I had two hummingbirds the summer of 2003 and I was so excited.

Summer 2004, I put my feeder out and had one hummer and then nothing all summer. I didn't even see one at my TV or at any other plant that I have out there for them.

Summer 2005, I put my feeder back out and nothing, ziltch! I gave up. After returning from NH in August, where my friend had 5-10 going back and fourth from her feeder and her neighbors, I was re-inspired. Got my feeder all cleaned up and in a few days I saw one and he is coming regularly.

At first I thought it was a female and now I think it's a male. I may be seeing two different birds, but I have never seen them at the same time.

So, here's my theroy. In the summer of 2004 I did not go out of town for any length of time. When I do, like the summer of 2003 and this summer, I set my sprinkler up in the backyard on a timer. This is also where I put my feeder and where the other plants are including my TV. I believe it's the sprinkler that attracts the hummingbirds.

For the last two mornings in a row, I've got to see this liitle guy hover in the sprinker, sit on a lemon tree leaf and bath and hover over a lantana to drink bathe etc. It's truly amazing and probably the cutest thing I've ever seen. He did this one other time shortly after I got back from NH.

He comes to drink at the feeders and the TV.

So - for those of you still trying to attract hummingbirds and are doing everything else right, maybe you could try a sprinkler.

Mine comes on every morning at 8:00 am and stays on for 15 minutes.

I'll tell ya, this little bird (or two) has it made. I've got 4 feeders out, the sprinkler, the TV and a Cardinal Climber plus other plants. 2 of the 4 feeders are not red, one is blue and one is green, but so far he only goes to the red ones.

I hope everyone is enjoying their little friends while we still have them. I'll leave my feeders out until I am sure, sure, sure that he's not coming anymore.