ddandb
  • ddandb
  • Herf-A-Holic Topic Starter
Monday, August 1, 2005 11:25:00 AM
Had a day off and while I was sitting outside smoking decided to take some pictures of my hummers.450935.JPG
John hay Cigars
Monday, August 1, 2005 11:47:00 AM
I'll trade you a fiver for one of them. We don't have any. I bet they are fun to catch.
428cj
Monday, August 1, 2005 11:58:00 AM
Nice capture!
Charlie
Monday, August 1, 2005 12:00:00 PM
I have 5 feeders in back yard and at anytime during day as many as 10 to 15 of them are around! Of course the little guys get territorial and try and chase each other off! They are very entertaining, and especailly late in the day!

Charlie

Wagner
Monday, August 1, 2005 12:34:00 PM
Charlie:

Was the camera handheld or triggered by remore? How did you get so close? Telephoto?

Nice pic,

Wagner

Wagner
Monday, August 1, 2005 12:34:00 PM
"remote"
Charlie
Monday, August 1, 2005 12:39:00 PM
Wags

I did not take that picture, but you can get right up to the little guys! Within 3 feet without any problem, in fact, they will buzz you while you are sitting outside! They are great little entertainers!

Charlie

ddandb
  • ddandb
  • Herf-A-Holic Topic Starter
Monday, August 1, 2005 2:49:00 PM
The Camera was hand held and has 10X zoom lens so I can zoom in pretty good.

I don't know if they are very brave birds or just that they are stupid because their brain is so small but you can walk right up to them to take a picture so a lot of times a zoom is not even needed.

jjohnson28
Monday, August 1, 2005 5:38:00 PM
No there pretty brave, I have to believe it's mostly becayse they're so fast. Now the ones around here have learned to stay at least a good tennis rackets length away.

LOL! Nice Pic.

JJ

RICKAMAVEN
Monday, August 1, 2005 8:26:00 PM
they have no natural enemies except stupid people that feed them saccharine and water so they don't get too fat and the birds are fooled into thinking they are eating and die.
Stickbow
Tuesday, August 2, 2005 1:35:00 AM
Great pic. I too have humming bird feeders and the birds are great to watch. I feed mine a water and sugar mix at 4 to 1. Stay away from the pre-mix with the red dye in it. It weakens their peckers, i mean beaks.........

stic

RICKAMAVEN
Tuesday, August 2, 2005 5:56:00 AM
Stickbow

cane sugar is better for them then beet sugar.

you are right that the premix is not good for the birds. they don't need the color to attract them.

drnos
Tuesday, August 2, 2005 6:16:00 AM
I spend a lotta time smoking cigars on my patio watching the hummers at my feeder (4:1 cane sugar is the way to go!)

One of them is a little bully. He (?) will perch on a branch with an eye on the feeder. When other hummers come to eat, he chases them off. Sometimes they fly around and around the feeder. A 2" tall bully. It's really funny.

I even heard his call on Sunday while smoking and watching the Angel game on TV out on the patio.

Charlie
Tuesday, August 2, 2005 7:32:00 AM
Actually, I go 5 to 1 on my mix and they like it just fine! Problem with too much sugar is that it will harm the birds, and this has been written up in several magazines and articles, that I can google up but will not do so at this time!

I also do not put any food coloring in my mixture, because the color of the feeders attract them and they know where they are after a while! These little guys seem to be pretty smart!

Charlie

ddandb
  • ddandb
  • Herf-A-Holic Topic Starter
Tuesday, August 2, 2005 9:45:00 AM
A word on feeding..

To make humming bired nector....

1 Part Sugar

4 Parts Water

Boil water1-2 Minutes

Stir in sugar until disolved

Cool & Store In Refrigerator

Never use honey or artificial sweeteners. Honey ferments easily, and can cause sores in a hummers mouth. Artificial sweeteners have no food value. DO NOT use red food coloring in your solution, as this could be harmful to your hummers. No testing has been done on the effects dye has on birds. Most feeders have red on them and that should be enough.

Charlie
Tuesday, August 2, 2005 12:08:00 PM
I agree with the above, except I go 20% sugar in the mix, rather than 25%!

Charlie

Stickbow
Wednesday, August 3, 2005 7:00:00 AM
I thought this might help.

http://www.hummingbirds.net/feeders.html#bees 

stic

ryantp
Wednesday, August 3, 2005 7:17:00 AM
What do these birds taste like? How do you prepare them? I bet you need quite a few to fill up.
ddandb
  • ddandb
  • Herf-A-Holic Topic Starter
Wednesday, August 3, 2005 8:36:00 AM
Kinda like chicken...

What you don't see in the picture is the big net that drops over them. Once I have about 50 they're plucked, gutted and fried to a golden brown. Always remember to save the tounge. Humming bird tounge makes a great desert.

;)