wow, you've got it bad! LOL! btw,, do those people need a new housesiter...? ;) that must have been amazing to see.
anyway... have you tried getting some plants that hummers like? i would just get bunch of pots and fill them with native plants.. but of course in austin you'll still probably have to water them every day from june til october. i would get some that are bright red and orange, the bigger & bolder the better. and you can always supplement them with some fake red flowers to get their attention (or if they are in between blooms or whatever). this way they will discover your feeder too. however i must say after seeing a couple last week, after that cold snap, they have disappeared,, except i did see one ONCE since then. so i don't know what's going on.. i've been putting out fresh food for them, and there's native plants out there (AND fake red flowers!) so it must be a slow year or something.
but if you get a good setup for them and be patient just a little longer, they should discover your balcony eventually, i would think.

Bob, Hang in there. It may take them awhile to discover your balcony but I am guessing that they will. We have a hummer gardener from our other forum who lives on the 18th. floor of a highrise outside Philadelphia who has hummers come to her balcony garden and feeders. She has several plants (well lots now) to provide food and places to rest in addition to the feeders. She started with one little brave hummer a few years ago and each year she has a few more come to her balcony garden...it is indeed possible.

Penny

You might try adding a hanging basket or two, I know they are difficult in texas but if you put in some lantana or verbena they would probably do ok as long as you water every day. It does take some time to get noticed but all it seems to take is one bird to find it's way to your deck and others will follow.

It might also be fun to include some of your neighbors in on
the project...even in student housing there should be some Austin greenies who want to attract birds! ;-)

I would also try some tropical hibiscus, with the big red blooms, as well as red Salvia in pots. Those are big attractors, too.

The hummingbirds just love my red hibiscus!

Susan

Bob---hang in there , they will find you its still a little early in the year, a lot of people dont have them yet. They are attracted to anything red. It may take them a while to find you , but they will.

Oh good! The person I was house/hummer/dog sitting for while he was running for governer, told me that he puts all the feeders out on the Ides of March. the 15th and they all come. I did the same and have yet to see a single one. But, thanks to y'all, I'm holding out hope, gonna get more feeders, and Tess, what a brilliant idea!! I'm going to talk to all of my neighbors next to, and below me, and ask If I can place feeders on their balcony!

just remember that the more feeders you put out, the more you'll have to clean every few days....! so if you're up to all that, it's definitely a good idea. you might even inspire some others to do the same.