Title: Hummingbirds in your Campsite
Post by: BirdMan on Aug 22, 2007, 09:29 PM
Post by: BirdMan on Aug 22, 2007, 09:29 PM
Does anyone keep a hummingbird feeder (or any other birdfeeder) in there campers besides us? It is really fun for everyone (kids & adults) to see how fast these beautiful birds come flocking to the feeder right outside our pop-up.
We went camping up by Leadville, CO (elevation 9,860 ft) a few weeks ago and we had about fifteen hummingbirds buzzing around all day long throughout the week. I was able to get a broadtail hummingbird to land on my finger while eating out of the feeder.
We went camping up by Leadville, CO (elevation 9,860 ft) a few weeks ago and we had about fifteen hummingbirds buzzing around all day long throughout the week. I was able to get a broadtail hummingbird to land on my finger while eating out of the feeder.
Title:
Post by: CajunCamper on Aug 22, 2007, 09:42 PM
Post by: CajunCamper on Aug 22, 2007, 09:42 PM
We haven't done that, but it sounds like fun. Thanks for the idea. In Louisiana we toss a dead chicken out behind the pop up and watch the gators come out of the swamp and get the chicken. Don't want one of those resting on your finger. Just kidding.
CajunCamper
CajunCamper
Title:
Post by: sacrawf on Aug 22, 2007, 10:18 PM
Post by: sacrawf on Aug 22, 2007, 10:18 PM
Earlier this year I was initially disapointed to get one of the last 2 campsites left at the Fox Ridge State Park near Oakland, IL. Unlike what I had thought would be more desirable secluded sites to the back of the campground, this site directly across from the camp host was a real treat. The camp host had attracted with his many feeders more eastern bluebirds and goldfinches than I have ever seen at one site, joined with the occasional white-breasted nuthatch. They birds put on a constant awesome musical and aerial display right in view from under our awning for our whole stay.
We don't bring the birdfeeders, but always have a small hanging planter of blooming seasonal flowers at the entrance to our campsite, which sometimes attracts the hummingbirds and butterflies. I keep a logbook in the camper of the birds we see while camping.
We don't bring the birdfeeders, but always have a small hanging planter of blooming seasonal flowers at the entrance to our campsite, which sometimes attracts the hummingbirds and butterflies. I keep a logbook in the camper of the birds we see while camping.
Quote from: BirdManDoes anyone keep a hummingbird feeder (or any other birdfeeder) in there campers besides us? It is really fun for everyone (kids & adults) to see how fast these beautiful birds come flocking to the feeder right outside our pop-up.
We went camping up by Leadville, CO (elevation 9,860 ft) a few weeks ago and we had about fifteen hummingbirds buzzing around all day long throughout the week. I was able to get a broadtail hummingbird to land on my finger while eating out of the feeder.
Title:
Post by: wavery on Aug 22, 2007, 11:35 PM
Post by: wavery on Aug 22, 2007, 11:35 PM
We bring a bird feeder on every campout :sombraro:
Title:
Post by: harleywolf on Aug 23, 2007, 01:21 AM
Post by: harleywolf on Aug 23, 2007, 01:21 AM
We have both a Hummingbird feeder and a seed feeder in our backyard and love to watch the birds, and we get plenty. The seed feeder usually needs daily filling and the HB feeder only lasts about 3-4 days.
Being new to RV camping we have thought it would be easy and cool to bring a HB feeder at least, think we will from now on.
Incidentally what do you put in your HB feeder? Long ago we used the bagged red stuff that you mix with water, then one day I noticed the food in the feeder was clear (the feeder is a mother daughter thing with our 5 year old) and when I asked the DW about it she said she read that the colored food can rot out the beaks of the bird. She uses plain sugar water. I asked my mother about hers and she boils the sugar water first. Maybe this has been common knowledge for awhile and something I was just ignorant about but thought I
Being new to RV camping we have thought it would be easy and cool to bring a HB feeder at least, think we will from now on.
