Sighting details
Location
near Campbell River, British Columbia

Geobirds Local >>

rarityAnna's Hummingbird (1)
Seen by kittyhawk
Larger >>
When March 20, 2008 at 02:36
Details COMMON (LOW NUMBERS)
Notes Came across this photo of a hummingbird I took at a friend's place on Vancouver island in the summer of '06. The little fellow can be seen just to the left of the feeder. I hope we can attract hummingbirds at home in Edmonton!
Weather

Comments 

user jim macgregor, Mar 20 2008
-sighting a hummingbird in our backyard is a major event. There is great panic trying to find each other and the binoculars, at the same time! HA! If we see them , it is usually some time in August during migration. Last year, a Ruby-throat did the rounds, feeding on the tubular Lamium flowers, which is a ground cover. This may have been by opportunity , rather than choice, as most of our flowers were gone by then
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user kittyhawk, Mar 20 2008
We tried to attract hummingbirds with a feeder on our deck one year (like the friend on Vancouver island), but all we got were wasps and sticky stuff on the deck floor. This time I think I'll try planting flowers that are supposed to attract them.
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user jim macgregor, Mar 20 2008
--we've tried the feeders with various mixes and obtained the same results; In the few times that we have seen them, they have never been drawn to the feeders.
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user kittyhawk, Mar 21 2008
If the flowers work, I'll post the info on Geobirds... :o)
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user taichi35, Apr 9 2008
Hi Guys, Have had tons of hummingbirds for years with feeders: Boil 4 cups of water, add 1 cup of sugar (White granulated) and stir, no colouring needed. We use single tube feeders like they use at Arizona Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson. Google it for more info. :
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user jim macgregor, Apr 9 2008
-I think that we will have to send our hummingbirds to Arizona State for an education! HA! But then comes the problem of getting them to come back! Thanx for the formula and we'll continue to try!
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user taichi35, Apr 10 2008
Go to: Desert Museum at : http://www.desertmuseum.org/center/edu/faq_desert.php and read "How to attract Hummingbirds" . . Good Luck
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user kittyhawk, Apr 10 2008
Thanks taichi35. We'll have to try the museum site. Some people have amazing luck: we have friends who live in north Edmonton and they get hummingbirds all the time - no feeders, no special flowers, no particular effort at all. I'm envious!
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user jim macgregor, Apr 11 2008
Thanx taichi35!; read the article on hummingbirds with interest; plan to revisit this site often to better aquaint myself with the wealth of information on your part of the country!
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user TawnyOwl15, Apr 27 2008
I get Hummingbirds in my backyard all the time in the summer. It's incredible how social they are! You can be sitting there by the feeder, and they'll come up and land on your shoulder! What we did, was plant a Trumpet Vine - which brought in a fair amount in the first place, and then we added a Hummingbird feeder - which got a HUGE amount! I've seen up to 50 Ruby-throated at one time!
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user Joanne_B, Apr 27 2008
What a sight that would be.... 50 at a time!! Lol - do you know of any trumpet vines that would survive here? ;-) I've put up a hummingbird feeder at my house for many years now and have yet to get even ONE hummingbird! Sob! I'm going to give it to my Mom ..... she gets lots where she lives (rufous and calliope) Joanne
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user TawnyOwl15, Apr 27 2008
It is a sight! In fact, in my backyard, you see more hummingbirds than bees! I don't know of any Trumpet vines that would survive where you live, but I'm sure you could do a little research and figure out what plants you could plant where you live, that would attract hummers. Rufous and Calliope?!? I'm jealous! I get Ruby-throated where I live, and while I do love them, I would love even more to get a better variety.
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user Joanne_B, Apr 27 2008
I do believe that where I live, on this side of the Rockies, there are ruby-throats but I have yet to see the proof for myself! lol! Yes, rufous and calliope at my mom and dad's (the other side of the rockies.. B.C. canada)..... I'll post a picture for you. I love hummingbirds!! Joanne
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user kittyhawk, Apr 28 2008
The friend whose feeder is in the photo, loves the hummingbirds that come to her patio. And they're cheeky little things: when the feeder is empty, they flutter against her screen patio door in great indignation as if to say "Feed me!!".
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user TawnyOwl15, Apr 28 2008
I take empty 1 gallon milk jugs, and clean them out. Then I just put the hummingbird nectar in that, and stick it in the refrigerator. When the feeder needs more, I just take the milk jug out, and fill the feeder up from there.
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user kittyhawk, Apr 28 2008
If spring ever really arrives here, I may just take another crack at attracting hummingbirds. I'll take a two-pronged approach - both a feeder AND planting flowers that are supposed to attract them!
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user TawnyOwl15, Apr 28 2008
Sounds like a plan. I randomly planted a Trumpet Vine, because it looked nice, and then I put up a hummer feeder, and I've gotten hummers like CRAZY! I'm convinced that they come for the plants, and stay for the feeders!
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