No you aren't too early Deb. There have been quite a few reports for SE PA I believe. I know that is one in Merion Station which I think is just outside Philly.

Penny

Hi, I am in Philly and saw one yesterday. He didn't stay long enough for a picture but I am hoping he will come back!!

I finally saw my first hummer today. He was just adorable. He was eating from the azeleas but I don't think he even tried my feeder? I only saw him once in the afternoon so I don't know if he is just migrating or lives around here. But at least I saw one!

I saw my first one yesterday in south central PA. They usually show up at my feeders on May 1.

Still watching for my first. Can't wait!

Deb

I live in new york state and i had my first little boy yesterday... I have not seen him today so he may have been migrating and just passing by..I sure hope he comes back or maybe he will tell the rest of his friends to come to my house!!

Are they that fond of azaleas? I have many red azaleas including one 8' across. I guess I don't need to worry about getting their attention.

Hello harryshoe. I guess they will at least come to the azeleas. I will ask him if he is really fond of them next time I see him......(LOL). I have azaleas all across the front of my house in white, red, purple and pink. When they all bloom (like right now) it is a show stopper cause they look brillant. They will only last that way a week or so then their colors will start to fade off. I got so excited the other day when I saw him that I went to Waterloo gardens (on Route 30 - Lancaster Avenue....not far from 202) and purchased B&B Salvia, Bee Balm, Gartenmeister Fuschia - which they have tons of for 4:99 a pot (they are about a foot high already and have blooms) and a hibiscus plant with giant red flowers. This hummingbird hobby is now getting expensive ;) cause I had to purchase some giant containers to put this stuff in since my gardens are already planted and full! Have you seen one yet harryshoe?

Carol - I saw my first on Sat. 4/29. I little male checking out my honeysuckle!

I saw one at a feeder in Ridley Creek State Park in Delaware Co back on 4/22. I don't use feeders currently, and so don't expect to see them at my place until later this month (although I have many blooms out for them already!).

****big smiles**** I apologise in advance if this is long but I've had a very wonderful day with hummingbirds. I really didn't know if it could be great around here since I really only see alot of them in August ..... one or two before, but I got lucky this year. It looks like I got my wish. From 8:30 this morning when I woke up they were here at my red feeder every 15 minutes or so. 1 Male and 1 Female (at least) since I only met them today I'm not exactly sure yet. They didn't bother with the azeleas today....only the red feeder. They ignored the yellow feeder completely UNTIL I moved it to the back yard. Then they got all curious about where it went and what were the funny looking chimes there in it's place? They even made the chimes ring by buzzing them. Another time 1 was checking out the pond from every angle.

In the yellow feeder there was red nectar (the kind you just mix with water instantly). I got rid of it (since I've recently red it might not even be good for them) and I filled it with fresh sugar water and hung it on the willow in the backyard. Who knows if they will find it?

I want to thank this forum because I learned so much about how to attract them and I'm thinking it may have worked :)

Yipppppeeeeeee!
Carol

Carol - isn't that great????!!! Congrats on your hummers! I saw my little male last evening. Hadn't seen one for a week and was glad he was back buzzing and perching.

I think once they find you have things out for them, then if they survive the migrations, they apparently will return to your place - sometimes earlier (which was my case this year and even last when my very first wasn't until August the year before that).

That's a cute story about the feeder move. I've noticed that birds in general very much imprint where their feeding, nesting, and watering sites are and will fuss when things change! Heck, I do the same thing if someone suddenly changes things I'm used to!!! LOL

Hi Jenny,
Oh that is great that yours have come home too. I'm busy now trying to tell the differences between the individual birds but they are so fast I think it will take some time for me. I'm in love with them already though .... they will ALWAYS be able to count on fresh nectar from me :)

Jenny - So good to hear that you had earlier hummers than August of previous years! I am so hoping the for the same thing to happen here in Milford CT! All my friends have theirs- Last year was the best year for me - had hummers (only say one at a time but knew I had some different ones) from August 15 throught Oct 11! Keeping my fingers crosssed and tryin to stay patient - hard sometimes! BTW I too have lived in PA and miss my husbands home state!

