I have a variety of feeders set up. As you saw, some are attracted to certain types. Or it could be coincidence.

From what I saw last year, they will eventually get to all the feeders. Even several of them feeding at the same time at different feeders. The main thing I do is that when there isn't much visible activity yet, including draining of the sugar solution when I'm not looking, I don't fill it up all the way. Unlike bird seed in a bird feeder that is waiting for birds to discover it, sugar solution can't stay so long, so don't need to waste a full feeder if the hummers aren't drinking it much yet.

The old feeders are ones I've had and used for a few years. They all seemed to get regular use up until this season. The new one still seems to be the only one getting used at this point, but I'm still cleaning and refilling all of them every few days. I don't fill all the way as I know the solution won't get all used up in just a few days. I'm just going to keep my fingers crossed that they venture back into the old ones soon.

My new feeders-red glass -lot more action. And comes cleaner easy to take apart. Got 4 out.

The best feeder for me is the one with big red flowers and yellow bee guards. It also has a perch under each flower. They rarely use them. Once a hummer came in for the first time and sat on the perch for almost 20 minutes. Poor thing was pooped out. Must have just migrated.

zzackey, yes it's a hard life for them. Poor little things. I'm glad we can help out.

I am new to hummingbird watching and it is a big thrill to my day when I get to see them. I only have one pair coming to a feeder in our wooded backyard. At any rate, it appears that I have only one pair visiting a feeder-and have 4 feeders out in different spots in the yard. Since we live in Ohio,

I got a number of annuals that are red-including a red vine plant, a big pot of red impatiens, etc.

My questions: As the summer progresses, is it likely that more hummers will come to the other feeders? (some of my friends in different states are getting hoards of them)

-I notice that the two hummers seem to come at the same times each day-I see them at 7:05 am, around 12 noon and in the evening at 7;40 PM. Is there usually a specific interval of time that hummers eat?

Thanks to anyone and everyone for the great informative posts and thanks in advance for any answers tom y questions.

Hi, Marilyn. I'll try to answer some of your questions:

1. I see them at about the same time every day. They stock up for the day early in the morning and at dusk, so yes, you'll see them then.

2. The books say for every one you see there are 5 more out there. So you could have up to 10. Your wooded/grass area is perfect for them as they zip in and out of the trees to feed.

3. More hummers are seen after the end of June, and then lots of them migrating south in August and September. I go from two to three this time of year to a dozen or so at one time in late August. So you'll definitely want the extra feeders out then. They can drain a feeder dry in a couple of days then.

4. BTW they remember where there was food last year, so if you feed them this year you'll be a stop on their way next year as well.

Good look with your hummer watching. As you say, it's a thrill to see the tiny things come for something you've provided.

Thank you so very much for all of this helpful information. I greatly appreciate your time and knowledge. I was starting to think the extra feeders were not needed because the hummers only came to one feeder-now I will make sure to leave them out too.

Marilyn, you might not need 4 extra feeders now, maybe only 1 extra. Use your judgment, but definitely add more extra from July on. I keep 4 up so I can see them from different places in the house, then put up a couple of extra later on.

BTW, there's a lot of feeder-guarding and fighting over feeders that goes on during migration. You'll see one come to feed, then right after he lands a second one will swoop by and buzz him at 60 miles an hour and scare him off. So I try to have a couple out of sight of each other so the little guys can feed while the big boss is guarding the other. Those feeders are life to them, so they fight to protect them, just as you would to protect your bank account. However, once the migration starts you do see some sharing as well as fighting.

PS you will love the swooping and buzzing and and chasing and flying around that goes on in August and September. Just brings your yard to life. I think they do it as much for fun and joie de vivre as for feeding because you'll often see a third join in a chase started by another bird.

Once again, massive gratitude for your incredible help.

I have one more question-albeit probably a silly one. When I was cooking dinner tonight, I got new feeder for a hook that sits directly in front of my kitchen window, (where I also had just hung a flowing plant (the one they seem to prefer at the other place they come to). At any rate, as my luck would have it my hubby did not put the feeder in front of the window as I requested. He putit in the back of our woods.Within moments I saw a hummer come right up to the flowering plant in front of the kitchen window-sucked at the flowers, and flew off. I know if the feeder was there he would have come to it. Question is, do you think its likely the hummer will come back to that spot in front of the window (where I now have the feeder correctly placed) or not?

I am so encouraged with your comments about more coming at the end of June into July and August-I can hardly wait.

I cant thank you enough for your kind and helpful replies, and for yur time.

Sincerely-Marilyn in Ohio

Marilyn, you're more than welcome. About whether they would come back-- they are always on the look-out for food, so that's a yes. OTOH, if there's other places they like better, they might never get around to it. Or you might not be there when they come. You just have to try.

It would be wonderful to see them feeding right outside your window! My feeders are maybe 10 feet from a window, but even so,. the least movement in the house and they are off. They do seem to favor places where there's a tree or large bush maybe 8 or 10 feet away where they can lurk and watch before they come to feed and get back to fast. They are a lot bolder during migration when there's more competition for food.

There are studies that show they favor a feeder that has a stronger solution, say 3:1 or even 2:1 over the standard 4:1. So to entice them, you could try a stronger mix. However, for the stronger solution they don't have to come as often, so that might be a wash. I use 3:1.

You'll learn a lot as you try different things, find out what yours respond to. I'm glad for you that you are having so much luck so early in the season and so soon after starting. You have a perfect place for them.

This year, I don't have so many visitors yet but last year, I also feel that the same bird comes at the same time to the feeder, within a few minutes of each time. I could look out at around that time and see him every time. I can't tell the birds apart yet other than from their behavior. For example, the reason I know this was the same bird is that he always goes to perch at the same place after drinking a bit.

Thanks again for all the helpful advice. I did put a feeder up right outside my kitchen window and sure enough a hummer was there. He and she return to it alot. You are so right when you say what a thrill it is to see them so close by, and also how everyone wathching has to avoid moving. I have to say seeing hummers is a tremendous new joy in my life and I appreciate the comments and help from all of you other hummer lovers with alot me experience that I have.