Tag Archives: hummingbirds

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New feeder success.

22 Comments

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I had a creepy crawly issue with my old hummingbird feeders this summer . Ants discovered both of them and every time I checked? There were dead insects floating in the liquid.

When ants die, they release a chemical that disgusts the hummingbirds so after trying all the home remedies…. Vaseline on the hanging pole, vinegar to disrupt their scent trail etc… I sucked it up and bought new feeders with ant moats on top.

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I’m calling it a success.

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Four drinking stations.

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Four birds.

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And at the other larger feeder?

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Serious jostling for position.

👍

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Miscellaneous nonsense.

34 Comments

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Cats.

They’re bizarre little creatures.

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Ours sat like this for half an hour.

Did he see a bug… or was he pondering existentialism?

Tough call.

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Driving with my husband means stopping frequently.

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Especially when he sees old things for sale. That 1939 beauty was $32,000 and I had to drag him away kicking and screaming.

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This was also proudly displayed, though not for sale.

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I had to laugh at Downstream’s name and advertising. Two thumbs up from poo that looks like seals.

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We’re having a record breaking hummingbird season and I’m filling feeders like crazy.

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It’s rare to see two birds drinking at the same time without fighting here but this year we’ve had five.

💕

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Question – does this look like a $175 bouquet to you?

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Because that’s what I spent and this was what was delivered.

Maybe I’m spoiled by our outstanding local florist but when I called a North Carolina business and ordered an extra special, stuffed full of blooms bouquet this wasn’t what I had in mind. The arrangement looks almost haphazard.

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A miniature feeding frenzy.

32 Comments

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There have always been hummingbirds at Casa River.

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I put a sugar water feeder out (no artificial dye) as soon as we spot the first one appear in May and enjoy watching the brilliant little jewels drop by for a drink now and then.

We rarely see more than two at a time.

But this year we have three, and four…

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And five.

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And then?

Holy hummers Batman!

We’ve been bombarded by hungry avians.

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I had to put out a second feeder and I’m refilling them every single day.

It’s been crazy…

But absolutely marvelous!

💕

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The day after.

10 Comments

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When the rain ended, I went outside to remove the jerry rigged umbrella shelter my husband had erected for the hummingbirds the day before.

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With a few hungry natives buzzing nearby and telling me to hurry up.

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On closer inspection of the installation?

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I decided to let the husband remove his handiwork later on.

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In the meantime… a gentle breeze was blowing the umbrella and His Lordship was perturbed.

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Seeing the shadow through the blinds he believed we were under attack….

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And was not happy to be excluded.

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Fearing my blinds would be ripped to shreds, I opened one for his viewing pleasure.

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And after seeing his kingdom was safe?

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A nap, in the shade.

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Is it any wonder I love this man?

36 Comments

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It was pouring rain recently and my big tough Marine husband was watching a hummingbird struggle to feed in the downpour.

Though I tried to explain hummingbirds live in tropical rain forests where deluges are common, he said, “These hummers are in Maine. They need help.”

So what did he do?

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He went outside and got drenched…

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In order to rig an umbrella over the feeder.

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As soon as it was installed?

Grateful hummingbirds.

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Of course the wind was blowing and securing it took repeated trips.

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But the little guys loved it.

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With one fellow happily perching there for an hour.

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❤️

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It’s weird, but it works.

13 Comments

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I’ve been battling bees on my hummingbird feeders for a while now. Once they find a sugar source, they’re hard to get rid of… but I think I’ve found a solution.

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Mint leaves.

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Bees hate the smell and hummingbirds can’t smell at all so it’s the perfect deterrent.

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If I can get the hummers used to the new leafy attachments.

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They kept buzzing around, not sure what to make of it.

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I didn’t think it would be a big deal. They drink nectar from flowers and flowers have leaves.

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A few brave souls have made peace with it so I’m hoping the rest will soon.

The bees?

Gone!

👍

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Hum-azing .

27 Comments

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In all the years we’ve fed hummingbirds… 17 years in North Carolina and 21 years here…. we have never had more than two on a feeder at a time.

Ever.

They’re territorial little buggers and don’t usually tolerate companions when feeding. So when I snapped a picture of three hummers on the nectar together last week, I was thrilled and thought I’d seen something special.

And then yesterday I saw this…

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I have no idea why… but we are currently in the middle of a hummingbird population explosion.

Every day there’s a literal flock of the little darlings buzzing around our deck.

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I didn’t manage to capture a photo of the six, but I did get a few of these 5… which for me was an absolute delight.

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I don’t know what we’re doing right.. but I’m going to try and keep doing it.

👍

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Hummingbird wars.

15 Comments

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We have two hummingbird nectar feeders on our back deck. (Sugar and water only please. Don’t buy that packet with the awful red dye. Use red glass feeders instead.)

2023 has been a banner year for hummers and I don’t think we’ve ever seen this many at one time. But with high numbers come battles, because while they’re beautiful … they’re also quite territorial.

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The minute one sits down to feed, another arrives to chase it off.

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Please appreciate the fact I had to take 20 photos to get these two of the little jewels in flight. Those little suckers are quick.

Here’s a short video of a male and a female. They drank together for a short while.

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And if that wasn’t amazing enough?

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Three hummers. Happily feeding together…

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That’s never happened before.

❤️

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Perfection in miniature.

20 Comments

 

Hummingbirds.

 

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More precisely our resident Ruby Throated Hummingbird.

 

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He’s laid claim to the feeder….

 

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And ferociously fights off all the others who attempt to sip.

 

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I’ve tried to get videos of the aerial ballets….

 

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But they’re much too fast for my lame camera equipment.

 

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You wouldn’t think something so tiny would be so fierce.

 

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But even this guy keeps his distance.

 

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Because size doesn’t matter.

 

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Or so I’ve been told.