Had our first humming birds of the year at the feeders this morning.

I've been watching for them for several weeks, but none sighted yet here (Northern IL).
However, this morning for a couple of hours, the backyard was a rainbow of colors with Rose Breasted Grosbeaks, Gold finches, White Crowned Sparrows, Cardinals, Red Bellied Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, one Oriole and one Bluebird. Most of them will be gone in a day or two, but some are residents here. I tried to get pictures, but they are skittish. Am so glad I was home to see them all together.

burrow1: "Had our first humming birds of the year at the feeders this morning."

ours was 3 day ago (5/4), we are in SW MI.

I have lived in my current home adjacent to a river flood plain but up on a hill in Des Moines for 29 years. I have been planting to attract birds and butterflies and feed year round. Lots of traffic to enjoy. Orioles and Catbirds are back to the jelly feeder and I spotted the first hummingbird Sunday. Life is good.

QuietWaters: "I've been watching for them for several weeks, but none sighted yet here (Northern IL).
However, this morning for a couple of hours, the backyard was a rainbow of colors with Rose Breasted Grosbeaks, Gold finches, White Crowned Sparrows, Cardinals, Red Bellied Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, one Oriole and one Bluebird. Most of them will be gone in a day or two, but some are residents here. I tried to get pictures, but they are skittish. Am so glad I was home to see them all together."

Wow, what a morning!

burrow1: "Had our first humming birds of the year at the feeders this morning."

Should be any day, here.

Also love that moment later in the season when we get the primary colors together on the feeder: Scarlet Tanager, Goldfinch and Indigo Bunting.

Wife has the feeder out, but we have not been around to watch, much (east central Iowa). If Ben (bhouse) has them in Des Moines, I bet they are around and we need to get watching! For several years, they have nested out on branches of our sugar maple; same tree but a new nest every time. Have heard whitethroated sparrows calling, which is always good music on the way farther north.

I was in the backyard over the weekend in NW Illinois, and I was wearing my BWCA.com hat as usual, and a hummingbird was buzzing my hat, near the orange moose logo.

We have had them here in Arkansas where I live for about 10 days now. Or at least that is the time they have been on my feeders...

Bruce

I have heard reports that they are in the area but I still have not seen them show up at my feeders. Hoping to see them soon!!

Try to find some Black and Blue, or Black and Bloom annual salvia at your garden center. It is definitely the best for attracting hummingbirds. At our garden center, this is where all the hummingbirds flock to, even though they have a choice of thousands of other blooming annuals and perennials.

Yep. The day before yesterday one showed up and hovered near my head to let me know of its arrival. Set out some sugar water, as requested.

We had our first arrival about 10 days ago, here in central Missouri.
If I had to guesstimate the current population; I would say from 10 to 12.
Typically, after all have arrived that will be regulars here, we will have probably 20 of them for several months. Most we've had was about 25.

We have 2 large feeders in the front window, and 2 smaller feeders on the back deck. After all are here, they will typically go thru a quart and a half of sugar water per day.
Have been feeding them here since 2000, when we first moved to our current location.
All are Ruby Throated. We enjoy them immensely.

BOB

Flashback: "We had our first arrival about 10 days ago, here in central Missouri.
If I had to guesstimate the current population; I would say from 10 to 12.
Typically, after all have arrived that will be regulars here, we will have probably 20 of them for several months. Most we've had was about 25.

We have 2 large feeders in the front window, and 2 smaller feeders on the back deck. After all are here, they will typically go thru a quart and a half of sugar water per day.
Have been feeding them here since 2000, when we first moved to our current location.
All are Ruby Throated. We enjoy them immensely.

BOB"



Our first got here 10 days to 2 weeks ago. We have about 6 right now. We have an ongoing struggle with the raccoons raiding the feeders if we leave them out. Found a "Lost" feeder in the creek about 100 yards from the house this winter. Thinking I might put my "Bear rope" and pulley to use on the "Fancy" feeder this summer after we get a few more arrivals? You sure can see they are well named!

