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"The Great Hummingbird War!"
Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2003 8:00 am
by azsnowman
With the temps WELL into the 110's in the lower desert floors, all the hummers have moved into higher ground. I've got 2 feeders that I fill "ONCE A DAY!" I haven't seen so many hummers in at least 2 years. The thing that REALLY gets me, I've got 2 Rufus hummers......"MEAN LITTLE #$@%&!" These guys will NOT let another hummer within 20 feet of the feeders
They hog the feeders, I'd like to *take one out* I swear.......any ideas on keeping Mr. Rufus away??
Dennis
Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2003 8:25 am
by deb_in_nc
What you can do is to put a couple of feeders out of the line of site of the first two. I've heard of this happening before. That put a stop to it. Good luck.
Debbie
Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2003 7:31 am
by azsnowman
Hmmm......might have to try that! I swear, that little Red Rufus is REALLY starting to torque me off, I mean, he'll sit in a tree, waits until an unsuspecting hummer comes along then "POW!" He nails them going about 100 MPH!
Dennis
Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2003 8:13 pm
by breeze
About all you can do is let them do the natural thing and fight
it out. Wherever you put other feeders, it will continue to attract
different species of hummers, and, they'll fight for food at the
feeders. They'll keep coming back, working their strategies, until
everyone gets a chance at the feeders!
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2003 12:13 am
by pvroses
Those little rufus hummers are a little territorial aren't they ? MINE MINE MINE !!! My dad has quite a few hummers and only one feeder. The male rufus will hit the other hummers in mid air and chase them off too. Then he goes and perches his little hiney in the blue spruce just to keep an eye on "his" feeder. Every once in a while he'll go on a long chase and the other hummers zoom in for a quick bite while he's gone ! Dad can be heard cussing him out most of the day !
~K
Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2003 6:20 pm
by chiliweather
One word.... MEAN...!!
I haven't had my feeders up in 4 months. I had a family of Anna'a and the Rufus's really went to town. A young Anna was hit in mid air by that big bully she didnt make it 
I used to sit out there and hit the little @#$%'s with a super soaker...lol but it didnt make a much difference they would even fly at me...
Soon as the weather turns cold I put them back up and the Anna's seem to be the only ones around....
Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2003 7:31 pm
by Bestofour
I don't think there is anything that you can do. I've put feeders all around, and on differents sides of the house. The little buggers fly from one to the other fighting as they go. They buzz my head, unafraid, when I try to get near the feeders. Talk about bullies.
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2003 12:05 pm
by azsnowman
I've sent some of y'all photos of my *tamed hummers*, I've got them eating out of my hand "LOL!" Seriously, first thing in the morning, just as dawn breaks (0445 MST now) they will SWARM the feeders and they are NOT afraid of me one bit as bestofour said.....even the lil Rufus will land on my fingers and hands. I took a photo this early a.m., I had one sitting on my shoulder like a parrot as I snapped the photo, crazy things!
Dennis
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2003 5:58 pm
by chiliweather
I would love to see those if you dont mind... I have had one on my finger twice it was so cool... They are so light the feel like nothing
Chiliweather@msn.com
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2003 9:59 pm
by Bestofour
Are you guys kidding?
Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2003 8:20 am
by azsnowman
O'TAY folks, here's proof......my little hummers are so tamed! The *secret sauce* "LOL!" is 1 cup sugar-1 cup O' water.......boil until sugar is disolved, cool, fill the feeders, refrig. the remaining mixture.
It's amazing to see these lil' fellows up close and personal like this.......
http://community.webshots.com/user/azsnowman
Click on the "Hummer Haven" album, ENJOY!
Dennis
Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2003 9:59 am
by pvroses
Amazing pics AZ !! I could watch those little critters all day long.~K
Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2003 11:42 am
by azsnowman
They are very kewl to watch, I get a kick out of that lil Rufus now, he's got competition, keeps him and the others on their toes...or should I say talons!
Dennis
Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2003 6:38 pm
by Bestofour
Way cool. So do I have to get up at 0457 to tame my little hummers? Maybe that's why some of them are so aggressive. They aren't early birds at heart.
Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2003 7:21 pm
by azsnowman
*sigh* Bestofour.....*shakes his head* "LOL!" Sure....my hummers get up when I get up, actually, I'm up before they are, I'm up at 0430 every morning, why you ask?? I have NO IDEA "LOL!"
Dennis
Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2003 9:00 pm
by Stephanie
WOW! What wonderful pictures! Thanks for posting your webshots folder.
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2003 2:46 pm
by Bestofour
I was just kidding with you Snowman. Stop waking those birds up so early and they won't be so eager to fight with each other.