Behind the Scenes of the Fantastic PBS Video - Hummingbirds - Magic in the Air

Thanks to our great friend Phyllis in Oregon, we can have a look at a great "behind the scenes" video of the making of the great PBS special on Nature. The link for that video is found earlier in the blog...

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=hjnc1kHMDDo&feature=player_embedded

Wonderful Alaskan Hummer Video - Check It Out!!

Thank you to Bonnie, a customer from "Cloudy but 80 degrees Oregon" who sent along this fantastic video about drawing some Alaskan Hummers up really close and personal…

Spring is here! (At least the birds think so!)

Yep, Spring is officially here - although here in Washington State, we're all wondering about that! The birds, however, have embraced the time of year with their courting & nesting activities. I've actually got a pair of chickadees nesting in one of my bird houses! The first time in years one of my birdhouses has been "rented".
We've also been visited by the cute hummers. The first one showed up about a month ago, then disappeared again. Now, we've got a pair of them coming by fairly regularly. The funny thing is they seem to prefer my mother's old feeder. (It's about 15 years old, by now!) This is one of the ones that is designed like a hot-air balloon. I've got some newer ones, along with the small tubes, but they seem to be all but ignored.
Another thing I noticed, is one of the frequent feeders at Mom's feeder is a Purple Finch! I must say, it looks a bit odd, seeing that large bird (compared to a hummer) sitting and drinking from the hummer feeder!
About the tube feeders, I keep experimenting to see what will actually attract the hummers to them, but so far, haven't had any success. I'm going to try to attach one to one of our bushes to see if that'll work. Then maybe the hummer will come drink from the one I've got suction-cupped to our kitchen window!
Time will tell.
Well, folks, enjoy all the wonderful birds that Spring brings, especially those gorgeous Hummers!
~Rob~

Hummer News - Vol. 15 - May 2011

At last!!!

After a longer wait than most springs, I finally eyeballed my first hummer visitor of 2011, here in New England. I am reasonably sure it was a male that has been coming for at least three years now. Unlike many other males, this fellow is extremely furtive and makes all of his visits at dawn and dusk, when the level of light is very low. Further evidence of it being this particular male is the feeder he chose. It is a very early proto-type of my Foto-Feeder™ that has been in the same exact spot for quite a few years now. Very likely there are others about and that the first visits were probably as much as a week earlier, since nectar in two or three of my feeder tubes, at a few locations, already seemed to be reducing by very small amounts.

After so many years, the first hummer visit witnessed is still such a special moment. In spite of our dismal wet and cold spring so far, the warmth of a season, as yet unrealized seems closer and more promising now. This year, after winter travel in warm climes full of hummers, seeing my first “home bird” bridges my first ever 12 month cycle being able to view hummers live. I have always envied those of you who always have a year round presence. Since they are here now, I expect just about all of you have had your first visits now. I wish everyone a great spring and summer with lots of visits and maybe a nesting family. That is something I would really like to experience live.

I hope you will share how the hummer sightings are, currently, in your region.

Spring cleaning

While most of you are already finished with this step by now, it is a good idea to do a thorough cleaning of nectar tubes and caps. I use a 10% bleach solution to nicely sanitize all my tubes before setting out.

I welcome you all to share any hummer sightings or stories that we all might enjoy here at the blog. Just drop an email note and I will send an invitation to become a contributor

Happy Hummers and a Great Late Springtime!

Copyright 2011, Merritt Communications – All Rights Reserved

Can anyone identify these hummers?

Barry Aronoff, a customer in Pasadena, California, who is also an excellent photographer, sent these shots along and wondered if I could help identify the hummer varieties. If you have any ideas, please share them with us. The best I could come up with is that the really beautiful one on the pine looks like it could be the Xanthus perhaps - apparently a little bit off its beaten path - it is listed as rare in Califonia - this may be very rare shot indeed! Here is a link for Xanthus: http://www.hummingbirds.net/xantus.html 

This shot isn't a hummer but is such a nice shot I thought it was well worth including anyway...

Emerald Throated Carib - Sint Maarten - February 2011

White Humming Bird

Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air - PBS Nature Episode

So many have emiled and mentioned this spectacular PBS episode of Nature featuring our favorite flying jewels. If you haven't seen it, it is a must see - especially the way the flora actually impacts the evolution of our friends. If you have seen it, by all means pass it on to friends and family. I have never heard from anyone that was not completely charmed by the interesting and educational special.

Emerald Throated Carib Hummingbird

Antillean Crested Hummingbird

Hummer News - Vol. 14 - November 2010

Giving Thanks…
Even though it will be many months before I see a hummer in my yard again, I am thankful for a season full of visitors, as I do a final cleaning of all my nectar tubes and caps. Making sure everything is ready will help it seem sooner. If you haven’t already, use a 10% bleach solution to nicely sanitize all your tubes before laying aside for next spring.

I am thankful for all of you who have joined our hummer loving family and also for the contributions to all of our understanding them better with blog entries and emails – also for the gentle prods wondering why there hadn’t been and Hummer News for a while…
I wish each of you and yours a joyous, peaceful and warm holiday season where ever you may be...
Recent Travel and Hummer Sightings


I had the opportunity to spend some time on the Dutch and French Caribbean island of St. Maarten/St. Martin, where I saw two species of hummers I never see. Just about everywhere one could see either the Crested Antillean or Emerald Throated Carib hummingbird. The first is a somewhat uncommon, crested, hummer variety that is quite dark in color. The latter is electric green, with a tail that fades from green to electric blue, ending in black, truly jewel-like in the island sunshine. I am posting a picture of each here. It was a very nice revisiting of the season lost back home, though one could get quite spoiled with the sheer number of birds and sightings there.

