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I am Sandra - faithful steward. listener. shepherd. dream believer. hard worker. collects brass bells, boots. Jesus follower. contented. star gazer. homemaker. farmer. prayer warrior. country woman. reader. traveler. writer. homebody. living life large.

Monday, August 06, 2012

FEED ME!

UPDATE: Two of the feeders will take a scant four cups of sugar water, aka syrup, between them. The third feed takes the entire four cups of syrup. The smaller of the two feeders are hanging on a double shepherds hook while the larger of the feeders is hanging on a single shepherds hook. The feeders on the double shepherds hook are only about 2.5 feet apart and the single feeder is about six feet away. I'll sit at a better vantage point and attempt better photos. Oh yes, it's a chore but I'll do it for YOU! -LOL-

I've counted twelve...12!...humming birds at the feeders; those little suckers are eating me out of house and home. smile At a bare minimum, a very bare minimum, they drink four cups of sugar water a day but I usually fill all three feeders in the morning with eight cups of syrup! 
Every evening I make the sugar water, each morning I fill the feeders. Generally, all three are empty, or close to empty, by day's end. 
Using an electric water kettle, twice, I'll boil about two cups plus a couple of tablespoons of water and add it to one cup sugar. That sits overnight, cooling, and, in the morning, I it's added to another scant two cups of water and fill the feeders. The solution is a trifle, but not a lot, heavy and the birds love it. However, if I'm slow, or not as fast as they think I should be, they start dive bombing me. It's crazy, I'm ducking, screaming like a girl, trying to dodge them as they swoop around me, urging me on faster, faster, faster...fill it faster!
"Experts" say to begin feeding humming birds after Memorial Day and take up the feeders Labor Day. "Experts" are wrong; at least, around here, they are wrong. Humming birds show up the first of April and they are hungry. I'm not waiting another two months to begin feeding them, so, I feed from April first to about end of September when the humming birds are gone.
The feeders are out in the open, away from the house or trees or bushes. It may look like those bushes are closer to the feeders but they aren't. I think the birds enjoy being in the open; it gives them room to maneuver as flit, fly, swirl, swoop and carry on.
Aunt Esther had three dozen, sometimes more, show up at her feeders but she used liter soda bottles and would fill them up about every other day. Next year, maybe I'll try the liter bottles and see how many more I can attract. Most of my early evenings and all of my rest breaks are spent on the back porch watching them fight each other, chase each other chattering like monkeys all the while. Such FUN!

Blessings ~ humming birds ~ sugar water ~ pretty days ~ rain ~ 

15 comments:

  1. Wow, amazing! I am going to take your suggestion and move my feeder out from the trees and bushes to see if it will attract more of the Hummers.

    I bring to a boil 4 cups of water to one cup sugar and then refrigerate over night. They seem to like the nectar cold. No way do I have your numbers so what you are doing is bringing the hummers and I am going to copy you!

    I love to watch them . . .

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  2. Anonymous10:02 PM EDT

    Hi Sandra, I love to watch hummingbirds. At our last house, we had what I call "shepherd's hooks" that hold hanging plants, windchimes, etc. hear the feeders. The hummers would take a drink and then sit on top of the hook to "wipe" their mouth, bathe, etc. It was fascinating to watch them!

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  3. I am so jealous! I only have 3 hummers here.

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  4. I've noticed that the hummers arrive in the spring at about the same time as the Juncos leave to head north. I have tried to make a point of noticing ... and I'm not sure I have ever seen a Junco and a Hummingbird in the yard at the same time.

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  5. How wonderful! We saw hummers while we traveled this summer, and my friend, Marion had "regulars" that visit every day. Her corgi (Tag's brother) barks at them when they stop by, but it doesn't seem to bother them a bit. I can't even imagine having as many birds as you have stop by for daily visits. It must be Heaven!
    xoxo
    Donna

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  6. Aren't the hummers fun! I'm in a different climate here in northern CA and have found that I can stop feeding them over the summer because they are so busy at all the flowers they don't visit the feeder much. The ants and wasps are a problem around the feeders during the summer anyway. The hummers still are in the yard enjoying the flowers and sprinklers. Toward early fall, I bring out the feeders again and keep them going all winter because not some of the hummers are resident year round. Year 'round fun!

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  7. Hello Sandra:
    Those Humming Birds are not at all stupid. They certainly know where the best restaurant is for miles around - and the opening hours!

    You certainly have your work cut out!

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  8. It is fun for us too, to see them through your post and photos :o))!

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  9. I have to say that I often find the "experts" to be wrong, LOL. I'm finally back online from the comfort of my own home. Trying to get caught up on blog visits! I have to say I love hummingbirds and saw one in our beauty bush flowers the other day. What a treat. I have a feeder but have given up on it because the ants always take over!

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  10. Oh I do so wish that we had hummingbirds! When you say that they chatter like monkeys that sounds a lot like our fantails that fit & flirt & chatter & follow me around the back garden. "Our" birds adore pears most of all & will settle for apples if we're out of them. I have also made bird seed cakes which a whole range of birds are feeding from but I suddenly realize that i don't know what the fantails like. I shall have to enquire...I wonder if they'll tell me? Good on you for your dialogue with "Donna" out in the open. Hope you're having a good week. Much love Catherine x0x0x

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  11. I saw a blogger who uses a chicken waterer for a hummer feeder. Maybe you need one of those! :)

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  12. Anonymous9:55 AM EDT

    Sandra, From here on out I shall know you as "The Hummingbird Whisperer". :) I've never heard of such a thing...being divebombed by them. They love you!

    Thank you for this day brightener sister.

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  13. OH this is wonderful...I've never imagined hummingbirds acting like this...probably because of the devotion you have showed in feeding them! We've never had more than a few...I am inspired to try to attract them!

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  14. We only have one or two but they are regulars and don't seem to mind sharing with all the ants. We only have to fill ours about once a week because they like our flowers too.

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  15. We have had more Hummers this year than ever! I love them, but I think the kitties like watching them even more than I do!
    Sweet post, Sandra!
    xo, misha

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