'copter bird battles

[csj]

These little critters are fantastic to see every year. A blessing that they show up.

However, the little things REALLY fight. If you could CHARGE an animal with a crime,
I think ATTEMPTED murder would fit.

Real Aerial Dogfights. The females even attack the poor little male.

[Rams]

My Spousal Unit has those copter refueling stations in several locations throughout our back yard so, I get to observe the daily dog fights and let me assure you, if those toughies were any  bigger, I think they'd probably run me out of the back yard.     Been buzzed by them a bunch of times, one seems to think my ear is a impact area.    He/she buzzes me every time I sit out on the patio and has actually clipped my ear several times.    And, before anyone suggests it, no they aren't that big.   

Once they stake a claim to a feeder, they'll run off any other birds.    Selfish little bastards. 

[da prez]

Rams , paint your ear a color other than red. You are attracting the little buzzers. We , also refuel them. They are fun to watch.

                                     da prez and wife

[CajunRider]

And, before anyone suggests it, no they aren't that big.   

I know the birds are small... but what about your ears???  

(Sorry... I couldn't resist...)    

I never knew how mean those things were, till we had a feeder just outside our back door.  They are super cute, but super brutal.  

[Patrick]

I'll be darned. I've put several 'refueling stations' for the little guys and have never seem that. But, there are very few of them here and I only see one once in awhile it seems to be 'traplining'. Been thinking about making some nesting frames.

[Jess from VA]

I have 10 to 15 of the little guys in my back yard all summer.  

They are like little kids.  Get them all juiced up on sugar and they go crazy chasing each other around like maniacs.  It takes them a long time to get tired, and then they share the feeder together.  Then they get back at it.  The Hummingbird is the real energizer bunny.  Early in the summer, a feeder lasts for days and days, but by now they drain a feeder in about 6 hours.  I have a 20yo Kousa dogwood in the center of my back yard, and they all stake out different locations in the tree for base ops (if you watch closely, they go back to the same roost over and over again).  

I used to have problems with bees taking over the feeders (even with bee guards) but I have made such a war on yellow jackets, that none are to be found.

When I let a feeder go empty, one of them hovers in the big picture window to tell me to get off my ass and fill it up.

Hey buddy, you want some of this?  

[wiggydotcom]

I have 4 of those refueling stations myself on our deck. Humming birds are the smallest, yet most fearless bird, imo. As mentioned, they will buzz inches from my face as they check me out. Have a tiny feeder and my goal is to get them to land on my hand and drink out of it. Awesome creatures for sure-but very protective of their territory!

[Rams]

I'll be darned. I've put several 'refueling stations' for the little guys and have never seem that. But, there are very few of them here and I only see one once in awhile it seems to be 'traplining'. Been thinking about making some nesting frames.

Ever seen a Humming Bird nest?    Very interesting construction and tiny.   I've only seen pictures of them, never seen one in person.   Would like to.    

http://search.aol.com/aol/image?q=hummingbird+nests

[wiggydotcom]

Rams, never seen a nest in person but I did hang up a grid with the nesting material and the females did make several trips to and from it. It was very cool to watch!

[Jess from VA]

I've seen a nest, and even picked up bean sized babies and put them back in it.  It was mostly made of spiderweb.

[Patrick]

I'll be darned. I've put several 'refueling stations' for the little guys and have never seem that. But, there are very few of them here and I only see one once in awhile it seems to be 'traplining'. Been thinking about making some nesting frames.

Ever seen a Humming Bird nest?    Very interesting construction and tiny.   I've only seen pictures of them, never seen one in person.   Would like to.    

http://search.aol.com/aol/image?q=hummingbird+nests

No, I haven't. Very seldom see the birds around here and used to see quite a few years ago.[ figured the herbicides/pesticides did them in]. I looked up what the nest framework[?] is supposed to look like and where to stick them. I'm thinking of making some just to see if they work, I'd like to see more of the little guys around.
I kinda did the same with Bluebirds years ago. I don't know what got into me, but, I decided to make a bunch of houses for them [ guess I was bored some winter day] and gave them to everyone in the neighborhood and hung them all around the house. We have averaged 3 hatches a year now for awhile and the neighbors are having some luck with them too.
So, I decided to do the same with Swifts/Swallows, bats and Barn Owls. The Purple Martin house gets taken over by Sparrows each year before we get back home so I closed it off.




Maybe some of you fellas would know. I saw a small/medium sized bird the other day that had a green breast with yellow head. Have no idea what it is.

