Tuesday, July 10, 2012

The Chuparosa Challenge-There's No Place Like Home

The Male Ruby Throat

Greetings all,
This was the post I was most worried wouldn't happen on vacation.  Many of you have just one hummingbird in your area, but would you be surprised to discover that it's the one hummingbird that doesn't come to Arizona?  And so for me, this post was critical since it was a challenge for myself.  Plus I love the title.  Yes today it's all about the Ruby Throated Hummingbird and hummingbird feeders.  While the pics aren't my hummingbird best, they'll do for this challenge considering this post almost never happened:)

I'm going to write about the experience as it was a true challenge.  People everywhere LOVE hummingbirds.  People buy feeders and place them up in different areas.  And what I'm about to share is my own personal experience with hummingbirds and it probably might be different for several of you.  My mother and I got into a little discussion about hummingbird feeders.  She had a fancy million dollar feeder that hasn't attracted any hummingbirds......and part of it may have to do with the fact that she hasn't switched the juice out for several weeks. 

Everyone had feeders out, but not a one was touched. I was losing time over the course of a week or so and it really came to the last day of our trip.  I think I would have been majorly disappointed had this post not happened.  In a panic, I purchased the cheap feeder because that's the one they love.  I've purchased the fancy dancy ones and they simply don't come to them.  The minute I purchased the cheap ones, I had hummingbirds all over my yard with 2 families nesting in our trees back in Tucson. They have become a part of the garden there....their cheep cheep....VROOOM!!!   None of it happening in TR!
Female Ruby Throat
On our trip, I placed my personal feeder to where I thought they would show up. Again, everyone had feeders and reported seeing one a week ago, etc. etc.  But it wasn't regular. This was like constipation for me after several days of eating cheese curds! So what was going on??!!!  I went to areas with my personal feeder and placed it everywhere and left if for days. Nothing.  Even more difficult was the absence of their voices around me.

So on my last day of vacation, on a visit to my Grandma's house near the woods.....I heard the sounds of the Ruby Throated Hummer!!!   If I told you how long I  sat waiting for this hummer to show up on my off time from family, you may have laughed.  This was serious business.  So I get to my Grandma's house and I see that she has 3 plain ol' feeders hanging off her deck.  While chatting with her, I had my camera ready on deck for this hummer.  Finally!!!  After almost a week and half, both male and female Ruby come and feed!!!!  I was so happy.  Grandmother knows best.  We sat discussing plain vs fancy hummingbird feeders and we both agreed that the fancy ones don't work.  While sitting, the hummers regularly came to visit and it was really really exciting. 

I think I understand why people get excited about hummers.  That one visit makes everyone smile....and the chance of seeing one on a feeder is amazing.  I don't take our hummers for granted but they are always around me 24/7....on my hikes, at my home....everywhere.  And they are all different.  But when you have only one species in your area....and it's the one you're looking for.....it really exposes me to how everyone feels about their one variety of hummer in most parts of the States and Canada.....special.  Now why this particular hummer doesn't come to Arizona and all the rest do???  Well it's their migration pattern.  They are spotted everywhere along the Eastern side of the country.  Some are spotted in Arizona once and awhile, but most cling to the cooler environments.  If you look at their migration patterns, you'll see a definite line from where the Ruby Throats travel. Link here
Beware of fancy dancy hummer feeders.  It may be attractive to the human eye but doesn't always attract the hummer.  This one was difficult to fill as well.  Plus you have to use a red dye.  Too much work!  And it hasn't attracted hummers to my parent's garden.
On my hummingbird guide for Arizona, this hummer isn't even in the book!!  So it was super important to get this one time sighting for this year on film.  Granted they aren't like my other hummingbird shots up close because Grandma does come first:)  But I did succeed in the challenge.  And the moral of the story.....go with the cheaper feeders.  You'll have more traffic.  My Grandma approves this message:)
A young 81!  She was my age when she became a Grandma.  In fact, I gave her the title:)!! That's the first nephew making her Great Grandma. 

38 comments:

  1. Again, I don't get the time to go and see them, Hummingbirds are terrific birds. Well photographed.

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    1. Hopefully, I'll have better next time:) Thanks for stopping by:)

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  2. Qué bellos son los Colibrís.. Que pena aquí no hay.. Sniffff!!!... :-)

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    1. Pero hay otros aves en su pais que son magnificos que no tenemos aqui:) Tal vez podemos cambiar lugares por unas semanas:)

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  3. I am glad you finally saw the hummer at your Grandma's feeder. I wish more species of hummers were here in Maryland, I only see the Ruby Throated. And yes I buy the cheepy feeders. I just wish the squirrels and raccoons would lay off of them. I enjoyed this post and your photos, have a great day.

