Questions on Hummingbirds

19 years ago

Hi, everyone. I'm new on this forum, altho I've been on the Butterfly Gardening forum for a long time now. Hence, it's only natural that I should attract a hummer or two in my pursuit of butterflies and moths.

Yes, I grow a lot of plants that are attractive to hummers as well as butterflies and moths.

I used to hang a feeder in my front yard, on a triangular shaped lath that extends from my house to where my honeysuckle "tree" grows. The ants always got in it, so I've learned on the FAQs how to deter them.

However, I rarely got any hummmers. But one! This little guy or girl is one I always see in late summer. It's very friendly, and will hover about 3' from my face when I'm sitting on the front porch. I don't know what species it is, but it has a lot of irridescent green coloration.

My neighbor used to have tons of trumpet vine on the side of his house, but he removed it all last year. I am growing another two or three of them to sustain the hummers. One has reached flowering stage, and the other two are smaller, and perhaps will bloom next year. I also grow hibiscus, allamanda, datura, red sages, lots of zinnias, cosmos, passion flower, cassia alata, and milkweed (of course, for the Monarchs).

This hummer returns each year, about the same time of year, in July-September. Is it the same one? How long do they live?

I have a huge backyard, but it is partly shady. What can I plant to attract the hummers that will take part shade. Will they even come into the backyard if it is shady? Should I hang feeders back there, too? It is pretty protected, and even though it is a south facing yard, there are numerous hackberries, elms, bradford pear (yuck!), and a contorted mulberry tree. The last two are my trees, and the others surround the backyard and belong to the neighbors. I have lots of protection for many birds and always have a family of wrens, mockingbirds, cardinals (mate for life), robins, and the ubiquitous sparrows.

I don't feed the birds in the summertime because I want them to eat the bugs. I don't spray chemicals AT ALL because of the butterflies I raise. Monarchs, Black Swallowtails, Giant Swallowtails, Sulphurs, Mourning Cloaks, Question Marks, Commas, Painted Ladies, Red Admirals, etc.

Any suggestions on plants and the life span of hummers?

Susan

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Comments (6)

penny1947
19 years ago
Hummingbird lifespan is still controversial depending on what resource you access. Some say 3-5 yrs and some say much longer. With more licensed master banders being able to band hummers and have them recaptured in later years we are finding that some can have long life spans in the wild (6-12 yrs).

I would definitely hang feeders in your shady garden. You could add azaleas and native columbine for spring flowering, along with coral bells, and impatiens, If you have a place to plant a coral honeysuckle vine, I would recommend that over the trumpet vine. Trumpet vine is very inveasive once it gets started and has been know to grow up into the siding of a house or two or three. If yours are close to the house MOVE THEM!

Penny
hummersteve
19 years ago
Lifespan is like anything else , there is the average and then there is the exception. There are many good sources , but the agreed average is 3-5yrs, but there are documented cases as in the following:

Here is a link that might be useful: hummingbird info
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susanlynne48
Original Author
19 years ago
Well, darn. I have this family of grackles that have moved into my pine tree. I love most wildlife, but these things are raucous and unnerving. I also have tons of mantids. I don't use chemicals or anything in my garden because of the butterflies I raise as well. Any ideas?

The trumpet vine is not located on or near my house. It's on the fenceline between my neighbor's house and my house. My neighbor did get rid of his by using Roundup.

The trumpet vine I have is the peach flowering variety, and is still a baby. I have it growing up a pole on my metal carport. It's low enough that if it crawls over to the house (brick), I can cut it back.

I do want to get a lonicera sempervivens (red honeysuckle). I have a yellow flowering one that has been there for probably 40 years. I need to replant my hibiscus coccinus (Texas Star) because the hummingbirds loved it, but I dug it up and replaced with milkweed.

Thanks for all your tips. I read the article, Hummersteve, and 12 years! Wow! I just wondered because it is just that ONE little hummer that comes to the yard. I think it is a female Rufous. But, I'm not too good at ID'ing them yet. This is one of the four that frequent Oklahoma.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Susan
hummersteve
19 years ago
Susan-- IM a real diehard, I still have a feeder up and refreshed, but havent had any since Oct. 20. Cant wait till april/may---Steve
hummersteve
19 years ago
Penny-- one of my seedlings now measures 1&1/2inches and seems to be quite happy[scarlet sage] It has three sets of leaves and it looks like new growth try to sprout from the top middle. Dont know what Im going to do with it if it survives, Im sure it wont thou. I also have 3others smaller. I just wanted to see how I could do with them, but as you say s.sage is easy to start from seed. Just thought I would update you, later- Steve
susanlynne48
Original Author
19 years ago
That's great! I have seeds of that really tall scarlet sage to plant next spring. It gets about 3-5' tall, I'm told. Hummers and butterflies alike should love that.

I'm already anxious for spring to get here! Y'all are great, and thanks so much for the input.

Susan