I welcome you all to share any hummer sightings or stories that we all might enjoy at the blog.

Blog invitation…


Please remember you are always welcome at the blog as a reader, commenter or full-privileged contributor. I will be happy to invite you as a contributor if you just send me an email so I know you are interested.


Find the blog here: http://hummerhaven.blogspot.com/


Have a Holiday of Hummer dreams!!


Copyright 2010, Merritt Communications, Inc. – All Rights Reserved

Risk to Hummers from the Praying Mantis - Read Warning First!

I try to keep the emphasis here on the positive and joyful. But, a friend and fellow eBay seller, Grandma Darlene, sent me a link to a difficult and gruesome story to read. However, because in many areas the praying mantis is a common insect, I felt I had to pass this on. WARNING - if there are never praying mantises near you, I would avoid reading this story. But, these insects pose a very real risk to our dear little visitors if they are present in your region. You can also skip checking this link and just try to keep them as far away as possible from any feeders you may have. Well, now that you have all the warnings...if you want to read about this the link is here:

http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/site/backyardbirds/hummingbirds/mantis-hummer.aspx

New User with a Wonderful Job!

I just learned that one of my newest customers, from the Atlanta, GA area, has a really great job - bird rehabilitator. Most of the patients come from a local wildlife facility or an emergency vetinary clinic. The picture below is of one of the newest charges - a baby hummer. I am hopeful that we may get further updates in the future relating to this wonderful work. After a slow start, this hummer is active and flying around happily at about 1/2 of adult size...

Hummer News – Vol. 13 – September 2010

That time of year...

.

I did everything I could to avoid the inevitable – I turned all the calendars, that faced outside windows, around in the hopes my daily visitors would miss the turn from August to September and freshened every nectar tube every day…Nonetheless, in the course of about five days or so after I last wrote about the most copious visits ever, all the activity here has dwindled to a very low rate. In addition, just like LuvHummers observed on the blog, the incredible numbers of yellow jackets just plain disappeared. I know my visitors need to leave each year to be safe and be able to return next year and I also know that for a while, I will have a lot of vagabonds on their way home from farther north. It’s not over for quite a few weeks yet here, but I start to envy those of you who have the year round seasons. But, I suppose having something to look forward to through the long cold winter. Hurricane Earl is due around here later tonight, but should only be a category one hurricane or possibly just a tropical storm by the time it arrives.


The hummers that are still around are enjoying lots of hibiscus blooms, as well as a couple of fully blossomed butterfly bushes. So, it is a quieter time now and I guess that’s not bad either as we settle into the last weeks of astronomical summer, even as the Labor Day weekend signals the return to schools and offices for many. I hope you all enjoy a safe, peaceful and fun weekend, as we enter this time of transition.


Blog invitation…


Please remember you are always welcome here at the blog as a reader, commenter or full-privileged contributor. I will be happy to invite you as a contributor if you just send me an email so I know you are interested.


Soak in our late summer Hummer experiences!!


Copyright 2010, Merritt Communications, Inc. – All Rights Reserved

Hummers in Oregon

Hi, I still have a lot of hummers in Roseburg, Oregon, I don't have much problem with bee's as I turn my feeding tubes up so the nector is not right on the cap so they can't get much and the hummers can reach their tongue down into the tube a long ways. It is so easy to refill them with the plastic bottle I got from envirojam and it takes me half the time it used to. So if you haven't gotten one yet I would say you should do it now.

Hummer News – Vol. 12 – August 2010

Why We Do It All…

Between 7:00 and 8:30 am yesterday morning I luxuriated in hummer activity more varied and constant than I may have ever experienced before here at home. First, when my eyes first opened, I saw a hummer feeding at my second story, bedroom window, and right over my pillow. After she left, I turned and looked down into the yard under my window and immediately spied an active male visiting freshly blossomed weeds I can’t even name.


So, I went out to the yard and, during the next ninety minutes, the reason for the season’s many hours of preparation and maintenance was made abundantly clear. As we approach September, I am guessing that we are beginning to see migrators from the far north begin to pass through again for the first time since early spring because of the increased number of birds exhibiting “curiosity” behavior as they check out flowers, feeders and the rest. I witnessed virtually non-stop visits at all my feeders, as well as lots of visits to the hibiscus, butterfly bushes and the mister. Because of our extended drought conditions, the mister has been especially popular. I returned into the house for breakfast, after my extended and magical hummer meditations, peaceful, refreshed and spiritually uplifted. What better was is there to start the day than that?


Blog Activity


Thanks to the contributions of both old and new members of our hummer family, this blog has some great new entries. Among them are some ideas for managing yellow jackets and wasps, a perennial problem this time of year in many areas. I can say I have tried a couple ideas and am finding great success so far. So, I urge you to check out the recent posts and comments that follow below.

Please remember you are always welcome at this blog as a reader, commenter or full-privileged contributor. I will be happy to invite you as a contributor if you just send me an email so I know you are interested.


May you all also have august, August Hummer experiences!!


Copyright 2010, Merritt Communications, Inc. – All Rights Reserved

Grafton,WI

Pictures of our FOTOFEEDER in Grafton, WI.

They are in a holding pattern to get to the feeder!

New Hummer Feeders

Hi folks,

Not long ago, I purchased some of John's hummer feeder refills. Once they arrived, I decided to go ahead and use some 12 gauge copper wire I had from another project and "wire a couple of them up".

Taken from the outside

The photos you see here are the result. I decided to put them on our kitchen window to see how soon they discover them.

Looking out the kitchen window!

I'm hoping the hummers around here decide they like them as much or better than the old feeders they've been use to:

As the hummers find these and start to drink from them, I'll post some of the photos I get of them.

'Til then, I hope you have a chance to enjoy your own wonderous hummers!