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    1. The visual of a racoon on the hummingbird feeder=horrified! How in the world do those chunky monkeys get on them??? I imagine it's kind of a funny image:) after you get over the hummingbird nectar all over the ground!

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  4. Well done on meeting your challenge Chris :) and lovely to read how you went about. The photos are just wonderful.

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    1. Oh my goodness Robin.....I'm getting scared. I'm getting to the bottom of the barrel to the tricky ones. I've got some easier ones yet to spot...the Lucifer, Rufous, and Blue Throated....but then.....oh....Star Capped is everywhere right now and not in one area nor near feeders making this one the trickiest. Berylline and White Ear will also be tricky. But I'm keeping my eyes open:)

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  5. I love that hummingbirds always keep us on our toes, we never take them for granted. Mine fly right by the hummingbird feeder, preferring to use my monarda and honeysuckle instead. I love that you have a love of nature in common with your Grandma :)

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    1. Honeysuckle is a popular vine for hummers. Some they love more than others. The best part is catching them with the camera while they are feeding from them....it's tricky to catch because they seem to do it when I don't have the camera:)

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  6. The fancy feeder you picture doesn't have a perch for them to sit on. That's the key! Like the rest of us, they really like to sit down when they eat! They will drink for nanoseconds at a feeder like this but one with a perch they often stay for megaseconds! Also the sugar water gets rancid if it's not changed out frequently, particularly during the hotter days. And just think - ruby-throated are the only hummers we get here in East Texas - and it's certainly far from cool here!

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    1. I had never thought about that Kathy!!! You are absolutely right about this!!! There is another feeder that they like even better than the one I have. The flat round one with red top is extremely popular and used in the canyon areas around us. My Mom's feeder is too much of a hassle to clean and change. During the cleaning, a chain got caught on the metal. Too much fuss!:)

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  7. I totally agree with Grandma. Tried fancy feeders, one hand blow glass had not red and I tied a red bandana on it plus put a cheapo next to it before the hummers would come near. They are magical.

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    1. I had this beautiful hand blown piece that hung by my window....never had one single hummer. I put the cheapo one out and bam!! Hummers galore:) I have a magnet on me. This weekend I walked out the door in search of a certain hummer and one flew right by my face and hovered for about a minute. I smiled and laughed. They must think I'm one of them....or it could have been the bright blue shirt:)

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  8. Got the Ruby on the list then Chris :-) how many Hummer species is that you've found now, we need some stats on your next post :-)

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    1. That's a great a point Warren. You've given me an idea for that post. It's been really interesting because I've been finding certain hummers in different areas....several inhabit all of them while others just stick to one or two. This has been a fun challenge:) Thank you again for the ideas:)

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  9. Wonderful shots! They are a highlight in my days. Your Grandma looks sweet...and wise! :)

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    1. She's a lot of fun. And she makes great Bloody Mary's:)

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  10. So glad you saw them in the end and got some great photos Chris! I know you've heard it before ;-) but of all the birds in the world hummingbirds are the ones I would most like to have here, I have a craving for them!!!

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    1. I wish we all could just have a magic birder plane ticket. It would take us everywhere for one year to explore the world and all of the special places. We were on a secret island at this time last year....and I saw my first Mannakin birds. It was very special and it changed the way I saw birds. I have so much more about these birds from South America in the next update. Incredible group of birds! But then again, there are so many more to see:)

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  11. Great advice, I use the cheap feeders too. We have two different hummers here and they fight over the feeders. Fun to watch. There are enough feeders and flowers in the neighborhood so they get plenty to eat. We love their sounds. They love our oak trees too.

    I think the fancy feeder needs more red on the base.

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    1. There must be something about the Oak trees. I found another nest again this weekend up in Mt. Lemmon. I love watching the momma care for them:) You are right about the red....not enough on that particular feeder....too dark.

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  12. amen to the cheaper feeders. i've gotten one or two of the fancy glass globe ones and i don't like 'em either. the cheap plastic ones get the most traffic. sadly, this year my SQUIRRELS have found them and drink from the ones in the trees.

