Close encounters of the bird kind
 

Anyone watch for and feed Hummingbirds? This is the first year that I want to try to attract hummers to my yard and near my windows. Any tips?

I got the special nectar and the feeder and I'm kind of debating about where to put it. Maybe get five more?

I posted some tips in the Gardening thread! ;)

you can look online and find certain plant that will help attract them cindy, we dont usually see the huming birds till fall around my house, they are so awesome to watch the ruby throated one below is the main one we get to see
this is just one of many sites

cindy if anyone in household is allergic to bees select the plant with care casue if i am correct most of the plants that will bring hummingbirds will brings bees too, i know that is like saying the earth is round, but you understand what i mean
http://landscaping.about.com/cs/fort...mmingbirds.htm

I have some hummingbird vines. This is the first year they are comming up and looking great. Grow real fast but are a bit invasive which is alright with me. I lovem!:)

They are great, and yes, they are a bit invasive if you are referring to Trumpet Vine. http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:.../06/webken.jpg

There is another plant that is also great for attacting Humming birds that also has the same common name but it botanical name is Zauschneria californica or California Fuschia or Orange Hummingbird bird plant. You can find it at http://www.laspilitas.com/plants/698.htmhttp://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:.../283/17386.jpg

How lucky you all are! Hummingbirds must be exquisite and I just cannot envisage their size, even though I've seen them in pictures and on television.

We do grow a lot of the plants that you mentioned them liking in your gardening thread FG, and I thought you might be interested to know that the beautiful orange trumpet vine pictured in your post, is a popular one in the town I just moved from. Some grow it in pots there, and a friend has it growning over an unsightly water tank in the garden. Very pretty!

We have the feeders out as of yesterday, just in case "our" birds get here a little early. We're not expecting them for a couple of weeks, but you never know.

Get the feeders with bee guards, unless you really LIKE yellow jackets and other beasties.

We don't buy the special stuff, just use 1 part sugar to 4 parts water.\

Hummingbabies. Love 'em.

Hi Cindy. I love hummingbirds.

I have a feeder that attaches to my kitchen window so I can sit at the table and watch them. They are very entertaining.

I make my own nectar. I boil 3 cups water. Let it cool. 1 cup sugar. The nectar doesn't have to have color.

I put my feeder out yesterday and by mid afternoon they were back for the season.

Have fun with it.

I thought of making my own nectar too, but some of the websites I've been reading are adamantly opposed to it for those of us who have city water. Too many of its contents don't come out in the boil.

LOL, Beth, one of the joys of condo life is just calling the guys and having them come out and get rid of nests. :D

I don't mind bees around, just against them nesting in my roofing. I think I'm going to do the fuscia thing as FG suggested along with the tiny feeder for starters.

Bee guard you say? I'll look into it, thanks!

Anne, I was just telling FG this the other day, a few years ago I was down in Arkansas camping. I had just come out of the shower and was sitting outside with my coffee when I heard the hummer very near me. I didn't dare move to see it, so I listened. He stayed near for a few seconds then all of a sudden, I felt his beak make three quick pokes on my shoulder. LOL, I must not have tasted as good as I smelled, he was off like a shot! I wish I could have looked, but it was too funny!

for a fast attracter...
 

we found putting up flags/banners to be the best.

Where we live up North in summer, the hummers who nest there were drawn to our American flag that we put up.

They will of course come to flowers, but you have to GROW those, and
that takes time.

If you have ANYTHING bright red or yellow, to put up in the windows, that helps too. (I have some stained glass flowers I hang in my windows). You also have to replace the nectar every 4 to 5 days, to prevent mold.
Mold attacks the tongues of hummers and kills them. So in the beginning of the season I only fill 1/2 or less of the feeder, until they really start coming. You can't see the mold sometimes, so don't rely on visual appearance of it.

My hummers up North don't seem to learn that Petunias don't give much nectar. They come to them every day! I have some planters up on the wall along our porch where the deer can't get them. Hummers come to them all day long. And the new fledglings practice on them too. You can plant any really nice RED thing in a pot, and it will attract the attention of the hummers to your area, then they will find the feeder. Put the first feeder near the red plant you attract with to start. Once they learn you feed, they will remember. Ours come to and hover in the windows when we first arrive up North to remind us to put the feeders out! And if one goes dry, a little hummer will hover over my bedroom window so I can see her, and remind me! I was surprised at this, behavior. But I guess they are really smart!
90% of the their diet is bugs, you know, and they use the sugar more later in the season before they migrate.