~Rob~

Bees and Wasps!

It is now the height of hummer around my area and unfortunately the bees and wasps are keeping my babies away. So I decided to move the main pole with my hummers favorites feeders and about 15 feet away put a huge hanging bowl of the sugar mixture open and all the bees and wasps have gone there for the free for all leaving the feeders alone for now. I will update in about a week to let you know how this works. As for the yellow jacket traps, save your money the bowl trick seems to work better. Let me know if any of you have other ideas.

The bowl of yellow jacket nectar...

Hummer News – Vol. 11 – Footnotes - August 2010

Hold the Salt!!!


There are some ideas that are really good ideas and then, there are the ideas that only seem like very good ideas at the time. I wrote about my “Ant Moat Solution” for more traditional hanging hummer feeders the last time, when I suggested using strongly saline water in the moats to discourage small birds from emptying the reservoir by drinking the water. Well, my old days in the chemistry labs should have raised a red flag, but observation has now filled in where initial recollection failed me. Let’s see, salt (NaCl) and copper (Cu)….what does that sound like? Well, together they create an electric current and the interaction between the two, while not dangerous, is certainly corrosive – especially if your water pH is on the acidic side. So, after a heavy rain washed some of the saline out of the reservoirs to drip down the copper hanging feeders, I noticed the start of discoloration on my copper. Again, unless it was very heavy saline for a long time, no structural damage would occur. However, the appearance of the discolored copper is less than desirable. So, for now, I am going to try a very weak saline and see if it still discourages the birds, but won’t continue the discoloration. If not, back to water and diligence to ensure the reservoirs don’t go dry.


Another problem with my described ant moats was using wire coat hangers for the hanging hooks. Of course, steel is also subject to corrosion and would weaken quickly in the constant saline bath of the reservoir. So, if you do want to try to use salt – which poses no issues for glass or plastic feeders, I would recommend using plastic covered wire or pure plastic for the hanging hooks.


A long time Foto Feeder™ user in CA wrote to me suggesting an alternative to ant moats all-together. Tanglefoot® is a product that is sold in many agricultural shops that discourages the ants with a very sticky physical barrier. It comes in tubes like caulking and can be spread over the path ants must follow to get to the feeder. I bought some a few years back, but never applied it because another friend and Tanglefoot user told me it is quite a challenge to keep the sticky stuff only where you want it. But, I guess with extreme caution, it must work, as it is often suggested in the literature I have read on deterring ants. As my friend wrote from CA, it is very important to be sure it is not on any surface where the hummers might land, as it would get on their feet and be difficult for them to remove. I would be very interested to hear any other interesting solutions you might have come up with

Blog


Please remember you are always welcome at the blog as a reader or contributor. I will be happy to include you as a contributor if you just send me an email so I know you are interested.

Happy Hummer August everyone!!


Please let me know if you wish to be removed from this hummer mailing list and I will do so immediately


Copyright 2010, Merritt Communications, Inc. – All Rights Reserved

Harold, the Handsome, Hummer Stik™ Visitor in Danbury, CT

I was delighted to receive these wonderful shots of Harold, who is a regular visitor at the Hummer Stiks™ deployed by Sue, a friend and repeat customer from Danbury, CT. Best yet, she allowed me to use one of her shots of Harold to vastly improve my listing for these feeders at eBay. The link above will take you there to see if you'd like. A big fat "Thank You" to Sue and, of course, Harold!!

Hummer News – Vol. 11 – July 2010

Recent Observed Activity

No question about it, around here in New England, July is the start of the highest activity at all locations I have the chance to visit. At home in Massachusetts, the arrival of July marked a very noticeable increase in visits and nectar consumption at all my feeders. This past weekend I enjoyed one of the most intense viewing periods ever, anywhere, at my friend’s home in Watertown, Connecticut. Multiple birds, with many “dust-ups” between aggressive male territory barons and as many as two or three “encroachers” were the norm all weekend long. It was simply mesmerizing, making it difficult to accomplish much outside of the feeder viewing area.

As I write this edition, anticipating our family’s celebration of my mother’s 90th birthday, by the ocean in South Orleans, Massachusetts, I can see several nectar feeders with regular and relaxed visitors, here in the deep heart of summer. At least around here, this is the time of year we wait for when the living is airy and light and our lovely humming jewels are in abundance.

Ant Moat Solution

I envy those of you who report that they never have ant problems with any of their feeders. It is never an issue with my Foto Feeders™ as ants rarely traverse our window panes, but hanging feeders are another story. I have a couple of my four-tube Roseburg™ feeders deployed and ant moats are essential. I am sure many of you use these hanging hooks that incorporate a water barrier in some sort of container suspended between the two ends. I make my own by melting a tiny hole in the bottom half of a plastic drink bottle. I push a length of wire coat hanger through the hole and make a hook at each end. Then, I seal the hole around the wire with hot glue. They work very well, with the exception of one problem I’d had for a long time – chickadees and titmice seem to prefer drinking out of these to all the fresh sparkling water I always provide with the mister and bird baths.

Not a huge problem, but annoying for several reasons. When a hummer is feeding, if a bird lands to drink, it shakes everything and will often discourage the hummer. In really hot weather, evaporation added to bird drinking does empty the cups much faster, requiring diligence I sometimes don’t muster. So, I show up, the cups are empty and the tubes are inundated with ants. Some people suggest using all cooking oil or a layer of cooking oil, which does discourage the birds. However, the first rainstorm splashes the oil all over the nectar tubes below, making a sticky, hard to clean mess.