[Rams]

Maybe some of you fellas would know. I saw a small/medium sized bird the other day that had a green breast with yellow head. Have no idea what it is.

Sorry, I don't have a clue but, are you sure it was a bird, kind of sounds like Carl?   

[csj]

We've got three feeders on the go. Two are on the front deck. I can sit right under the
feeders, and when one comes to feed, I can feel the blast from their wings on my head.

I've put the feeder five inches from my head and sit there watching how brave they
can get. I wear glasses, good to have the safety. Who knows if they'd whack into you.

[Patrick]

Maybe some of you fellas would know. I saw a small/medium sized bird the other day that had a green breast with yellow head. Have no idea what it is.

Sorry, I don't have a clue but, are you sure it was a bird, kind of sounds like Carl?   

Well, maybe. But he was a long way from home and didn't have a Valk with him.   

[The emperor has no clothes]

Maybe some of you fellas would know. I saw a small/medium sized bird the other day that had a green breast with yellow head. Have no idea what it is.

Sorry, I don't have a clue but, are you sure it was a bird, kind of sounds like Carl?   

I'm not sure I want to know, BUT how do you know the color of Willow's breasts? 

[Rams]

Maybe some of you fellas would know. I saw a small/medium sized bird the other day that had a green breast with yellow head. Have no idea what it is.

Sorry, I don't have a clue but, are you sure it was a bird, kind of sounds like Carl?  

I'm not sure I want to know, BUT how do you know the color of Willow's breasts?  

The same way da prez knows what color my ears are.  

Interesting that you picked up on that.   

[Jess from VA]

Patrick, if you don't get many humming birds, know that you have to change the sugar water from time to time (if they don't empty it after a few days), esp if the feeder gets hit by the sun.  Depending on time and heat, the stuff ferments and they won't drink it.

To keep the ants away, and to maximize indoor viewing, I hang mine under my eves in the soffet.  I can change feeders without going outside, just open the windows and reach up.  Nearly always in the shade too, and out of the rain (unless blowing).

[wiggydotcom]

Patrick, if you don't get many humming birds, know that you have to change the sugar water from time to time (if they don't empty it after a few days), esp if the feeder gets hit by the sun.  Depending on time and heat, the stuff ferments and they won't drink it.

To keep the ants away, and to maximize indoor viewing, I hang mine under my eves in the soffet.  I can change feeders without going outside, just open the windows and reach up.  Nearly always in the shade too, and out of the rain (unless blowing).

Jess...those are good points. IF someone wants to attract hummingbirds, they MUST be dedicated to it, or they can actually harm or kill the birds.

It's easy to make the nectar but ONLY use granulated sugar...not brown sugar, artificial stuff, etc. The recipe that's accepted is 4 parts water to one part sugar. The sugar water should be changed a minimum of every 7 days-- and as little as every 3 or 4 days if it's hot out or if the feeders are in a sunny location.

Whenever I change out the feeders, I also clean them with a bottle brush and pipe cleaners. Every other week I take all 4 feeders and dunk them in a water/bleach solution(1/4 cup bleach to one gal water) and clean them with pipe cleaners/brush. Yes, bleach is ok in this concentration and actually will kill any black mold--which can be fatal to hummers. Hummers can't smell and as long as the feeders are rinsed well afterwards, all will be good. As Jess said, hummers will quit eating out of feeders with ants/bugs in the solution. Keep it fresh, keep the feeders clean and they'll come around.

They are a little pricey, but I use Humzinger feeders. They don't have any yellow on them and also have rubber seals that are available for the bottom of the openings. This keeps all bugs/ants and bees from getting to the nectar. Bees will pretty much give up and leave the Humzinger feeders alone. They are also easy to clean and fill and have a lifetime warranty. Not affiliated, etc.

[Jess from VA]

Mixing your sugar and water (no need for red dye) is best and most complete in hot (does not need to be boiling) water.  I then keep it in the fridge.

They get little ice cream headaches when they hit a freshly filled cold water feeder.  It warms right up.

I scrub mine out too.  Have a small foam strip brush, and hit it with a shot of Bleach Cleanup, then rinse.  This time of year, my feeders stay pretty clean when empty every 6-8 hours. 

I have to remember to get two big bags of sugar at the grocery.

[Patrick]

OK, thanks. I try to keep the water changed at least once a week. I rinse out the feeders, but, have been hesitant about using bleach [ until now].  It would be hard to keep mine out of the sun and be able to see them. And I use just sugar and water. I haven't seen one in awhile now, maybe I killed it. One feeder is an antique that really can't be cleaned well so I should probably replace it.