"

Saw my first this morning and it surprised me, as we've only had one day over 60 degrees and that was a mere 61 degrees.

burrow1: "Had our first humming birds of the year at the feeders this morning."

Where are you I’m thinking of putting my feeder out this weekend

Great pics from ozarkpaddler. This pic is blurry from cell phone magnification. Turns out these guys aren't shy about sipping from the hummingbird feeders.

I live in south eastern Wisconsin between Watertown and Beaver Dam

I live in NewHaven,Mo. and the humming birds are going crazy. Put 2 feeders out and there draining them in a day. We call it bird tv...!

Our hummer feeders are doing a booming business, as is the company we pay for the sugar. I think the fun of watching them is worth the cost.

Always look forward to arrival of Orioles. Had a big crowd last year; hope for same this year. For those who don't already know; Orioles "love" slices of oranges, and grape jelly.

Saw my first Oriole this morning! Eating old crab apples in our tree. Put out an orange! Saw my first House wren also today!

myceliaman: "I live in NewHaven,Mo. and the humming birds are going crazy. Put 2 feeders out and there draining them in a day. We call it bird tv...!"

Ha! They are fun to watch.

In the past year, I've planted 1 chinkapin oak, 2 scarlet oaks, 3 chestnuts, 5 serviceberries, 1 black walnut, 2 butternuts, 3 black cherries, 3 red pines, 1 shagbark hickory, and 1 shellbark hickory for the critters, both feathered and furry. I'm so excited for the deer when my Dunstan Chesnuts start to bear in five to ten years. Imagine being a deer with an instinctive understanding of the high protein value of a chestnut, but never having tasted one in your life.

burrow1: "I live in south eastern Wisconsin between Watertown and Beaver Dam"

Thanks !

Humming birds and an oriole yesterday just north of the twin towns.

Rescued a Hummingbird from my garage today (east of the Twin Cities). It hugged the ceiling and would not drop down the 18" to exit on its own. Quite the operation.

Also had sort of a rescue today. Hummingbird hit our window and sure looked pathetic and dead flat on it's back. But it was twitching a little bit so I scooped it up with a piece of paper and gently set it down in a shady spot in the garden and thank goodness it was gone when I got back from the YMCA. So beautiful and so delicate.

Sorry if this is too much information but I found it fascinating and was wondering if anyone else has ever experienced this...

A few weeks ago, I woke up and went to the back porch to relieve myself (country house where no one can see me).. A hummingbird was attracted to my urine and actually hung around for the entire duration. I'm assuming the color and the scent drew his interest. They wouldn't actually drink human urine, would they? I was watching for its tongue but didn't see him attempt to drink.

And all this time I've been filling the feeders with sugar water!!!

snakecharmer: "And all this time I've been filling the feeders with sugar water!!!"

HA!

I have had a hummer fly in and perch under the fine water spray from the hose, when I was watering some young arbor-vitae plantings.... That was in fairly warm weather.

All this hummingbird chatter...I thought I'd share this photo of a hummingbird nest right in my backyard in Eagan Minnesota. So special

Wonderful! Enjoy watching the young uns.

Great photo.

Buddy of mine who is a beyond-serious birder discovered that another hummingbird species (one that they get in CO, but not MN) only nests with a 'roof' of a certain configuration of branches, very similar to what I see in your photo.

Was just in Ecuador where I believe they have 144 hummingbird species...saw maybe 20 of them.

They are just the coolest of birds.

QuietWaters: "I've been watching for them for several weeks, but none sighted yet here (Northern IL).
However, this morning for a couple of hours, the backyard was a rainbow of colors with Rose Breasted Grosbeaks, Gold finches, White Crowned Sparrows, Cardinals, Red Bellied Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, one Oriole and one Bluebird. Most of them will be gone in a day or two, but some are residents here. I tried to get pictures, but they are skittish. Am so glad I was home to see them all together."

I am in Northern IL too, just northwest of Rockford. I saw our first hummingbird this weekend. We have lots of oriole's this year and love the gold finches. I still think the robin will always be my favorite though.