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    1. I am surprised that your squirrels are going after these feeders!!! That would be quite the site:) They get into everything, don't they?:)

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  13. Oh well done indeed, you got your shot and spent time with your Grandma too..bonus!! I know what you mean though, a while back (if you look back a bit you'll find it) when I was walking along the beach path i spotted a flash of blue in the scrub and out popped a little blue fairy wren, almost impossible to spot here, I whipped up my camera and just clicked, was pretty pleased with the result but more excited just to see the gorgeous little bird. I have to say your bird feeder may be a cheap old thing, but it sure is purty!! Had to laugh you were the only one who understood my title today!!

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    1. Just because of that title, I had to rewatch the movie last night. I'm really excited about the new movie coming out. That and the Hobbit in December. I like the sound of the Blue Fairy Wren. Beautiful name. I've seen quite a few wrens this past weekend but none of them blue:) But sometimes it's not about the perfection of the picture....just the catch! That's what this post was about. I have 2 other challenges scheduled that have some wonderful closeups.....I was just happy to spot the Ruby Throat during this particular challenge:)

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  14. Ruby Throated are the main hummers in our area.... I always get excited when I see something else.... ha ha

    I had 5 feeders (all cheap) ---but now there are only 2 up (since we just don't have many hummingbirds around here this year---sigh!).... I keep the liquid changed regularly --but so far, not many here... Darn it!!!!

    Great pictures... Have a great day. We are STILL waiting on RAIN. It went all around us last night.. Grrrrrr.
    Betsy

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    1. I know. I've had to switch out the liquid in ours because it's so hot and starts to create mold. On top of that, we have a certain woodpecker spilling out all the fluid onto the ground:) Hope you get some rain. We are waiting here as well. We had some on the 4th but the temps are 110+. Our plants are tough but still they need some water:)

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  15. Fantastic shots, Chris. I have only seen one hummer this year. I should get a feeder like yours.

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    1. I definitely would try it out. What a difference it made by switching the feeder! I've seen them as cheap as 6 bucks....maybe less. The round flat ones are highly desired by the hummers and seem to be the most popular of feeders by people. The second most popular is the one above that I purchased for my parents. I love ours because they come right to the dining room window. Get plastic. Glass is nice but it can break in a windstorm or if you have some bad neighbors like I do who will just smash it all over the ground.

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  16. I miss hummers terribly. I've got columbines everywhere and it's so odd not to see one EVER anymore. I'd dump the coloured water and opt for natural water unclorinated. I use to simply boil water and add raw sugar. I never gave them the bleach sugar if I wouldn't take it for myself. Also I always added orange extract and/or mint extract for a bit of flavouring.

    I planted heavily with natives that hummers liked and noticed that many of them were fragrant like SSan Diego native Cleveland Sage. So I figured the hummers don just want sweet syrup, they also want variety in flavour too, just like us. A month after doing this I got my greatest show of hummers of between 60 & 70. I had a friend there to help me count. It sounded like a swarm of giant bumblebees.


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    1. That's a great suggestion. Thanks for sharing that info....I know several people who use the unbleached sugar and have great results. So brown water is okay:) And you're right...the Cleveland Sage, Texas Ranger, and the magnificent Firecracker bush! I can only imagine how exciting it was to see that many flying around. It's quite the show. I've seen several areas around the canyons like Brown that were FULL of hummers. Amazing show!

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  17. Meredith at Great Stems warns vehemently against using metal for hummingbird feeders. If the metal rusts that can kill the birds.

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    1. And yet another great tip about having a feeder. Look what at the tips from everyone...
      1. No metal on the feeders
      2. Unbleached sugar
      3. A little perch
      4. No dye in the water
      Wonderful tips! Thanks for sharing this info:)

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  18. I have a cheap feeder and I have a mason jar feeder with a fancy flower tube thing that goes through the flat used when canning that has perches. It has metal and I've had hummers on it and on the cheap all plastic one. I never feel like the plastic one cleans as nice as a glass one. So great that you got your hummer photos and we should all listen to our grandmas more!

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  19. It is almost always funny reading your posts. Your words made me smile. Bird feeders are not customary done here but i love watching those birds in the tree branches, although of course we dont have those hummingbirds. But we also have its counterparts and they are noisy too. Congratulations for your success in being patient. And your grandma surely is happy for you too!

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  20. I wish I got humming birds in my garden,but no chance in England.

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  21. I'm going to be checking out if there is somewhere close to Tracy and I where they have feeders out. Where I have mine in the yard, picture taking is a bust because I'm looking out into the light all the time.

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Thanks for stopping by!