Summer Boarder by ocoee53
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Description
In 2003 I rescued a female ruby throated hummingbird from a bad situation. She was in an old falling-down trailer on the abandoned property next to me. I saw her bobbing up and down in the window, trying to escape. She had a large piece of upholstery cotton attached to one foot by several strands wrapped tightly around her ankle. When I picked her up, she was so exhausted that she calmly lay on her back in my palm as I used the sharp tip of my pocket knife to cut one filament of cotton at a time from her tiny, tiny leg. She was very happy to be released!
After that, she started staying around my place, so I put up a feeder. By the end of the summer I had three feeders up. By 2006 I had six feeders on my porch and, after the babies flew their nests, nearly three hundred hummers attending them! And that is a conservative estimate. About May fifteenth the first birds arrive, and I start out feeding less than a pint per week of sugar water. By the middle of July, I’m feeding two gallons per week.
If you want to feed these amazing little birds, it is important that you don’t use commercial hummingbird food. The red coloring affects their eggs, greatly reducing the number that hatch. An article I read in National Geographic recommended a solution of one part refined sugar to five parts water. Don’t use raw sugar thinking it would be better for them, it contains iron, which is bad for them. They don’t get any nutrients from the sugar, it is just calories to fuel their metabolism as they chase down small insects like gnats and mosquitoes. Once my hummers arrive, I have no problem with mosquitoes!
Comments (7)
Erestorfan
Wow! This is an amazing shot. These little birds are SO hyper that it is usually impossible to photograph them! Poor little female! I'm SO glad you saw her and were able to rescue her. Isn't it amazing to hold one of these tiny creatures in your hand? One time one got into our house when she was being chased by another female and I happened to open the screen door. She flew around until she was exhausted enough that she landed on the couch and I was able to pick her up. I was truly amazed at how tiny they were and they weigh NOTHING! Remarkable little birds!! And I'm so glad you passed on the info about commercial hummer food. I use the same recipe and we do have hummers every year. But wow, two gallons a week? That's a LOT of hummers!!!
Richardphotos
super story and a beautiful bird.I have been hesitant to have feeders because of the other varmints that follow
tennesseecowgirl
that is amazing to read, and hummingbirds keep away mosquitos ?! I have never heard that before I am going to give this a try in the spring. And sure hope you share more photos of your flock of hummers lol.. have a good night.. :) Interesting photo it has a painted like quality to it.
tstray1
Neat tip on a more beautiful and natural way to thwart mosquitoes. Very fine photo.
MrsLubner
The house I lived in 10 years ago had a colony of hummers that lived in a coupl of very old black walnut trees behind me. In the evening you could see them swarming as they found their last meals of the day and settled into their nests. The sky was nearly black with their numbers. I live in another place in the city and although I put out 2 feeders all year, I am lucky to spot a half dozen each day. They are so delightful. They seem to have little fear of humans. I think they know they are faster than we are. Lovely story.
flora-crassella
a wonderful bird!!!!!!
mgtcs
OMG....What a lovely picture!!! Love it! 10+