Baltimore Oriole

A female Baltimore Oriole has been coming to our hummingbird feeders! We took the lid off of one feeder to provide her with easier access. She's been here for three days.

The Birds and the Bees

We've had a lot of hummingbirds this season - more than I thought we would have when the season started out! I make 8 cups of food a day. The problem has been that bald-faced hornets have been visiting the feeders also, chasing the hummingbirds and making it scary for us when we refill the bottles! We figure they have a nest nearby. BUT, I read on the internet that they will not bother you unless you bother their nest. So we tolerate them at the feeders - what else are we to do? I tried a technique that someone suggested - using a spray bottle filled with ice and ice water and spraying them. It was supposed to paralyze them and make them fall to the ground, then you could step on them. It kind of worked on one, but he didn't fall to the ground. He just went to the chimes and kind of stuck there. Then I kept spraying the others and finally they started to get MAD at me and chase me, so I gave up on that idea! In the first picture you can see one of the hornets and get an idea of how BIG they are!

Hummingbird Activity

The hummingbirds are at their normal amount of activity now, or pretty much so. I'm making 8 cups of food about every day and a half. I use water and sugar - none of that red dye because I've heard it can cause birth defects in the hummingbirds. We have five feeders out and they STILL fight over them!

Return of the Hummingbirds

The hummingbirds are picking up a bit. There were at least seven at the feeders last night, but there may have been more. I added another feeder to the two out front. We have one in the back also.

Where are all the hummingbirds?

We notice fewer hummingbirds (Ruby Throated) are around our house than previous years. We've lived here since 2005 and every spring there have been dozens of hummingbirds. By now there should be at least 10 or 12 and by the end of the summer, with the babies coming along, dozens. But we only have maybe three or four!! It is disheartening. We have the same flowers, except the previous owner did have wild flowers growing at one side of the house that I haven't planted like he did. I do have some in the rock garden, but we have all the same other things, plus all the woods around. And they came around in the previous years we've been here. I hope people respond to my poll about this issue.

Hummingbirds' Return

Our hummingbirds have come back! They returned on the 9th. There are three of them, possibly more. I had one feeder out but they are starting to fight over it so I put another one out. By the end of the summer we'll have six out. They are so much fun to watch!