Participant Photo: Why aren’t any hummers coming to my feeders?
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Okay. If you’ve been browsing the NestWatch participant photos, you’re probably tired of this question. Sorry. But I’d really like to know why the hummingbirds aren’t coming to my feeders! 😩 Mainly so that I can fix whatever it is I’m doing wrong so that they will come. I know they’re in the area, because I saw a male Ruby-Throat a few weeks ago. It was about 8:00 in the morning. I was watching all the other birds flock to my feeder, so interested, that for once I’d forgotten about hummers. (I’d been wishing they were here for a month.) Suddenly, a blur of green darted into the chaos. It took me a second to comprehend what was going on. It hovered overhead for a second, and I got a glimpse of its red throat. Then I realized. 😱 “It’s a hummingbird!!!” It dipped its bill into the sugar water solution for about 2 seconds, then quickly zipped away. (I was so excited about seeing one that I think I woke my whole family up telling them. Oops. 😉🥴) I haven’t seen any hummers since. 😞☹️😖😩🥺 I refilled the sugar water and cleaned the feeders, but still none came back. Beginning to think that they might’ve been afraid of the other birds, I moved the feeders. (Not too far from the last spot.) still none came. So I moved them again today. I had a nectar feeder out the front yard too, with no other bird feeders, just a nectar, and they still didn’t come. But the Common Grackles like feeding in the front and that’s where our dogs usually dwell. And they bark at EVERYTHING! Even sometimes birdsong. 🙄 🤦🏽♀️ I try to keep them inside, but I have to let them out sometime! Can’t have them peeing the house, lol. (Which they do, a lot. 😣🙄😒) If they don’t come after moving the feeders where I did today, well, then I’m out of ideas. 🙇🏽♀️ Please! Does anyone have any tips on what to do? I’m completely at a loss, here! Thank you SO much for any advice given!
Categories: Corvids, Doves, Turkeys & more
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5 comments on “Participant Photo: Why aren’t any hummers coming to my feeders?”
Please can someone help me?
Hi, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are still migrating – according to Birds of the World (birdsoftheworld.org) their peak migration across the gulf coast is the second half of April. Our guess is that it’s simply too early. You may have caught an individual that way on it’s way further north, but after the next few weeks you’ll likely see more. Try planting native flowers in your yard as well to attract them – wide open expanses without cover nor other “eyecatching” vegetation may not be sufficient to attract hummingbirds. These birds typically live in mixed forests, orchards, and edges of forests while in their breeding range, and begin nesting in May.
I don’t know how to thank you!
😅 We already planted some flowers that hummers like last year, and, since they are perennials, they are starting to come back this year. Also, over half of the land we own is woods. And we had a lot last year. We put the feeder up really late, but it was further away from the house. I cant wait till they come! Thx so much for the info! 🙏🏼😅
I agree that it might be too early, you also might just be missing them. They could be coming when you’re not watching.