One afternoon, I really pondered the question and wondered if tea or coffee might discourage them. However, the idea of caffeine powered chickadees and titmice buzzing the ant moats quickly ruled that out. What wouldn’t they like, that wouldn’t hurt them? The answer presented itself and I was taken by the simplicity – salt!! Birds near the ocean do not drink seawater. So, I looked to see if there were any health issues with birds and salt water and, finding none, put the idea in action. I mixed a very concentrated salt solution, added it to the ant moat cups and grabbed a seat to see if my idea would work. Only one titmouse tried more than one sip and each of those was followed by a head shake and spray out. Everyone happily drinks at the provided water now and my ant moats maintenance requirements are a fraction of what they once were

Blog

Please remember you are always welcome at the blog as a reader or contributor. I will be happy to include you as a contributor if you just send me an email so I know you are interested.


Happy Hummer Mid-Summer everyone!!

Copyright 2010, Merritt Communications, Inc. – All Rights Reserved

Hummer News – Vol. 10 – June 2010

Mr. Clockwork

It seems like each year, after a May appearance, for a little while, our hummers disappear, more or less, until late June or early July. After that until late September or early October visits and activity are pretty regular. Don’t really know why that is true, since another Foto Feeder™ user here in town has had regular visits throughout. Thankfully, my quiet period seems to have ended three or four days ago, with ample appearances throughout the day.


Fortunately, I had one handsome male, with prominent scarlet neck band always visible, that showed up every day, even when there were no other visitors. The really interesting thing about him was his incredibly consistent time of arrival, every evening just about five minutes before it got too dark to see him at the window. As the sunset became later, he would adjust by as many minutes, so that it would literally be possible to set your watch by his appearance. He’s probably around at dusk too, but I’m not most days.


Mister Update


I have never received as many responses to any Hummer News topic as I did about the use of misters and the way all our birds love them, including the hummers. Just two days ago, during about three warm afternoon hours, I observed robins, catbirds, blue jays, titmice, downy woodpeckers, goldfinches, chickadees, cardinals, sparrows and hummers spend time in the mister, most long enough to thoroughly shower, drink from leaves and fluff up.


Several of you asked for places to buy a mister, so I did a little research for places that sell them. Here are some links you can try:


Here are some links:


http://www.duncraft.com/Super-Easy-Water-Mister--P2742C0.aspx  - Duncraft


http://www.wildbirdsforever.com/access.html  - Wild Birds Forever

http://www.shopwbu.com/products/productdetail/part_number=1516/567.0.1.1  – Wild Birds Unlimited (where I got my misters).


Use the lowest pressure that will just start the mist and make sure it hits some leaves nearby to form the drips your visitors will love to drink or rub their faces in. If the drips can finally fall into a birdbath, you will have an interesting and active water feature for your birds and for your viewing enjoyment.

I hope you will share any experience you have with your misters.


Nectar Refresher


As there are almost always questions about nectar recipes, so let me review some things on that topic. First, I use pure, refined white sugar only without color or additives. I do not boil my water first as any sterility that is gained by wasting time and energy on boiling will be lost the instant your first hummer feeds because of the natural bacteria they carry on their tongues and beaks. Honey contains bacteria and raw sugar contains high levels of iron that are harmful. Red coloring is controversial with many claims of causing harm to hummers being made, so I decline to use it to be on the safe side. Snopes, which is pretty good, in my experience, at getting to the bottom of and de-bunking urban legends and other questionable “facts” state that the validity of the concern is undetermined here:


http://www.snopes.com/critters/wild/reddye.asp


Since I’ve never heard anything negative about pure, white refined sugar and it is cheaper and easier to mix, it seems an easy choice to me. I put one cup of sugar in a one quart glass measuring cup. I run my tap water to its hottest temperature and then run a thin trickle into the sugar, mixing briskly from the very beginning with a long handled spoon, up to the full quart. I have never failed to dissolve the full cup of sugar, though even if there were some crystals left un-dissolved in the bottom, that doesn’t harm anything. Extra nectar keeps quite a while in a tightly closed container in the fridge.


Blog Additions


You continue to contribute wonderful links for the blog and I need to get some more up soon, including a magnificent PBS Nature episode devoted to hummers – check in often, as I will add things as often as I can and always welcome you to do the same


Find the blog here: http://hummerhaven.blogspot.com/


Happy Hummer Summer everyone!!


Copyright 2010, Merritt Communications, Inc. – All Rights Reserved

Hummer News – Vol. 9 – May 2010 – Footnotes

Misters – Just “Blissing” the Day Away

I want to share some recent long and satisfying visits by my local hummers to the mister I run daily with just the first hint of mist and lots of drips. I have used misters for quite a while, after learning how much so many bird species enjoy the water feature. Around here, in addition to hummers, cardinals, goldfinches, chickadees, catbirds and downy woodpeckers are frequent and lengthy visitors. But, just about all species visit from time to time. I have it placed in a leafy bush with the drops from the leaves falling into a birdbath. Lately very hot days have increased the attraction of this cool and refreshing corner of the yard.


The only way I can describe the behavior of the mister patrons is completely “blissing out” in an absolutely “care-less” way. That is exactly what the male and female hummers have been doing. In visits of 5-10 minutes at a time, a very long visit here, they hover in the light mist, rub their bills, faces and bodies across wet leaves – pausing to sip drops of water off the tips of leaves. They perch, in the mist, to stretch and preen their legs and wings without regard to anything going on around them. With the late afternoon sun filtering through the mist and sparkling leaves, the scene is genuinely magical, deeply peaceful and centering to see. I honestly believe that there is no product of any kind more attractive to birds than a simple mister and the miniscule amount of water used at the barely misting low level I set it at. If you haven’t tried, especially in the warmer states, I strongly recommend it. If you have experience with misters, I’d love to hear your story, or better yet, read it at the blog.