[Rams]

IF someone wants to attract hummingbirds, they MUST be dedicated to it, or they can actually harm or kill the birds.

It's easy to make the nectar but ONLY use granulated sugar...not brown sugar, artificial stuff, etc. The recipe that's accepted is 4 parts water to one part sugar. The sugar water should be changed a minimum of every 7 days-- and as little as every 3 or 4 days if it's hot out or if the feeders are in a sunny location.

Ran this information by my highly trained local expert, (the Spousal Unit) and was told that she used to mix the nectar at 4 to 1 but has had better luck with a 3 to 1 mixture.    I've warned her that she may induce some diabetes into the "copter" birds health system but, she's convinced that there's hope for them with Obama Care.   

[Valkorado]

Got this from my dad least week, I still can't ID this particular species.

[Rams]

Can you find out for us exactly it was humming? 

[Jess Tolbirt]

"copter" birds?

[LadyDraco]

I don't this it's the same Species as this  kind....
This one looks to be a female....

[Robert]

Thanks guys love the posts, I would love to see more of them around here I think I will give it a try.

[Willow]

Maybe some of you fellas would know. I saw a small/medium sized bird the other day that had a green breast with yellow head. Have no idea what it is.

Sorry, I don't have a clue but, are you sure it was a bird, kind of sounds like Carl?   

I'm not sure I want to know, BUT how do you know the color of Willow's breasts? 

LOL!  Unfortunately, meathead, anyone who attended InZane in 2013 stood a good chance of getting a fair look at Carl's breast.   

[Oss]

 

That may be when I started having eye trouble now that I think of it

Either that or one of Stan's posts  not sure

 

[Valkjerk]

What I find incredible is.....this is a biker forum talking about tiny little birds. WTH? LOL  Yep, I feed them also and find them very entertaining. Quick story: I'm laid back in my recliner in my den with the back door open to my deck with the screen door closed about to catch a quick snooze when out of nowhere comes this racket that sounds akin to "Battling Chainsaws III" (a movie I just made up) and I get up and go to the screen door and there is what I can only describe as an aerial "bird ball" just like those fish balls you see on tv with the tunas and porpoise feeding on them. What a racket! So I'm standing there taking it all in and one of them leaves the fracas and comes right up to the screen and just hangs in mid-air as if to say "What's your problem Bud?" and then flies off and then the "bird ball" breaks up and flies away. Only time this has ever happened and I've been feeding them for thirty years. Found one in my pool, thought he drowned but let him lay there and a few minutes he came to and flew away. Some of them suckers fly like Valkyries......now it's motorcycle related.   

[wiggydotcom]

Maybe some of you fellas would know. I saw a small/medium sized bird the other day that had a green breast with yellow head. Have no idea what it is.

Sorry, I don't have a clue but, are you sure it was a bird, kind of sounds like Carl?   

I'm not sure I want to know, BUT how do you know the color of Willow's breasts? 

LOL!  Unfortunately, meathead, anyone who attended InZane in 2013 stood a good chance of getting a fair look at Carl's breast.   

I did, and I saw. I was at that table for the "slightly" used shirt exchange. Some things can't be "Unseen". 

[wiggydotcom]

  It would be hard to keep mine out of the sun and be able to see them. And I use just sugar and water. I haven't seen one in awhile now, maybe I killed it.

You really don't have to keep the feeders out of the sun. The nectar just lasts longer if you do. Three out of my four feeders are in direct sunlight all day long and the hummers don't mind.

I doubt you killed it. The first year I put up feeders, I counted 7 that I could see at one time. This year, I think I only have about 4 different ones. The most I've counted at once is 2. Don't get discouraged. My neighbors didn't think we had any around our parts till they saw mine. They put up feeders and now the hummers fly back and forth between the yards.

Even when you don't see them and don't think they're around, they often get a drink and are gone within 20 seconds. Sometimes you just have to sit and watch the feeders and you'll probably see some.  Good luck.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Maybe some of you fellas would know. I saw a small/medium sized bird the other day that had a green breast with yellow head. Have no idea what it is.

Sorry, I don't have a clue but, are you sure it was a bird, kind of sounds like Carl?   

I'm not sure I want to know, BUT how do you know the color of Willow's breasts? 

LOL!  Unfortunately, meathead, anyone who attended InZane in 2013 stood a good chance of getting a fair look at Carl's breast.   

I guess I should be thankful that Spearfish was the civilized Inzane .