Birders Help Please

I have great success with the feeder on my side yard. However Id like to try and attract some hummingbirds also. I have a feeder set up and hanging on the side of my fence from a flower pot hanger. Its about 30 feet from the other feeder and maybe 15 feets from some bushes and such. I know they cant smell it and the 6ft fence hides it from the main road on the other side sooo will they be able to eventually find it out should i go hang it somewhere out in the open. Keep in mind im thinking about places ill be able to hide and shoot while they buzz around by the feeder. 320mm wise I was thinking about planting a bunch of flowers and hanging it in there but not sure if itll du anything and its a lot of effort

Not sure how it will help you but I've had good success putting the hummingbird feeder on my font porch while the seed feeders are in the backyard.

I also have a fuchsia hanging from the over hang in the backyard that an occasional hummingbird visits. I get 10 times the hummers at the front feeder. Maybe it's easier for them to see.

I've also noticed that if the sweet water sits in the feeder for more than a 5-6 days they start to lose interest until I refill it with fresh water.

Eric

yeah i heard about the refilling. I guess ill put it in the open by some bushes for (what seems like more cover) do the hummers not like other land birds?

We have several hummingbird feeders, and they seem to like the one under the eave of our house better than the ones out in the open. I suspect, based on the way they are always scanning around themselves for anything they feel is hazardous - including another hummingbird who seems to "own" the feeder - that the more secluded the feeder the better it is for them.

I have had good fortune just sitting still 6' from the feeder. This is the minimum focal length of my 100-400mm. I wear muted clothing, sit very still with my camera at the ready. Any movement is done very slowly. I think they are on such a hyper "wave length" that it isn't too hard to move below their perceived threshold of movement. If you aren't used to sitting motionless, you will find this a real challenge.

Walt, I would suggest planting some trumpet shaped perennials like Cigar Plants and Trumpet Vine. You can toss in a feeder as well but my best shots were always taken in full sun as the birds are feeding on natural nectar blooms. I crank up the ISO and try to get shutter speed around 1/4000th of a sec. Of course if you're after more wing blur then 1/2000th or so will get the job done.

I've seen 3-4 Ruby-throats on a single Cigar Plant on more than one occasion, they love 'em. Here's a female in action: http://i3.photobucket.​com …%20Photography/​humnew.jpg

Hope this helps, good luck!
NH

superb shot steve. Ill check out the plant selection on some hummer sites and maybe till up a little garden

I've had hummingbird feeders out for many years now here, they're pretty good about finding new feeders but if after a few weeks of them being in the area (you can look up migration maps to see where other people have reported sightings of them) and you don't get any bites. Go ahead and move it somewhere more out in the open and see if it helps. After they find it and start visiting regularly you can again move it back where you want it (they won't forget where it is, in fact after they find it its likely they'll come back to the same spot year after year looking for the feeder). Don't forget to change the water regularly - in warm weather every 2-3 days, and don't worry about buying the commercial "nectar" mixes. Its just sugar water , mix it up 1 part sugar to 4 parts water. You can even mix a jug of it up and keep it in the fridge. In the spring and fall when they're migrating you can even mix it 1:3 just to give them a little extra boost.

Flowers are always a great way to draw them in - unfortunately mine don't even seem to care about the flowers, they zoom right by them and head for the feeders . Getting close to them isn't too terribly difficult either once they learn who it is that fills the feeders . Although I don't have any experience with the species of hummers you have over there (I've heard they're a lot more shy and reclusive than what we have out west here), ours are pretty bold and fiesty. Mine have no problem with coming in and feeding from the feeder while I'm holding it refilling it.

Best thing is just be patient! A lot of times they can be hit or miss for the first couple of years, but they'll learn where the feeder is - and then you won't hardly be able to keep the feeders FULL!