Milestone for Merrcomm


It is truly humbling to have been so well received in the first 18 months, after creating the Hummer Foto Feeder™ and offering it on eBay, that I can report my 500th sale. Not large at all by eBay standards of course, but not so bad for a guy making feeders in his back yard to attract the birds we all love. Those sales have been in 47 states and 3 foreign countries. But, I have to say, those three states have been hold outs for a while now and it would be so nice to be in every state. So, if you have friends, family or colleagues in ID, WV or WY, who are interested hummingbirds, maybe you can pass the word and help me close the state gap. I sure would appreciate it.


Copyright 2010, Merritt Communications, Inc. – All Rights Reserved

Wonderful Webcam of Two Hummer Hatchlings by Phoebe Allen

Thanks to Sue, my neighbor to the south in CT for sharing this amazing site with us!

http://www.ustream.tv/hummingbirdnestcam
On Ustream

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Phoebe-Allens-Hummingbird-Webcam/119799518053054?ref=ts#!/pages/Phoebe-Allens-Hummingbird-Webcam/119799518053054?v=info&ref=ts
Phoebe's facebook

http://www.phoebeallens.com/ 
Webcam address from facebook

Visits to Hummer Foto Feeders™ Reported in Wallingford, CT and Islesboro, ME

A new Hummer Foto Feeder™ user in Wallingford, CT had the first visits of this season on Friday. My uncle, who has used his feeders for two previous seasons, had his first visits yesterday. So, it is looking good pretty far up the east coast now.

Wonderful Video and Story - Peter & Peeps -- Rescued Baby Hummingbird Fed in Hand by Mother

Thank you Phyllis for this terrific story:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7xBLvMIBZU

Very Nice Webcam from Audubon's Starr Ranch in California

Check out the nesting Black Chinned Hummingbird...

http://www.starrranch.org/blog/?page_id=23

They're Here! They're Here! - Hummer News – Vol. 9 – May 2010

At 5:30 pm yesterday, a thunderstorm that had darkened late afternoon to twilight finally began to wane. Low sunlight began to filter through the end of the storm and the maple leaves, finally warming to golden, as the wet surfaces of everything sparkled like prisms. At 5:48, two days earlier than last year, I observed my first hummer visitor at the backyard Roseburg™ feeder. She checked three of the four nectar tubes in less than 45 seconds and was gone. All that was left was the ruby hued glimmering of the attractor beads in the still lower sunlight and the smile on my face knowing that my spring had, in fact, finally arrived. Another, longer, Mother’s Day visit and nectar tubes emptying added additional warmth and cheer to a day that topped out here at only about 52 degrees. So, in eastern Massachusetts, the season has finally begun! I would love to hear about your neighborhood.


Happy Hummers – Hooray, they are here!


Copyright 2010, Merritt Communications, Inc. – All Rights Reserved

Hummingbird feeder

I just want to tell all you hummingbird lovers you need to go to Jam's e-bay site (merrcomm) and get the Nectar Storage Dispenser Bottle, I just used mine Sunday for the first time and I can tell you it is the best thing to fill all the tubes I have, it is wonderful, I also used the brush set he has on his e-bay site and they really made cleaning up all the tubes and caps so much easier, no more spilled nectar from the measuring cup I had been using, summer is here, yea!! Phyllis

Hummer News – Vol. 8 – April 2010

With fairly strange, often wet and suddenly warm weather earlier this month, everything around here suddenly seems to be about two to three weeks ahead with respect to trees and shrubs blossoming out. Since my earliest hummer sighting last spring was on May 10th, I used Monday’s unique Massachusetts holiday, Patriot’s Day (when the Boston Marathon is run, starting about 12 miles down the road from me and running right through downtown) to place about 25% of my nectar feeders around the yard. So far no evidence of any visits, but I expect action just about any day now. I hope spring in your area brings an explosion of leaves and blooms, as well as yardfuls of hummingbirds.

Your Visits and Photographs

As always, I remain extremely interested to hear from you about when your visits start or how busy your feeders are. In addition, nothing makes me happier than receiving photos and videos from you as you document the comings and goings of our tiny friends. The blog is always open to anyone that has anything at all they would like to share with the rest of us.

My Broken Record Observation

If you haven’t already done so, now would be a very good time to clean all bird feeders, not only your hummer feeders with a mild, 10% bleach solution and a good rinse before the season begins. For you year round folks, spring would always be a good time to do a thorough clean-up, as well as several other times each year. Anytime that any black residue is building up on any nectar feeder or part, it is essential for the health of your visitors to give everything a good scrubbing.

Product Feedback Always Welcomed and Encouraged

I am especially interested to hear any feedback from recent customers who have purchased any MerrComm hummingbird products, now including the Hummer Foto Feeder™ the Hummer Stik™ hand held feeder, a Nectar Tube cleaning brush set or Nectar storage and dispensing bottle. I want all of these products to be the best I can make them and your feedback is a very important component to in helping me accomplish that.

Our blog awaits and welcomes you…

Please visit your blog Hummingbird Haven and better yet, please jump in. I have just posted a new video from southern California and will be putting up the fact and instruction sheets for all the current products. If you’ve lost the email inviting you to be a fully enabled post author, just drop me an email and I will send a new one. Just reply to that invitation and join the fun. Find the blog here: http://hummerhaven.blogspot.com/


Happy Hummers and a big warm welcome to Spring!

Copyright 2010, Merritt Communications, Inc. – All Rights Reserved

Hummer News – Vol. 7 – March 2010

Hummer News – Vol. 7 – March 2010

After several warm sunny days this week and setting our clocks ahead this weekend, I can finally really begin to think about my hummers returning within the next four to six weeks. I can hardly wait. I hope they will be early this year as it has seemed a long and cold winter, even though the most of the crazy east coast snow was deposited just about everywhere else but here – just fine by me.

