This is just one of the many friends we have this year that just love bellying up to the sugar water bar! We've got several feeders up and it takes no time for them to get sucked dry. I love sitting on the front porch swing and watch them chase each other around the yard. Very entertaining. (We live on the edge at my place!) LOL I can stand very still next to a feeder and they will fly all round my head and light on the foot pedestal within inches from my face. Still haven't been able to get one to light on my finger!
The first time I ever saw one I was wearing a red shirt standing near a feeder. He flew by my face and I though I was under attack from a giant bee! LOL I know better now.... I was swatting at it like a crazy woman.
I posted this before - but in case you missed it the first time, check this out. It's day to day pictures of the birth of a humming bird - very cool! [FONT='Arial','sans-serif']BIRTH OF A HUMMINGBIRD[/FONT][FONT='Arial','sans-serif'] [FONT='Arial','sans-serif'] This is truly amazing. Be sure to click on "NEXT PAGE" at[/FONT][/FONT][FONT='Arial','sans-serif'] The bottom of each page; there are 5 pages in all. A lady Found a hummingbird nest and got pictures all the way From the egg to leaving the nest. Took 24 days from birth to Flight. Because you'll probably never see this again in Your lifetime, enjoy and share. The very last picture is Amazing. Click below: Http://community.webtv.net/Velpics/HUM[/FONT]
Hummingbirds in Willow Spring This is my first year in NC, and I am delighted that a couple of hummingbirds have shown up! My husband hung up a feeder and we are enjoying the show! We are trying to identify the different species. So far, I think we have a Ruby throat, and another that has a green body.
You probably have a male and female ruby throat. That's the only species that's native to this area, though some rufous hummingbirds have been reported down at the coast. http://www.hummingbirds.net/rubythroated.html They look iridescent green in the sunlight.
Hummingbirds in NC Thanks for the info. The pictures you sent do look like the ones I have at my feeder.
Where can I find the feeder at? I have several hummingbirds at my front porch and poor things, it keep poking at my bright dark pink flowers and unable to drink it!
Logans Trading Post in Raleigh has some really unique ones and I saw some pretty ones at DeWaynes in Smithfield. A little pricier than you will pay at Lowes or Home Depot, but a little fancier.
saw a show recently on unc-tv i think it was and it was about this lady who catalogs/studies hummingbirds in nc by tagging and tracking them and there is a species that hangs out all winter believe it or not and it's entirely different from the "regular" ones shown above....when i get a minute i'll try to look it up...
http://naturalsciences.org/research-collections/research-specialties/birds/nc-hummingbirds besides the ones we're seeing now, this is the most commonly found in nc: http://naturalsciences.org/research...ties/birds/nc-hummingbirds/rufous-hummingbird more: North Carolina has four species of hummingbirds that visit annually. These species are the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, the Rufous Hummingbird, the Green Violet-ear Hummingbird and the Calliope Hummingbird http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/271320/hummingbirds_in_north_carolina.html?cat=8 ps, we, too, have a half dozen or so feeders and are treated to an aerial acrobatic show of epic proportion multiple times a day. have never left the feeders out past fall, but then i saw this thing and plan to have them out this winter just in case...
The hummingbird lovers on here probably already know this. You don't have to buy hummingbird nectar, you can make it yourself quite easily. It's just 4 parts water to 1 part sugar, bring it to a boil and let it cool. It does keep in the refrigerator, but I just make 2 cups when it's time to fill the feeder. That would be 2 cups of water, 1/2 cup sugar, microwave for 5 minutes, and let it sit on the counter for an hour or so. It is not necessary to add food coloring, they will be attracted to the red on the feeder itself. Once they get used to coming to it, they will buzz you and let you know when it's empty!
I like the kind with the little guards where they drink-keeps the wasps from being able to dine there as well. That way they don't hang around and chase off the hummingbirds.
wow bandmom, Those photos of the babies progression in the nest were AWESOME!!!!! Thanks for posting the link!