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Author
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Topic: Afraid to go outside !!!
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Kokopelli
SENIOR DISCOUNT & Dispenser of Sage Advice
Member # 633
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posted August 31, 2026 09:52 AM
Swarms of Hummingbirds with their pointy little beaks on my patio. Must be part of their migration. Never had so many before and I know that they can smell fear. If I don't keep all five feeders full they may attack.
Amazing creatures !!!!
-------------------- And lo, the Light of the Trump shown upon the Darkness and the Darkness could not comprehend it.
Posts: 8938 | From: Under a wandering star | Registered: Apr 2005
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted September 01, 2026 01:58 PM
I’d say you are very fortunate! I finally have a situation where more than one is at the feeder. Maybe indicating babies, I don’t know? But before, the Boss would chase away any interloper.
My hummers are Allen’s and Black neck or cheek or throated, which is the western equivalent of the eastern Ruby throated. They say that the Ruby Throated is the only hummer east of the Mississippi.
What blows my mind is that that litttle bird migrates across the whole Gulf of Mexico and winters in Mexico, then flies back in the spring. It just seems like a tall order for such an itty bitty little thing.
Of course all. the others that come to the western states every spring fly as far north as British Columbia, from central America, or I’m not sure if some go all the way to south America?
Regardless of that, they are amazing little critters. They take nesting material from my Sagos which have some brown hairy fibers that they use for their little tea cup nests.
Everything about them is amazing! I have a few that stay all winter and it’s important to keep the feeders full because there are not many flowers to feed on. They can go into a torpor state in the winter. Kind of a suspended state where everything slows down.
LB 🐝
-------------------- EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All. Don't piss me off!
Posts: 33372 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Kokopelli
SENIOR DISCOUNT & Dispenser of Sage Advice
Member # 633
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posted September 01, 2026 06:52 PM
I've noticed that about the Boss Bird. One bully will try to dominate all 5 feeders most of the time. Right now though, it's not unusual to have three birds on every feeder. Plus, I have Orioles working a feeder and a grape jelly station out on the end. Beautiful birds with striking colors.
And now ............ I'm seeing signs that the Fruit Bats are back. >>>------> Interesting factoid; Bats navigate in the dark by echo-location, the radio that I have on the patio playing non-stop not withstanding. They can still hover over a feeder and get their tongues down the narrow slot on the feeder to the sugar water. They must like the music I listen to.
-------------------- And lo, the Light of the Trump shown upon the Darkness and the Darkness could not comprehend it.
Posts: 8938 | From: Under a wandering star | Registered: Apr 2005
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earthwalker
Cultural Editor & middleweight arm wrestling champion/Intermountain Region
Member # 4177
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posted September 03, 2026 03:46 AM
I think we got to 7 hummers this summer. Had a cool down a couple weeks ago and they packed up and left. I have 2 left feeding. One YOY and another one. Keep waiting for them to leave. Just about set your watch they'll all be gone by Sept. 11.
-------------------- another long hot smoky summer coming
Posts: 1182 | From: Intermountain region | Registered: Jul 2012
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