Hummers Away
July 22nd, 2006
Sorry I haven’t written in a few weeks! Cardinal sin among blogs.
We’ve recently received a question from a Dr. JB customer who says that due to going on vacation, the feeder went dry. When she returned and cleaned/refilled the feeder, the hummers did not return. Additionally, there were a couple carpenter ants that had found their way into the base and died there. She questions whether or not their presence disturbed the birds, contaminated the feeder, etc.
I would tend to think that the cleaning takes care of any contamination issues, and that the hummers are using another source. But would they stay away from the feeder for a week or two before visiting regularly again? A couple of us at Dr. JB’s have experienced that in the past. I try not to take it personally or assume that the hummers don’t like me any more.
So, unfortunately the best remedy I have for re-establishing regular feeding is patience, a clean feeder, and fresh nectar. That is, until we invent a hummingbird call. Hmmm.
Anybody else have the same experience. Other ideas, advice?
Happy feeding,
Chris
Entry Filed under: Hummingbird News
2 Comments Add your own
1. Kevin Morgan | September 6th, 2006 at 1:15 am
Chris,
Obviously there could be many factors at play here. I’m not sure when the customer’s vacation was, or how long it was before she wrote you, or where she lives, but it’s possible that the hummingbirds she hosted were migrants passing through, not local breeding birds. Even if hummingbirds nest in her general region of the country, she might not have suitable nesting habitat, and it’s possible her vacation coincided with the time the birds left to set up nesting. Here in south Louisiana, birds nest in early May into mid-June, and there are often long stretches in this period when I won’t see a single hummer. During migration, though, I might have 20 or 25 in the yard at a time.
Some birds will “trapline”– that is, move from feeder to feeder in a given radius, visiting several yards on a regular basis. If her feeder was dry/dirty for an extended period, it might take a few weeks or more for any local birds to re-discover it.
The best information I can give her, however, is that she’s almost certainly done nothing to permanently drive the birds away. However, it does illustrate that it’s best to have a neighbor clean and refill feeders when you’re on vacation. You can make a batch of nectar before you leave, and put it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Or, do as I do, and have several extras; when it’s time to refill, I put out clean feeders with fresh sugar water, and then bring the dirty ones in to clean. That way, I never have to “rush” to get clean feeders up within minutes of taking them down.
2. Chris | September 6th, 2006 at 8:14 pm
Kevin, great stuff.
I wasn’t familiar with traplining, so I Googled it (combined with “hummingbird”) and found more good stuff. Interesting study here, where sugar levels were changed to measure/observe changes in the traplining patterns/behaviors.
http://beheco.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/10/6/714
When do your hummers head south?
Chris
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