that long beak ! LOL

[LowKey]

We just have one family of them left here and they'll be gone any day now. I think they had a late hatching as they are still teaching two youngsters.

The little ones are fun to watch. They don't hover. They kinda sink. They're only about 2/3 the size of an adult. A long time ago I put wire perches on my feeders so they could sit to eat and conserve a little energy. Most do now. They didn't get it at first.

[Rick]

I have a wire fence up on the end of my garden for my beans to climb. The fence is 4 feet high and because the end of the garden is built up about 2.5 feet the top of the fence is about 6.5 feet high. There is a feeder in one corner and there's a little male that sits on top of the fence, eats anything that flies by and guards the feeder. He's the tough guy on the block. He'll even challenge me when I go out to clean and refill the feeders.

[rwc1969]

I had always heard that you are supposed to stop feeding them at a certain time so the will migrate,, BUT, I did a quick search and found this to be Bull****,
http://www.birdwatching.com/tips/hummingbird_schedule.html

For birds in general, not humminbirds, you shouldn't stop feeding them once winter has set in because they have grown dependant and will likely starve.

[Aurelius95]

Try putting on a red ball cap when you go to change/add food. They'll buzz your head.