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Arkansas Granny

(31,483 posts)
Tue Jul 29, 2014, 02:10 PM Jul 2014

Is there any way to estimate how many hummers are visiting a feeder by the amount

of nectar being consumed? I hung a small feeder (12 oz. capacity) at work a few weeks ago that I can see from my desk. Our office is located on an old army base and there is a lot of open country with lots of wildlife. Wow! I have seen as many as 7 hummers at a time in a feeding frenzy around this one little 3 tube feeder and it takes about 24 hours for them to empty it. There is constant traffic at the feeder any usually 2 or 3 waiting in the bushes for their turn. I'm feeding a 4 to 1 solution of sugar water. I'm just curious as to how many birds I'm feeding. They all appear to be Ruby Throated and mostly female. They are just amazing to watch.

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Is there any way to estimate how many hummers are visiting a feeder by the amount (Original Post) Arkansas Granny Jul 2014 OP
I don't know the answer to that, but if I were you, I'd NCarolinawoman Jul 2014 #1
There are some bushes and shrubs near the feeder, Arkansas Granny Jul 2014 #2
FYI. I just did a google on this and came up with the following info: Arkansas Granny Jul 2014 #3
Hey, now that's really interesting! NCarolinawoman Jul 2014 #5
Nom nom nom shenmue Jul 2014 #4
They are amazing locks Jul 2014 #6
I'm going to pick up another feeder this weekend so Arkansas Granny Jul 2014 #7

NCarolinawoman

(2,825 posts)
1. I don't know the answer to that, but if I were you, I'd
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 12:46 AM
Jul 2014

put one or two more feeders out there.

I like the kind with perches so they get a chance to rest.

Arkansas Granny

(31,483 posts)
2. There are some bushes and shrubs near the feeder,
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 06:41 AM
Jul 2014

so they have lots of resting places. You can sometimes spot 2-3 of them preening or just waiting their turn. I'm considering another feeder.

Arkansas Granny

(31,483 posts)
3. FYI. I just did a google on this and came up with the following info:
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 02:01 PM
Jul 2014
http://wildbirdsunlimited.typepad.com/the_zen_birdfeeder/2011/08/faq-how-can-i-estimate-how-many-hummingbirds-i-have.html

Hummingbird experts Nancy Newfield and Bob and Martha Sargent came up with a formula whereby you count the number of hummingbirds you see at one time at your feeders and multiply this number by six to determine how many birds are visiting your feeders. They arrived at this number based on years of banding and color-marking hummingbirds at feeders.

So, it appears that I could have from 42 - 48 different birds visiting my feeder. I've been seeing 4 or 5 at a time on a regular basis. It reminds you of those diagrams you see of the flight patterns of planes when they are circling the airport and waiting to land.

NCarolinawoman

(2,825 posts)
5. Hey, now that's really interesting!
Wed Jul 30, 2014, 08:38 PM
Jul 2014

I'm going to send the link you posted to a couple of friends who I know would like to see this. Thanks!

locks

(2,012 posts)
6. They are amazing
Thu Jul 31, 2014, 05:35 PM
Jul 2014

in the foothills and mountains there are 10-20 hummers at the same time around the feeders and don't mind if people are close by. We usually have a lot more ruby-throats but when a male rufous comes he is much more "feisty" and aggressive, sits on a branch nearby, and tries to scare the ruby-throats away from the feeder. It seems as if the same hummers come to the same feeders year after year (could be their babies I suppose) and they migrate individually. Audubon says to put the feeders out early and leave them up into the fall. The rufous migrates from Mexico to Alaska and back in one season!

Arkansas Granny

(31,483 posts)
7. I'm going to pick up another feeder this weekend so
Thu Jul 31, 2014, 05:50 PM
Jul 2014

there won't be such a bottleneck. The one that's up now holds 12 Oz. and it doesn't last all day.

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