Time to prepare all your feeders and nectar tubes

If you haven’t already done so, now would be a very good time to clean all bird feeders, not only your hummer feeders with a mild, 10% bleach solution and a good rinse before the season begins. For you year round folks, spring would always be a good time to do a thorough clean-up, as well as several other times each year. Anytime that any black residue is building up on any nectar feeder or part, it is essential for the health of your visitors to give everything a good scrubbing.

MerrComm Product Feedback Welcomed and Strongly Encouraged

I am especially interested to hear any feedback from recent customers who have purchased a Roseburg™ 4-tube feeder, a Hummer Stik™ hand held feeder, a Nectar Tube cleaning brush set or Nectar storage and dispensing bottle. I want all of these products to be the best I can make them and your feedback is a very important component to in helping me accomplish that.

Our blog awaits and welcomes you…

Please visit your blog Hummingbird Haven and better yet, please jump in. I have just posted a new video from southern California and will be putting up the fact and instruction sheets for all the current products. If you’ve lost the email inviting you to be a fully enabled post author, just drop me an email and I will send a new one. Just reply to that invitation and join the fun. Find the blog here: http://hummerhaven.blogspot.com/

Happy Hummers and Sweet Dreams of Spring, just around the corner until the next time…

Copyright 2010, Merritt Communications, Inc. – All Rights Reserved

Another Reason To Wish I Were in Southern California

Ronnie, a brand new Hummer Foto Feeder™ customer from Riverside, CA sent in this video of one of their brand new little visitors…

Ronnie, a brand new Hummer Foto Feeder™ customer from Riverside, CA sent in this video of one of their brand new little visitors…

The MerrComm Hummer Stik™

Hummer Stik™ Feeder

Instructions for Use and Care

1) Hand-Held Operation –while sitting as quietly and still as you can, hold the Hummer Stik™ in your hand in close proximity to known feeding locations like gardens or established nectar feeders.


2) Soil Anchored Operation – press the Hummer Stik™ firmly into the soil of pots, deck planters, gardens or any other place you would like to attract your hummers. If there are colorful flowers nearby, it is a plus in attracting hummers initially. I have sometimes attached some extra red color, typically a piece of red ribbon or artificial red flowers, until the hummers find the feeder.


3) Wrap-On Operation – simply wrap rugged but flexible leg of the Hummer Stik™ around any convenient object and tilt just the way you like.


4) Place the feeding tube (filled with nectar and with the cap firmly attached) into the spiral copper mount.


5) Nectar Formula: add 1 part (white refined only) sugar, by volume, to 4 parts very hot, but not boiling water, also by volume. (Raw, natural and dark sugars all contain harmful elements for hummers, including a poisonous level of iron for the birds) Stir vigorously with a clean spoon until all the sugar is dissolved. It is NOT necessary to sterilize by boiling (all elements leading to fermentation are introduced to the nectar by the birds themselves and cannot be avoided) and you should never use colors, artificial sweeteners or honey, which can harm hummers. I use a one-quart, oven safe, baking measure pitcher and add one cup of sugar. I then run my tap water to the highest temp (I do keep mine rather high) and I add to the sugar in a fine stream, stirring furiously the whole time, until I get up to the full quart. If you find the tap water does not get hot enough to fully dissolve all the sugar, you can heat the water first, but, again, no need to boil. As long as your utensils and containers are clean to start, the nectar can be stored in the fridge for quite a while in an airtight container – I typically use an empty plastic water bottle. It is good until it becomes cloudy or begins to have a slightly fermented – alcoholic – aroma.


6) Once the hummers in your neighborhood discover the feeder, they will make regular visits as long as the nectar is kept full and fresh (at our house, dawn and pre-dusk seem to be the most popular times). Until they begin to feed, pay close attention to the clarity and aroma of the nectar and refill as described in the next instruction.


7) Because this feeder is designed to point upwards, no nectar will be leaking with the expansion and contraction due to temperature variation, as with virtually every other nectar feeder I have tried. However, it also means that the hummers will not be able to completely empty the tube, though you will be quite surprised to see how deeply into the feeding tube they can reach with bill and fully extended tongue. (Hummers do not "suck" in the nectar; they lap it up with a long and very speedy tongue). When the nectar level in the tube does not drop any lower, top off the tube with fresh nectar. However, if the remaining nectar is ever cloudy or gives off a slightly alcoholic scent (the sugar in the nectar will ferment) clean the tube well with warm water and add fresh nectar. Fresh nectar has no aroma at all.


8) Every few weeks or whenever the feeding tube shows signs of dirt or sugar residue (will look black after a while) clean the tube and cap fully in a 10% bleach solution and rinse thoroughly before refilling with nectar. The bleach solution will not harm the birds and is widely recommended by hummer specialists for keeping feeders safe for birds.


9) One of the best attractors for hummers I have ever found is to install a fine mister attachment (available at many bird supply companies) to a hose in the yard and have the mist fall over some thick bushes – or attach to a traditional birdbath. Hummers don't normally drink at regular birdbaths or water stations, but love to hover in the mist or "leaf-surf" over the wet leaves – this is a truly magical behavior to watch, as they become practically intoxicated, along with most other birds in your yard.


10) For photographic purposes, choose a location that will permit you to set up your camera equipment nearby inside. The ideal set-up will include a tripod mounted still or video camera. Add to this a seat for comfort while waiting to trigger camera, or some un-attended triggering mechanism. I will often use a video camera and let it run for a period of time when hummers are likely to arrive. I then extract individual frames for still photos. I use the same videotape over and again for this purpose. Another approach would be a camera with a time-lapse trigger mechanism that would take a shot at pre-set intervals. Of course, a wireless or long cable shutter release will make live watching for your shot easier to execute and you don't need to be close enough to the window to disturb birds approach. It is also important to minimize inside light sources that will reflect off of the inside of the window and obscure the image shot through it.