Incidentally what do you put in your HB feeder? Long ago we used the bagged red stuff that you mix with water, then one day I noticed the food in the feeder was clear (the feeder is a mother daughter thing with our 5 year old) and when I asked the DW about it she said she read that the colored food can rot out the beaks of the bird. She uses plain sugar water. I asked my mother about hers and she boils the sugar water first. Maybe this has been common knowledge for awhile and something I was just ignorant about but thought I
Title:
Post by: BirdMan on Aug 23, 2007, 08:56 AM
Post by: BirdMan on Aug 23, 2007, 08:56 AM
Rick, good question about hummingbird food. A mixture of four parts water with one part plain white sugar works well. Red food coloring is not needed and is actually bad for the birds, as it is for humans. Boil the water, add the sugar, dissolve, and turn off the heat. Let it cool for about 30 minutes before filling your feeder. No other sugar (honey, raw, maple syrup, ...) works as well as regular white sugar.
Another note on hummingbird food is to only put enough nectar in the feeder to last 2-3 days. This stuff is sugar water and will ferment pretty quickly. When I am camping I make 1 cup at a time since I don't have that much refrigerator storage to store any extra nectar.
At home I make four cups at a time and fill the feeders with a smaller amount, still only enough to last 2-3 days. I keep the remaining in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks.
Make sure you get a good quality hummingbird feeder so it will last and not leak.
Another note on hummingbird food is to only put enough nectar in the feeder to last 2-3 days. This stuff is sugar water and will ferment pretty quickly. When I am camping I make 1 cup at a time since I don't have that much refrigerator storage to store any extra nectar.
At home I make four cups at a time and fill the feeders with a smaller amount, still only enough to last 2-3 days. I keep the remaining in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks.
Make sure you get a good quality hummingbird feeder so it will last and not leak.
Title:
Post by: bountyhunter on Aug 23, 2007, 10:46 AM
Post by: bountyhunter on Aug 23, 2007, 10:46 AM
We had one come into our popup when we were camping near Monarch, CO this spring. Hovered over the bunk end and then was gone jsut as fast as he came in.
Title:
Post by: mountainrev on Aug 23, 2007, 11:47 AM
Post by: mountainrev on Aug 23, 2007, 11:47 AM
When we were camping near Leadville last month, the hummers were dive-bombing the red clips that hold our gizmos on to the bunk ends. I wished we had brought one of our feeders from home!
Title:
Post by: AustinBoston on Aug 23, 2007, 12:08 PM
Post by: AustinBoston on Aug 23, 2007, 12:08 PM
We stopped feeding the birds at home because our cat stopped eating her regular food. :yikes:
Not really - the reason we stopped is because the birds were being attracted to a hawk ambush. They would hide for a while, but not seeing the hawk, would go back to the feeder...and become hawk dinner. They were better off not being fed. :(
I doubt any hawk would be fast enough to take a hummer, though.
It's been a couple years, so maybe the hawk has moved on.
Austin
Not really - the reason we stopped is because the birds were being attracted to a hawk ambush. They would hide for a while, but not seeing the hawk, would go back to the feeder...and become hawk dinner. They were better off not being fed. :(
I doubt any hawk would be fast enough to take a hummer, though.
It's been a couple years, so maybe the hawk has moved on.
Austin
Title:
Post by: wavery on Aug 23, 2007, 12:57 PM
Post by: wavery on Aug 23, 2007, 12:57 PM
Quote from: BirdManRick, good question about hummingbird food. A mixture of four parts water with one part plain white sugar works well. Red food coloring is not needed and is actually bad for the birds, as it is for humans. Boil the water, add the sugar, dissolve, and turn off the heat. Let it cool for about 30 minutes before filling your feeder. No other sugar (honey, raw, maple syrup, ...) works as well as regular white sugar.I'm just curious why you think white sugar works better than honey :confused: .
Another note on hummingbird food is to only put enough nectar in the feeder to last 2-3 days. This stuff is sugar water and will ferment pretty quickly. When I am camping I make 1 cup at a time since I don't have that much refrigerator storage to store any extra nectar.
At home I make four cups at a time and fill the feeders with a smaller amount, still only enough to last 2-3 days. I keep the remaining in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks.
Make sure you get a good quality hummingbird feeder so it will last and not leak.
I have a 9-year-old Rainbow Lorikeet. He's also a nectar eater (like the Humming Birds). He wouldn't even touch sugar water but he LOVES honey. I'm just wondering why there would be a difference.
Title:
Post by: AustinBoston on Aug 23, 2007, 01:06 PM
Post by: AustinBoston on Aug 23, 2007, 01:06 PM
Quote from: waveryI'm just curious why you think white sugar works better than honey :confused: .
I have a 9-year-old Rainbow Lorikeet. He's also a nectar eater (like the Humming Birds). He wouldn't even touch sugar water but he LOVES honey. I'm just wondering why there would be a difference.