Carol
Milford CT

I'm thinking that if they nest nearby then you have a better chance at them being regulars during the summer. Last year when my female became a regular, I speculated that her nest was pretty close - maybe in one of the big shrubs or trees in front of my apt. building (there are pear and cherry trees, a holly tree, a forsythia hedge, etc). I had noticed how they would suddenly appear from below to get to my feeder and when done, would literally dive straight down towards the ground. I hope that maybe I can get one to nest on my balcony. I have plenty of shrubs for them to use if they want the nest hidden. It would be a HECKUVA lot better than the pigeons that keep trying to nest there! LOL

So glad you all are having visitors. But I'm the one who started this thread and I HAVEN'T HAD ONE YET!!! My feeder is just outside my kitchen window where I can see it entering the kitchen and when I'm in the kitchen. I can see it in a mirror as I'm at the sink. I watch that thing constantly. Do you think it's a case of a "watched pot never boils"?

Still waiting...

Deb in PA

Deb - I bet it is a watched pot!

But have you also tried planting any flowers near your feeder that they are known to like? I've noticed that when mine first came in 2004, 2005, & this year, they went to the flowers first, buzzing around them for a few days whenever they appeared, and then they finally started going to the feeder. Even if you go to a local nursery and pick up a fuchsia or make a container of red-flowering plants, that might peak their interest to hang around and finally come regularly to your feeder.

I am probably in one of the least likely places for them to go to - the 18th floor of a hi-rise - so IMHO, you definitely have a better chance than me to get them to your spot!

Deb,
I am not in SE Pa but a little further north in Western NY 90 miles from Erie and 12 miles between Buffalo and Niagara Falls on either side of me. They are all around me and have even been recorded on the migration map in my town but I have not seen the first one yet. I have more plants than sense (not all blooming of course) and I have 4 feeders up each on a different side of my house. Plants that are in bloom right now are 4 Lady in Red Salvias, a basket of trailing verbena, 3 bleeding hearts and two Garetenmeister fuchsias, red tulips, one hot pink azalea bush and a 2nd one about to bloom and the jacob's ladder and native columbines are just coming into bloom., The Coral honeysuckle is forming flower buds and the lily of the valley is starting to bloom also. I also have a dozen cannas to go out and 12 more fuschias along with several flats of young salvia and agastaches.
I have a small yard for my area but I also have a heavily wooded lot behind my yard and I recently set up my container water feature a few weeks ago....But still no hummers.

Penny

Hey Penny,

I'm not in SE PA either, and don't want to hijack this thread, but did you take a look at the graph I linked to under my Ruby-throat migration--timing Post?

It shows numbers of hummingbirds banded daily at Powdermill Banding station over a span of decades. What's interesting to me, is that although the very first hummingbird sightings in that area are in early to mid April, (according to the hummingbird migration map of first sightings) they don't really start catching them in the nets until early May. The peak in captures doesn't occur until mid May. This shows me that the numbers of hummers are so low at the time of first sightings, that there just aren't enough to be caught in the banding nets. About 4 weeks later, numbers start to increase enough that they start getting their first captures. It isn't until mid May that numbers really start to peak.

I know you're a little behind Powdermill with your migration, but I think the principle still applies. It looks to me as though really decent numbers of hummingbirds may not build up until a full month after the initial sightings. That's why a lucky few people see them so early, but most of us in the northeast may have to wait until mid May, or even later for our first.

I have bleeding hearts about 15 feet away. The other flowers that they like are the hostas which of course are not nearly ready to bloom yet. This is a feeder that was up last year. I have a new feeder on the other side of the house and haven't seen any signs of life there either.

Deb

I was thinking about buying a feeder and a plant for my mom for mothers day and was wondering if I already missed the season to see them in SE PA. If I am not too late i was wondering what type of plant would be good for attracting them (i was hoping to get a plant that would go in a hanging basket). Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hi,
I am just starting out trying to attract with plants this year and now a feeder. From what I have read for a basket maybe Gartenmeister Fucshia would be good and others have had luck with red petunias and the mini petunias (call Calibrachoa hybrid (I think). There are many others and I'm sure more folks will respond in time. I usually don't see them till like August but I have both a male and female at the feeder all day now off and on for the past 5 days.

You are sweet to buy that for your mom.......methinks its a very lovely gift that is sure to please!!! :)

For a hanging basket, I've had luck with trailing geraniums, red of course. You are certainly NOT too late. I haven't had one yet. And they will be here all summer. In the fall, if you are lucky, you will attract the young ones before they head south for the winter. I had two juvenile males last fall. Only saw them for about 2 weeks before they moved on, but they spent a lot of time at the feeder. I think it would be a wonderful Mother's Day gift!

Deb in PA