standard65: We're probably gonna' sell our place as soon as we finish the master bedroom/bathroom remodel and a few other little incidental items. (Guaranteed Hummingbird activity!!!)

Frank

thanks, frank. you could leave the giant cats, but you have to take the tarantula with you! no, I have to stay near nashvegas for now, or maybe atlanta. someone on the forum might seriously take you up on it, though.

You KNOW you are a hummingbird addict when the home you buy must come complete with guaranteed hummingbirds! LOL

My advice? Look for trees and flowers in the neighborhood. The secret is in the flowers.

Standard, IMHO they prefer areas with some trees. However, in the south, they will find a feeder pretty much anywhere one is located.

I think what Oubliette wrote is true for Pennsylvania also hang a feeder and they will show up plant flowers and trees and you will get more. Sarah

Just take your plants with you Standard and your hummingibrds will follow you.

Any place that still has some intact countryside. Here in south Jersey the further folks live from the city and inner suburbs the more hummingbirds they get. If I was looking in Tennessee I'd keep an eye out for big patches of native azalea and other hummer attracting native plants. If they are nearby you're much more likely to be able to pull them into your garden. If I was looking in neighborhoods I'd check for evidence of other gardeners. You see it sometimes, like a communicable disease gardening can spread from one house to another. Even if you don't see evidence of lots of hummingbird plants, other gardeners are at least open the beauty of nectar plants, and I think make better neighbors. My big patch of coral bells came from a neighbor some 20 years ago, as did the tiger lilies, and my next door neighbor grows my crocosmias and fuscia.

Standard,
The first thing I would ask the real estate lady is, to call the homeowner and see if they get any hummers. If the do, go look at the house and if they don't get them, then save yourself a trip. LOL. Seriously I wouldn't move anywhere that didn't have activity.

"My advice? Look for trees and flowers in the neighborhood. The secret is in the flowers."

flowerpowereverett: Location, Location, Location. Our place has almost NO flowers, as is the case for most of the surrounding area around us. We just happen to be right smack dab in the middle of their migration path on a hill and our feeders can be seen by all who pass by!

Frank

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

Frank, I cannot access your photo album. You are correct though, you do have the ideal location.

flowerpowereverett: Sorry 'bout that, here's the correct link . . .

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

Thanks for the link. WOW! I tried to count how many birds were in some of your pictures and lost count. Your place must literally HUM! Were you into birding when you moved in?

Okay, so I was wrong. You need to look for a place on the migration path and have ALOT of feeders!

flowerpowereverett: Yes, I've been into hummingbirds since I was young and lived in Wichita, Kansas. (A LONG time ago!)

Had a few regulars while living in Carlsbad then Oceanside from 1976 to 2001 when we moved up here. Started out with one small feeder, then two, then a couple bigger ones, (Which we could never keep filled!), then more till we finally reached the point of having six of the 96oz feeders and two 48oz feeders last year. Have more of the 96oz size now and plan on increasing the number to 8 or more for this migration season. (Build it . . . and if they can see it they will come!!!!!)

Frank

Here is a link that might be useful: 30 Second Windows Media File

Frank, sorry, could you re send that link please? Thanks

thanks, folks. that's a good idea, birdlegs, to have the broker call the seller and ask.

the reception to this criteria outside our little forum here is likely to be humorous.

so, what are the 3 most important things when opening a hummingbird restaurant?
location, location, location!

I love it. Check to see if there are hummingbirds first. Then look at house.

I wonder how many realtors have ever heard:"the place must have hummingbirds"?

What is really needed is a wildlife garden/neighborhood real estate web site. A place where available properties could be listed. It's an issue with me as my neighbors on either side are now in their 80s and won't be around forever. I would much prefer having a like-minded family move in. And some day I'd love to be able to pass my property on to a gardener. The thought of a lifetime of gardering abandoned to ChemLawn is just too much to contemplate.

flowerpowereverett: If you can't view the Microsoft Media File format, here's a clip in AVI format but it's almost 6meg in size and unless you have a broadband connection it might take quite a while to download and view. It should be able to be viewed with QuickTime or RealPlayer.

Frank

Here is a link that might be useful: 4 Feeders AVI file (5.8meg)

Frank, your feeders appear to be the only things red around your area. I guess they are a beacon for all the hummers passing through. Your photos are amazing and you are very lucky!!! Linda