The last two years we have been graced with visits by a male ruby throated hummingbird (we assume that it is the same bird because of his habits). He visited our wildflower patch, and we put up a hummingbird feeder (Mrs Vache Folle refers to it as the "nectar silo") to keep him coming. This is a glass cylinder about 12 inches high that works a little like a water cooler. Red colored "nectar" flows on demand (using the earth's gravitational pull) into a base with fake flowers into which the bird inserts his long beak. We hung this right off our deck so we could get a good view of Swifty, the name we gave the hummingbird based on the rapidity of his movements. (I know it is not creative, but we name a lot of things and were out of interesting names). He is not disturbed by our presence on the deck at all and visits the feeder throughout the day. He also spends time perched on the tip top branch of an apple tree about 40 feet to the north where he is king of all he surveys. We don't know where his nest is, but we suspect that it is in one of the tall maple trees in the side yard.
Recently, I have begun to see a female hummingbird at the feeder from time to time. She is all business, unlike Swifty who always makes a grand entrance and shows off before feeding. She perches at the feeder and takes long draughts and is then on her way. Last week, I began to see another male and Swifty getting into it around the feeder. Swifty would chase the intruder away, and they would engage in aerial combat around the apple tree. Swifty always held the field and sometimes engaged in a post-combat display of flying in a wide arc about 5 times around the feeder.
Last evening, we saw three hummingbirds at once at the feeder, Swifty, the female (I call her Christine), and the interloper male. The intruder male drew Swifty away while Christine had a good long draught. When Swifty returned, instead of going to his highly visible perch in the apple tree, he stationed himself in a maple overlooking the feeder. We could swear that he was lying in wait, guarding the feeder, and each time that another hummingbird came to the feeder, he would swoop down and drive it away. He maintained his vigil for a good hour, but, as the other birds seem to realize, he cannot watch the feeder all the time.
The nectar silo contains nectar enough for a batallion of hummingbirds, about a quart, and we change the nectar and refill it as needed. Mrs Vache Folle thinks Swifty is a greedy bastard and likens his actions to a person guarding a supermarket with a rifle and driving away all the other customers. I suggested that we install another feeder, but Mrs Vache Folle fears that this will just mean that Swifty will be doubly anxious and spend his time guarding them both, so convinced is she of Swifty's avaricious nature. Swifty seems to believe that he owns the silo, and it may be that he thinks he owns the whole yard. I wonder if the interlopers would be regarded as trespassers in a hummingbird court or if Swifty's claims would be considered excessive.
4 comments:
It is normal for hummingbirds to defend territories, especially males during breeding season. Some species (I'm thinking Rufous Hummingbirds) defend as much as an acre.
Should you wish to add a second feeder, it would be best to position it where the bird can't watch both feeders at the same time. For example, one in the front yard and the other in the back. The male will attempt to defend both if he can.
They will even defend their territory and food supply against people. I've been "buzzed" by hummingbirds on numerous occasions.
So Mrs VF was right! Thanks for the tip.
I live in an area that's considered a migratory birding 'hot-spot' and see a lot of hummingbirds. It's open country, a high elevation desert, where resources for animals are scarce and remotely spread. I keep 6 feeders out in an area of about 2 ac.. In early spring at the height of migration there were several dozen hummers using those feeders. There's a bit of an oasis effect here, a comprable equivalent in the wild would be a canyon with a spring - more shade, more flowers, etc.. mph mentioned that the behaviour is strong esp. during the breeding period, and that can't be understated. The atmosphere around all my feeders in the late afternoon is like a 'meat market' for the hummers - one big arena for the males to strut their bloodlines! I don't think extra feeders would be doing them much of a disservice - one could argue that the competition/interaction 'strengthens the herd'. A few of my feeders are near ea. other, adjacent trees - and a few are scattered more distant - gives 'em a chance to find a niche that works. They seem a very social animal and enjoy the add'l company. Every day or so I'll get buzzed by one or two of the hummers - as close as they sometimes come I'm amazed I haven't been hit
Thanks for the information, Vaughn. The more I watch Swifty, the more I think he actually enjoys defending his territory. We have suggested that our neighbors put up feeders, and I am going to add a couple more myself.
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