Purple Martins

[jwcarlson]

Seems kind of cold still here. Guessing a lot of birds are having problems with the weather. What’s the secret to get humming birds? We’ve got a lot of flowering plants in my yard but non flowering yet. Wife put up a humming bird feeder near my bird feeders but haven’t seen any thing.

Might be a little early for hummingbirds yet. I haven't put out feeders yet, but haven't seen them around yet either. I don't usually see them until June. But that could just be my neighborhood. We don't have a ton around, so I find the feeders to be a pain trying to keep them clean and all that. You can harm more than help if you're not on the ball. I usually keep my hummingbird feeder 20+ feet from the other feeders, but not sure if that's necessary. Humming birds follow jewelweed when they head south in the fall, not sure what they follow coming back north in the spring.

[brewmaster15]

The Hummingbirds return to the Northeast timed to when Tubular Flowers are openning..things like Honey Suckles,Azaleas, Rhododendrons,and Columbine. Not all flowers have nectar for them.. Mine have returned here already so I am sure yours have Tom.


Good plants for them.
Fuschia
Orange Jewel weed
Petunia
Impatiens
Bee Balm
Orange Trumpet flower/vine
Phlox
Columbine
Salvia
Azalea
Red Cardinal Flower
Rhododendron
Lupine
Mountain Laurel
New Jersey Tea
Anise Hysop
Honey Suckles

Humming bird feeders



Oh and this is a cool site...

https://www.hummingbirdcentral.com/h...-migration.htm

[Iminit]

Thanks again Al! Have to check those plants. Honey suckle is bad for dogs. Have it growing all around me. Yes many pics of hummingbirds on the sites. So they’re here. Think I’ll move that feeder to the other side of the yard. See how it goes. I’m learning here! Set up a bird feeder last week and had 3 sparrows show up. They were regular for a few days. Thought I was doing the right thing. Than some catbirds (always think of the cat dog cartoon) and gackles. Than the blue jays and cardinals. Now I’ve got and no kidding about 30 sparrows 10 gackels 2 mourning doves and any other straggler that can squeeze it beak in there!! Even pigeons. The feeder got dirty with the ran last night. So I cleaned one up and refilled it. The other is just a bad design and needs a complete wash. Put the one up and it’s big! Was empty in an hour!! What have I created!! Now they’re all out there waiting for me to refill it.IMG_3269.jpg. Thinking Hitchcocks the birds!

[brewmaster15]

English house sparrows are a pain. .. that butterfly bush should bring you some nice critters.

For bird feeders.. where we are your best option for seed is black oilseed and sunflower seed .. you will get the best action with that. and the english house sparrows tend to ignore it.

This kind of feeder..

0516242040b~2.jpg

is best.. seeds stay dry and its engineered to close holes if squirrels and other heavy critters try to use it.

thistleseed is good for finches as well..

[Second Hand Pat]

Sounds like you need a larger feeder Tom
Pat