11) The Hummer Stik™ is ideal for traveling, as it can be easily carried in a sealed plastic bag and placed in any available soil during travel to try to attract hummers in the areas visited

You can find this feeder here:

Hummer Stik™ Feeder

The MerrComm Hummer Foto Feeder™

Hummer Foto Feeder™ Nectar Feeder

Instructions for Use and Care

1) Moisten the surface of the feeder's suction cup mount and press firmly into place on a convenient window for viewing or taking photographs. If there are colorful flowers nearby, it is a plus in attracting hummers initially. I have sometimes attached some extra red color, typically a piece of red ribbon or artificial red flowers, until the hummers find the feeder. Tilting the feeder to the left or right can increase viewing visibility of feeding birds.


2) Place the feeding tube (filled with nectar and with the cap firmly attached) into the spiral copper mount. The curved wire at the top of the feeder is the perch. You can swing it out of the way to try to force hovering shots.


3) Nectar Formula: add 1 part (white refined only) sugar, by volume, to 4 parts very hot, but not boiling water, also by volume. (Raw, natural and dark sugars all contain harmful elements for hummers, including a poisonous level of iron for the birds) Stir vigorously with a clean spoon until all the sugar is dissolved. It is NOT necessary to sterilize by boiling (all elements leading to fermentation are introduced to the nectar by the birds themselves and cannot be avoided) and you should never use colors, artificial sweeteners or honey, which can harm hummers. I use a one-quart, oven safe, baking measure pitcher and add one cup of sugar. I then run my tap water to the highest temp (I do keep mine rather high) and I add to the sugar in a fine stream, stirring furiously the whole time, until I get up to the full quart. If you find the tap water does not get hot enough to fully dissolve all the sugar, you can heat the water first, but, again, no need to boil. As long as your utensils and containers are clean to start, the nectar can be stored in the fridge for quite a while in an airtight container – I typically use an empty plastic water bottle. It is good until it becomes cloudy or begins to have a slightly fermented – alcoholic – aroma.


4) Once the hummers in your neighborhood discover the feeder, they will make regular visits as long as the nectar is kept full and fresh (at our house, dawn and pre-dusk seem to be the most popular times). Until they begin to feed, pay close attention to the clarity and aroma of the nectar and refill as described in the next instruction.


5) Because this feeder is designed to point upwards, no nectar will be leaking with the expansion and contraction due to temperature variation, as with virtually every other nectar feeder I have tried. However, it also means that the hummers will not be able to completely empty the tube, though you will be quite surprised to see how deeply into the feeding tube they can reach with bill and fully extended tongue. (Hummers do not "suck" in the nectar; they lap it up with a long and very speedy tongue). When the nectar level in the tube does not drop any lower, top off the tube with fresh nectar. However, if the remaining nectar is ever cloudy or gives off a slightly alcoholic scent (the sugar in the nectar will ferment) clean the tube well with warm water and add fresh nectar. Fresh nectar has no aroma at all.

6) Every few weeks or whenever the feeding tube shows signs of dirt or sugar residue (will look black after a while) clean the tube and cap fully in a 10% bleach solution and rinse thoroughly before refilling with nectar. The bleach solution will not harm the birds and is widely recommended by hummer specialists for keeping feeders safe for birds.


7) One of the best attractors for hummers I have ever found is to install a fine mister attachment (available at many bird supply companies) to a hose in the yard and have the mist fall over some thick bushes – or attach to a traditional birdbath. Hummers don't normally drink at regular birdbaths or water stations, but love to hover in the mist or "leaf-surf" over the wet leaves – this is a truly magical behavior to watch, as they become practically intoxicated, along with most other birds in your yard.


8) For photographic purposes, choose a window mounting location that will permit you to set up your camera equipment nearby inside. The ideal set-up will include a tripod mounted still or video camera. Add to this a seat for comfort while waiting to trigger camera, or some un-attended triggering mechanism. I will often use a video camera and let it run for a period of time when hummers are likely to arrive. I then extract individual frames for still photos. I use the same videotape over and again for this purpose. Another approach would be a camera with a time-lapse trigger mechanism that would take a shot at pre-set intervals. Of course, a wireless or long cable shutter release will make live watching for your shot easier to execute and you don't need to be close enough to the window to disturb birds approach. It is also important to minimize inside light sources that will reflect off of the inside of the window and obscure the image shot through it.


9) The Hummer Foto Feeder ™ is ideal for traveling, as it can be easily carried in a sealed plastic bag and placed on any vehicle or dwelling window during travel to try to attract hummers in the areas visited.


I am very happy to answer any questions you may have about the feeder or humming birds, if I can.  You can find the Hummer Foto Feeder™ here:

Hummer Foto Feeder™ Nectar Feeder

Spare Nectar Test Tubes

Once your hummers really get into the swing of the season, it is always convenient to have plenty of full,  nectar tubes, in the fridge, ready to swap for emptied ones at a moment's notice. If you need more tubes, you can find them here:

Spare Nectar Test Tubes and Red Caps

500ml Nectar Storage and Dispenser Bottle

This handy and convenient bottle serves two purposes. First, it stores over two full pints of prepared nectar in the fridge. Second, the easy squeeze delivery makes filling multiple nectar tubes at the same time very easy indeed. You can find this useful item here:

Nectar Storage Dispenser Bottle

Brush Set for Nectar Test Tubes

This set of brushes has been selected to be the perfect size for cleaning not only the test tube nectar containers, but also the tiny hole in the cap through which hummers take all their nectar and which are most subject to dirt build up. This and all other MerrCom hummingbird products can be found here:

Brush Set to Clean Nectar Test Tubes

Hummer Activity Still Hot in Southern California..

