Gosh, I have never kept track but I know that I don't go through that much sugar! How many feeders do you have, Frank?

legendlake: Wow, just noticed that I had six 96 ounce 8 port feeders up from May 16th to June 28th last year and added two 48 ounce 6 port feeders on June 28th.

So far this year I've only had four of the 96 ounce 8 station feeders up. Guess I'd better get more out of the basement filled and hung to give more birds a chance at the feeders!

Frank

Here is a link that might be useful: Frank's Hummingbird Photo Album

Frank - You are starving those birds! Just kidding. Some of us only put 8 ounces of nectar into 2 feeders and even that doesn't come close to being used up.

I put 8 oz out and change it every 3 or 4 days. Even tho I see hummers feeding, when I clean the feeder and put in new nectar, I can't even tell any has been used. I suppose those of this who see one at a time on a small feeder would go out of our minds watching several feeders with several hummers at once.

Deb in PA

Frank,

How long has it taken you to get the birds coming to your feeders? Have you always had them in great numbers or have they increased a little each year?

The reason I ask is because I'm on the migration route for them (Rockport, Texas), so I get them in great numbers for the fall migration, then spring is pretty good, but during the summer and winter I only notice maybe a dozen or so.

I have noticed over the years (this will be our tenth year at this house for hanging feeders), that the numbers seem to increase each year. I have read that the hummers will keep coming back to the same places during migration. Do yours migrate?

Last fall, from late August until mid-November, I believe that I went through about 50 pounds of sugar. I keep out about 24 feeders and have to fill them 3 times a day during the height of the fall migration.

Linda

Linda: We've been here for four years and have had swarms of hummers every year. Have a couple that stay year round, (We're in the mountains above Palm Springs, CA at the 5,000 foot level and do get snow.), but mostly start getting visitors in February, then get REAL BUSY in July through September during the fall migration period. We've used as much as 50 pounds of sugar in a week, but last year we only used 50 pounds in 8 or 9 days a few times and never reached the 50 pound a week level.

I just can't image using this much sugar Frank. I am using more this year but on a fraction of what you use.

Ya know Frank...with all that sugar your hummies go through I would have invented a hummie trough - something easier to fill and clean :o)

Then again, when I see photos of those hummie swarming around your feeders I think making a hummie trough is a bad idea - they are sure to push and shove one another into it and then you'd end up with sticky hummies!!!

Never thought I'd catch a hummie free dipping but here's the proof. I put several of these garden stakes out in the corners of my yard last year to get attract bees away from my feeders and as a means of getting rid of that red nectar. These were filled to the top but the bees drank and drank until they drowned. That still didn't stop this curious hummie.

~ Cat =^..^=

Hey Frank,
Well, I just figured out why I haven't seen any hummingbirds at my house- cause they are all at your house. lol

Miracle

Frank - as always - you leave me in "awe" when I see your pictures. My one little guy is still with us in RI .. will miss him when he moves on.
Cat - tks for the tip on the bee problem - will find something like that to use this week as the bees have been terrible.

Wow Frank! That's a lot of sugar. I wish that I had more hummers year round!