I'm not an expert, but I believe (based on his mixing it with water) that honey (once mixed with water) will spoil quickly. Most honey is not cooked, so contains all the bacteria and mold spores that it had in the hive. Add water, and you have, um, culture.
Austin
Title:
Post by: wavery on Aug 23, 2007, 01:19 PM
Post by: wavery on Aug 23, 2007, 01:19 PM
Quote from: AustinBostonI'm not an expert, but I believe (based on his mixing it with water) that honey (once mixed with water) will spoil quickly. Most honey is not cooked, so contains all the bacteria and mold spores that it had in the hive. Add water, and you have, um, culture.That's for sure. 12-hours on a warm day and the honey water would go bad.
Austin
I am just wondering if the Hummingbirds prefer the sugar water over honey. I would think that it would be the other way around but that's just because of my experience with "Doofus" (and we don't call him that for nothing :p ).
Title:
Post by: AustinBoston on Aug 23, 2007, 01:58 PM
Post by: AustinBoston on Aug 23, 2007, 01:58 PM
Quote from: waveryThat's for sure. 12-hours on a warm day and the honey water would go bad.
I am just wondering if the Hummingbirds prefer the sugar water over honey. I would think that it would be the other way around but that's just because of my experience with "Doofus" (and we don't call him that for nothing :p ).
That would be my expectation as well - honey is essentially what they eat in nature (except processed by bees) - where sugar water is essentially an artificial creation.
Austin
Title:
Post by: BirdMan on Aug 23, 2007, 04:36 PM
Post by: BirdMan on Aug 23, 2007, 04:36 PM
The preference of Hummingbirds is using regular sugar. There have been many experiments over the years using everything you could imagine for a sweetener. Sucrose (table sugar-cane or beet), glucose, maltose, fructose, and many more.
Here is a decent website page/article that talks in layman terms regarding Hummingbird Feeding, http://www.hummingbirds.net/hainsworth.html, for those interested.
You are correct about honey spoiling very quickly when mixed with water. I have tried many experiments with 5-6 feeders out at the same time using different sweeteners in each and they always go for the regular table sugar.
Here is a decent website page/article that talks in layman terms regarding Hummingbird Feeding, http://www.hummingbirds.net/hainsworth.html, for those interested.
You are correct about honey spoiling very quickly when mixed with water. I have tried many experiments with 5-6 feeders out at the same time using different sweeteners in each and they always go for the regular table sugar.
Title:
Post by: wavery on Aug 23, 2007, 05:04 PM
Post by: wavery on Aug 23, 2007, 05:04 PM
Quote from: BirdManThe preference of Hummingbirds is using regular sugar. There have been many experiments over the years using everything you could imagine for a sweetener. Sucrose (table sugar-cane or beet), glucose, maltose, fructose, and many more.Thanks for the tip........however...Doofus will have none of it... I just tried (just for the heck of it). He picked up the bowl and dumped it upside down. :p > guess he's not exactly a Hummingbird either :sombraro: .
Here is a decent website page/article that talks in layman terms regarding Hummingbird Feeding, http://www.hummingbirds.net/hainsworth.html, for those interested.
You are correct about honey spoiling very quickly when mixed with water. I have tried many experiments with 5-6 feeders out at the same time using different sweeteners in each and they always go for the regular table sugar.
I should have left him alone... now he's squawking his head off. :yikes:
Title:
Post by: harleywolf on Aug 23, 2007, 05:47 PM
Post by: harleywolf on Aug 23, 2007, 05:47 PM
ROFL. Thanks Wavery... after the day I've just had I really needed a good laugh, good timing.
Rick.
Rick.
Title:
Post by: wavery on Aug 23, 2007, 06:05 PM
Post by: wavery on Aug 23, 2007, 06:05 PM
Quote from: harleywolfROFL. Thanks Wavery... after the day I've just had I really needed a good laugh, good timing.I put honey in my coffee...
Rick.
Title:
Post by: BirdMan on Aug 23, 2007, 06:13 PM
Post by: BirdMan on Aug 23, 2007, 06:13 PM
That is funny!
Title:
Post by: Azusateach on Aug 23, 2007, 06:45 PM
Post by: Azusateach on Aug 23, 2007, 06:45 PM
He's not after the honey -- it's the caffeine!! That explains a LOT!