Deborah, a customer from southern California shared the wonderful summary of the hummer activity in her yard that follows. Imagine, year round birds along with the beaches and mountains too. It's on days like this that I seriously imagine being somewhere else, with hummers, for the winter...

After I sent out a volume of Hummer News today, I enjoyed the following exchange with Deborah:

Deborah:
Hi,

I love my hummingbirds, this is my first season with them. They are still around here, visit everyday and are so much fun to watch. I have 5 feeder stations. I started with four feeders, and had to add one to the back, as I have a very aggressive territorial male that I call "Buger" as he is a little buger! I have had to add plants (camouflage) around the feeders to give others a chance to feed. I have another male called "Flash" who flashes by and gets Buger to chase him. As Buger chases Flash, two females come in, Agent B and Agent C and they get their share. I know each female as Agent B hovers and never sits to eat, and Agent C will sit and eat. Then I have another female called "Crash" and you can guess why...one day she crashed into the window, but was fine and flew away. The one feeder in the back by my kitchen window seems to be for one lone female (who looks pregnant) whose name is "Sugar"...I watch them every day. The same routine goes on every day. Buger stands ground and watches every one of HIS feeders, sits on a tree branch in the back next to the porch and he starts his day at sun up and ends at sun down.....I have to laugh when Agents A & B come in and sneak their food. I wonder if Flash...knows this or is setting this up for them???

so goes my first season with my hummers.......

jam:
Deborah - What a great description of your birds!! You had me laughing out loud and I can tell you really spend some time studying and learning about the unique behavior of your local population. That alpha-male behavior is one of the difficult things to deal with sometimes, but you did just the right thing by having feeders placed so there is no line of sight from one to the other. I know exactly what you mean by the females or juveniles rushing in whenever a bully male departs. I have four areas, all out of sight of each other. Sometimes it seems they go in circles, following the dominant male as he makes his rounds to protect his turf.

Your summary is so interesting and detailed, I'd love to share it at the blog - Very warmest regards!  cheers, jam

Deborah:
I am glad you enjoyed it. I will keep you informed of these hummers. Please feel free to share.

Also to share, after a month or so of these hummers coming around, I was sitting on my front porch and my neighbor came over to see what I was doing, as I was telling her about my hummers.....I was explaining "Buger" to her, I pointed him out on his tree limb then he literally snuck up from behind us and hovered in her face, I think he was checking her out as this is HIS territory, all she could say is "Oh my gosh!", then while explaining, "FLASH"....Flash flew by in a FLASH! It was funny watching her face....and I warned her that Agent B and Agent C would soon sneak in between the porch rails and here they came, it was great watching her face as this all happened while I was telling her about the hummers...these birds are so much fun, they come on the porch even if I am out on the porch.

And I look forward to Buger everyday when I get home from work, it's the first thing I ask my husband...."Is Buger around?"

jam:
That's really great stuff and I really appreciate your sharing your careful observations...

Sad End To Cape Cod Visit by Intrepid West Coast Allen Hummingbird

I am sad to pass on news, forwarded to me by my friend Doug on Cape Cod. The truly unimaginable adventure of the Allen Hummingbird that ran afoul of New England winter in Cape Cod in December (noted earlier below) has come to an end. The story with still photos and video can be read here:

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100127/NEWS/1270317

It seems to me that the total trip finally made by this amazing hummingbird would be something like a human making it to the moon in a garage built craft. I envy the folks at the Cape who actually got to see and know this intrepid traveler.

Hummer News – Vol. 6 – January 2010

This deep into winter, I am really missing my hummers a lot each day. Locally, we’ve had numerous snowstorms and today is a bitter cold today – wind chill about -10 degrees F. I know we’ve had five weeks of lengthening days and even though there are several active feeders in the yard with cardinals, titmouses, nuthatches, purple finches, goldfinches, chickadees, downy woodpeckers, juncos and others, it’s just not the same. I can’t anticipate that at any moment, a tiny, flying jewel will just suddenly be there at my window, as if by magic. It is hard to even write that it will be ten or more weeks before I can reasonably expect my first hummer visits.

But, my nectar tubes are all cleaned thoroughly with the 10% bleach solution and ready to pop into feeders as soon as freezing threats retreat, probably in March, even though that is at least a month early for most seasons. Hope springs eternal and you just never know when an unexpected bird finds itself way away from its normal habitation and needing some nectar in my back yard…

Do you still have hummers where you are?

Even though I will be a jealous as can be, I will always be interested to hear from you about specific locations that still have hummers now, this far  into the winter. As I noted in our blog, there was an instance of a west coast Allen Hummingbird in Cape Cod in December. Ultimately, the bird had to be rescued and was being treated by a bird specialist locally the last I read. Anyway, if you have a minute and are willing to drop a line about the hummers still in your back yard, that would be great and help tide me over until April

MerrComm Product Feedback Welcomed and Strongly Encouraged

I am also, of course, always very interested to hear any feedback regarding the performance of or your experience with the Hummer Photo Feeder™ the Roseburg™ or the brand new Hummer Stik™ as well as cleaning brushes and glass pump bottles for dispensing nectar to tubes.

Our blog awaits and welcomes you…

Please visit your blog Hummingbird Haven and better yet, please jump in. I do expect to add a couple of entries in the near future. If you’ve lost the email inviting you to be a fully enabled post author, just drop me an email and I will send a new one. Just reply to that invitation and join the fun. Find the blog here: http://hummerhaven.blogspot.com/

Happy Hummers and a Snug Warm Winter until the next time…

Copyright 2010, Merritt Communications, Inc. – All Rights Reserved