Hummingbird feeder troubles

[JB]

This is the time of year that this begins, and it gets worse until they move on south.

With nights in the 50s and 60s the nectar cools to air temp.

Hummingbirds cannot fly unless their body temp exceeds 89*F.

Many of these little beggars will come to the feeder in the first, pre-dawn light and suck up enough microliters of the cool nectar to drop their body temp below 89*F.

They sit on the perch as though in a trance. If frightened or attacked by another hummer they drop to the ground. That could be very hazardous.

When I see this I pick them up and warm their little bodies in my hand until they can fly off my finger, back into circulation. If I don't see them or just leave them alone they seem to recover anyway. I haven't found any dead ones and I don't have a dog or cat to pounce on them when they fall.

After roosting all night with their speedy metabolism they are hungry. This is one of the two times of the day that they really swarm the most. I have considered taking the feeders in until dawn, but I worry that they are not getting needed calories to survive.

Any other suggestions?

 

[57whitehouse]

Re: Hummingbird feeder troubles

put a warmer on the feeder

 

[QC]

Re: Hummingbird feeder troubles

What about focusing a light on the feeders? Would cost some $, but might be just enough to keep them warmer. Here's a couple of more pics too as I am trying to get a handle on this third species, plus wonder if you have a meaner species than others. Absolutely for me the Rufous are the nastiest. They absolutely try to get everybody else out of the way before they feed. They usually give up, but the younger Ruby's will just take off and the older ones know they're in for a fight. Probably the most fun part of this is these little Rufous and they are definitely the smallest.

Typical example of a Rufous challenge. Always with the tail flared.

I thought both of these were Ruby Throats.

I guess I thought this was a Ruby Throat as well.

Oh, oh, I mentioned this on one of the other Hummer threads. Do you guys pull your feeders in for the Winter? Somewhere I read that you should to insure that they migrate? With my weather I could imagine they would stay active here all year . . .

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Hummingbird feeder troubles

QC, you shouldn't have any Ruby Throats that far West. I believe they are Broad Tailed Hummers instead. JB's place is about as far West as Rubys venture.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Hummingbird feeder troubles

The idea of a warming light is a good one...give it a try.

 

[QC]

Re: Hummingbird feeder troubles

DR,

I guess it could be either, but the sites I have looked at show Rubies and Broad Tails both as indigenous to CA, however, now that I look deeper into it they may actually be Anna's as the same site says that they are the most populous in SoCal . . .

Also what I have called Rufous could actualy be Allen's, so I am totally confused. Neither looks exactly like the tail I see.

Sorry JB, I am trying to make up for the new list of non-allowed topics . . .

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Hummingbird feeder troubles

I think your Rufous ID is correct. They have a reputation for being very aggressive and Allens have a distinctive green patch on their backs. Anna's entire heads are red and the birds in your pic have green caps. So... They could be Ruby transplants I guess. I've never heard of them in CA though. I still think their Broad Tails.

 

[JB]

Re: Hummingbird feeder troubles

My key to IDing ruby throats is their tail when on the perch. It has a V shaped notch not shared with similar species, and no white spots on the tail feathers.

 

[Waffle]

Re: Hummingbird feeder troubles

I don't pull my feeders until there are no more birds. The ones migrating from further North need some energy too.

 

[QC]

Re: Hummingbird feeder troubles

My key to IDing ruby throats is their tail when on the perch. It has a V shaped notch not shared with similar species, and no white spots on the tail feathers.

Like the one in pic #2 above?

 

[JB]

Re: Hummingbird feeder troubles

Hard to say, as he isn't perching, but I think a more pronounced V than that.