Capturing Hummers

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Originally Posted by Bill W

My HB garden is some 35 feet from the back porch and, especially this early in the season, they're skittish.


I set the blind up about 15 feet from the garden and I find they visit more often and hang around a little longer than if I was just sitting in the open (last season).


Glad you like the self portrait....it's my best side.

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Bill, To get the birds a little more used to equipment---(weather permitting of course) try just sticking your tripod out by your garden on a day you can keep an eye on it. Also, if you haven't already done so, stick a feeder somewhere with a nice background and somewhere you can leave it all of the time---keep it filled and fresh. That way you always have a place for the birds to come when the flowers start disappearing and they will frequent a feeder far more often than they will visit a particular flower or bush.


I am actually envious of your setup. Although I put out a couple of bushes, I never got around to actually building an HB garden so everything I do has to be centered around a feeder and the backgrounds have to be manufactured and or set up with potted plants. So keep working that garden and i am sure you will come up with some award winning shots------And, when you discover new tricks, methods, or practices----Please share them. Every time I think I have this process figured out---I learn something new--either from my own mistakes or from comments and suggestions from people here on the forum.


Good luck and keep the shots coming.


Bob

<span style="font-size: medium;"]Bob.......


<span style="font-size: medium;"]I already set up the blind and have it up for hours w/out me around....my neighbor thinks I'm nutz....don't know if I can argue that point. The wx we're having just hasn't allowed me to be behind it, but the HBs are becoming accustomed to it's movement (wind).


<span style="font-size: medium;"]



<span style="font-size: medium;"]Also, I'm a couple of weeks behind (I won't mention how far behind I am w/my cycling), in spring gardening preparations; i.e. adding a few more butterfly/HB perennials, annuals, mulch, reconnecting the lighting system and water fountain. This spring has just been atrocious since I've rtned from vacay. But the plants and woods are loving all the moisture....everything is really green.


<span style="font-size: small;"]<span style="font-size: medium;"][img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/700x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/12/2248.HB-garden-copy-2.jpg[/img]



<span style="font-size: medium;"]I currently have 3 feeders up and the food is changed every 5 days.....I don't fill the larger feeders completely, because I just don't have that many HBs to drain them quickly. Also I've blocked out 2 of the 4 feeding ports on the larger feeders.


<span style="font-size: medium;"]Background isn't too much of an issue when the garden is in full swing....here's an example;


[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/700x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/12/5807.m-HB-at-feeder.jpg[/img]


<span style="font-size: medium;"]BTW....I don't have any seed feeders in this area, the only song bird feeder is for the Orioles....oranges and jelly....this keeps the squirrels and other varmints to a minimum.


<span style="font-size: medium;"]Thanks for your input Bob and here's hoping it's a very good HB hunting season.

Very beautiful shot, Bill!


I too am VERY BEHIND schedule in my gardening! Weather is cold, windy and rainy every day! Pretty bad when I contemplate turning the heat on in the morning at the end of MAY!

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Originally Posted by Bill W

<span style="font-size: x-small;"]BTW....I don't have any seed feeders in this area, the only song bird feeder is for the Orioles....oranges and jelly....this keeps the squirrels and other varmints to a minimum.
<span style="font-size: x-small;"]

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<span style="font-size: x-small;"]My orioles seem to have moved on to greener pastures [:(]and now it is the other varmints that I am starting to worry about! Last year mice thought my house was a nice place to rest between feedings!


<span style="font-size: x-small;"]I would like to concentrate more on my hb set-up if weather would ever allow! I was hoping to have more hb attracting perennials planted by now! I did have one hb visiting that had the red throat such as the one in your photo but I haven't seen it back in awhile. Now I just have one that the throat is the same color as the chest. Is this how you tell it's a male or female?

Denise

Bill, Love the HB garden and your shot of the Ruby----Sure wish we had some of those around here. I would also like to ask for some of your rain, we haven

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Originally Posted by ddt0725

I too am VERY BEHIND schedule in my gardening! Weather is cold, windy and rainy every day! Pretty bad when I contemplate turning the heat on in the morning at the end of MAY!

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Well, if its any consolation Denise, I am also still turning my heat on in the AM. We have been hitting 80-85 degree days and 40 degree nights, so still a little chilly in the AM. Good luck with your birding.





Bob

Thanks Denise......I hear ya......still heating the house in late May.....RIDICULOUS!!


Sounds like we're all having the same wx D.....just plain dismal.


Fortunately, I don't have a mouse issue....it's chipmunks and rabbits that do a number on my plantings.


My O's have just discovered their specific feeder yesterday....jeez, it's been up a week. I have a few m &amp; f O's hanging around and I believe there's a nest out behind the garden.


I meant to mention this earlier to you.....they're Ruby-throated HBs and yes the female doesn't have the ruby gorget. But be careful, the juvie m RTHBs look very similar to the female until they start maturing in late summer.


RTHBs are the only "native" HBs east of the Mississippi River, though interlopers are spotted every once in awhile. But w/you D, being further west, you may have different types....like that lucky stiff Bob in NM.

Bob pleassssssssse......turning the heat on in the AM. We're waking up to temps in the 40s and if we're lucky the day temp will reach the low 50s for a high w/rain and winds. [:)] This has been going on for weeks now.


New England isn't known for great springs, but this one is terrible.


Plz excuse my lamenting, but this wx is interfering w/my photography, cycling, and golf.....LOL.

In three months, fall will be sneaking in! [W][:|]

For over a week now, I have been trying to plan an all day outdoornature photography trip a few hrs. away to central WI for next Tuesday. It has been on again off again due to the weather forecast. First they said fullsunshine, then 95% severe storms, then 20% now back up to 50%! With it being 50% and completely cloudy, I think I will still chance it and justkeep my fingers crossed!

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Originally Posted by ddt0725

For over a week now, I have been trying to plan an all day outdoornature photography trip a few hrs. away to central WI for next Tuesday.

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Me too, although only about an hour away - for Monday of next week, since that the first day with less than a 20% chance of rain, after rain all week as Bill has mentioned (ugh!). Bill, I'm thinking of heading up to Plum Island. I sent you a PM (Conversation).


Denise - I hope the weather is favorable for you!


--John

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Originally Posted by ddt0725

In three months, fall will be sneaking in! [img]/emoticons/emotion-52.gif[/img][img]/emoticons/emotion-8.gif[/img]

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[:|] ..........


Ok...after the initial shock of reading that statement, how about, in 5 months, we'll be taking amazing pictures of Fall foliage. [:D]


With this much gray in the forecast, I have to think positive.