Laura
Laura
Title:
Post by: wavery on Aug 23, 2007, 06:52 PM
Post by: wavery on Aug 23, 2007, 06:52 PM
Quote from: AzusateachHe's not after the honey -- it's the caffeine!! That explains a LOT!Actually........you're right Laura.........it's both. :-() :yikes:
Laura
Title:
Post by: campnagle on Aug 24, 2007, 06:18 AM
Post by: campnagle on Aug 24, 2007, 06:18 AM
Oh yes. I get them fighting and they buz by as soon as I get there, I think they remember me? I have a album of just humming birds at camp.
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2487027120043540764Gpsrly
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2487027120043540764Gpsrly
Title:
Post by: vjm1639 on Aug 24, 2007, 07:33 AM
Post by: vjm1639 on Aug 24, 2007, 07:33 AM
I don't know how you all get so many hummers at a feeder at one time. We have several feeders in our yard and they fight each other off. Seems only one bird wants the feeder at a time. They will sit close to a certain one sometimes and fight off any other who tries to land on it. They also buzz me to let me know if it happens to be empty. ;> They are such fun birds to watch. We have many flowers that the birds love too and also have several hummingbird moths!
Title:
Post by: curryp on Aug 24, 2007, 10:52 AM
Post by: curryp on Aug 24, 2007, 10:52 AM
No bird feeders at campsites here in the Adirondacks. A bird feeder would attract bears to the site and that is not a good thing. Most people don't put seed feeders at their homes in the summer as bears will come. I have had hummingbird feeders at my house with no problem but wouldn't put one at my site. The sugar might be just enough to attract bears.
At check-in to the state campsites campers are given literature instructing people that it is illegal to put out food with the intent to attract wildlife.
At check-in to the state campsites campers are given literature instructing people that it is illegal to put out food with the intent to attract wildlife.
Title:
Post by: jerkin on Aug 24, 2007, 11:51 AM
Post by: jerkin on Aug 24, 2007, 11:51 AM
Quote from: AustinBostonWe stopped feeding the birds at home because our cat stopped eating her regular food. :yikes:
Not really - the reason we stopped is because the birds were being attracted to a hawk ambush. They would hide for a while, but not seeing the hawk, would go back to the feeder...and become hawk dinner. They were better off not being fed. :(
I doubt any hawk would be fast enough to take a hummer, though.
It's been a couple years, so maybe the hawk has moved on.
Austin
I used to think nothing could catch a hummingbird either until I stumbled upon this website a few months ago. http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/site/backyardbirds/hummingbirds/mantis-hummer.aspx
I guess you don't have to be fast, just inconspicuous. ;)
Title:
Post by: AustinBoston on Aug 24, 2007, 12:13 PM
Post by: AustinBoston on Aug 24, 2007, 12:13 PM
Quote from: jerkinI used to think nothing could catch a hummingbird either until I stumbled upon this website a few months ago. http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/site/backyardbirds/hummingbirds/mantis-hummer.aspx
I guess you don't have to be fast, just inconspicuous. ;)
That is remarkable on a number of levels. First, that a lone insect would take a bird; I know of no other insect that does so. (There are spiders that will take birds, but spiders are not insects.) Second, that they had the presence of mind to photograph it. And third, that the posters were in West Chester, PA, where my newest son-in-law is from, and where his family still lives!
Austin
Title:
Post by: BirdMan on Sep 09, 2007, 09:08 PM
Post by: BirdMan on Sep 09, 2007, 09:08 PM
Vicki and Bill:
A not so well known trick to attract more hummingbirds to your house/feeders/area is to put out more then one feeder on different sides of your house. The reason being is one male hummingbird will guard every feeder he can see. A male will sit on a tree branch or close by and not let any other males around.
No matter if you have one feeder or several in a line on one side of your house one male hummingbird will guard them all from all other males.
Putting feeders on another side of your house (or every side of your house) will allow more male hummingbirds to stand guard. They will still fight, but for only that side of the house or those feeders in sight.
A not so well known trick to attract more hummingbirds to your house/feeders/area is to put out more then one feeder on different sides of your house. The reason being is one male hummingbird will guard every feeder he can see. A male will sit on a tree branch or close by and not let any other males around.
No matter if you have one feeder or several in a line on one side of your house one male hummingbird will guard them all from all other males.
Putting feeders on another side of your house (or every side of your house) will allow more male hummingbirds to stand guard. They will still fight, but for only that side of the house or those feeders in sight.