Feeding Wild Birds

[CatInTheHenHouse]

The first batch of hummingbird babies must have fledged, because I saw mama chase one of them off the feeder and she and dad keep taking up ‘guard’ positions near it. They’re so entertaining this time of year, it’s like I have my own Star Wars movie going on outside.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

Early migration? Hummingbirds have dropped off from filling feeders AM PM to not having to fill in 3 days. Sitting under my tree for an hour had only 3 visit the feeders, not that I'm complaining, I can use the break of mixing 2 Gal a day.

 

[CatInTheHenHouse]

Early migration? Hummingbirds have dropped off from filling feeders AM PM to not having to fill in 3 days. Sitting under my tree for an hour had only 3 visit the feeders, not that I'm complaining, I can use the break of mixing 2 Gal a day.

It’s possible but I’ve seen definitely-juveniles at this time of year before and the tsew-tsew laser noises are pretty consistent for late summer too.

 

[Molpet]

Is there a lot of mosquitoes now compared to before?
Hummingbirds eat insects to.
More Mosquitoes, Less Hummingbird Sightings? https://share.google/MJRzszyOaefQeMg9X

 

[sourland]

A fourth hen has shown up with just one poult. She is one of the 'transmitter' hens - the first that has shown up with poults.

 

[TwoCrows]

Early migration? Hummingbirds have dropped off from filling feeders AM PM to not having to fill in 3 days. Sitting under my tree for an hour had only 3 visit the feeders, not that I'm complaining, I can use the break of mixing 2 Gal a day.

Yes, male hummingbirds start moving south first in July followed by females in August/September and young birds through early fall. Every day fluctuates at my feeders in August, depending on how many birds moved in over night, how long they stay and how many continue on south. Usually a week past Labor Day the count really begins to drop off and by October just the stragglers are moving through.

 

[CatInTheHenHouse]

One of my hummingbirds was chasing a sparrow(? something of similar size at least) around the backyard today. Not something I’ve seen before, not sure what the other bird did to make it so mad.

 

[sourland]

It looks like the hen with the large brood (I counted 8 today) and the hen with the solo poult have joined together. I expect that soon they will integrate with the other two hens and poults.

 

[ValerieJ]

It looks like the hen with the large brood (I counted 8 today) and the hen with the solo poult have joined together. I expect that soon they will integrate with the other two hens and poults.

I love how they are forming a tribe together. Is that how it generally happens there?

 

[sourland]

I love how they are forming a tribe together. Is that how it generally happens there?

It appears that they solo raise their poults for a bit and then join with other hens. This results in a flock with poults of a varying size. One advantage of flocking together is 'more eyes' to watch for predators.