[JLO]

blam, for some odd reason, I'm not able to respond directly to you; hence this tag on this post. Although, I want to respond to Mrs. JJ too.

blam, the birds at our feeders will never let another one land at the same one. I have one feeder right outside my home office window just 2 feet away, so I get to watch a lot during the workday. They will fight to the death before letting another one onto the feeder. We have several kinds of feeders but the one I see the most is a 4 or 5 seater. If a 2nd bird comes in, it's always chased off. And one time we found a dead one right under the feeder. Glad yours get along better in the south - like you said; it must be the southern manners, LOL!

Mrs. JJ - the birds here love the flowers too. I'm not sure which they prefer, the flowers or feeders. They're all busy around here. Re: food dye - I've read where we shouldn't add it to the nectar as it is bad for them.

My research on this turned out to be that for hummingbird nectar to make at home that is good for them is to start with 4 parts water, add 1 part sugar and boil for 5 minutes. I've done this for years and birds come to the feeders even without the red dye.

Alas, all our little friends up this way in MN seem to have left already.

[blam]

" Glad yours get along better in the south - like you said; it must be the southern manners, LOL! "

Well, they fight at all of mine except one. Four at at time will feed at that one with 4-5 more buzzing around (not fighting) waiting to eat. I think I'll experiment with this situation some but, my first instinct is that it is that specific 'location'

Now, I had a similar situation with the blue birds around here. I built five blue bird houses, all alike, but they would, year after year, use only one particular house. So...I swapped that bird house with one in another spot and they followed their 'favorite' house. Beats me? (all the houses are exactly alike)

[blam]

"Alas, all our little friends up this way in MN seem to have left already."

Trust me, they're all here. In fact, I have some that aren't (from the books) suppose to be here, western birds, probably lost.

[tubebender]

I have read that it is a territorial thing with the fighting which they lose when fattening up in the Southern states before their long journey. Same on their return.

[mercy]

I keep out two ... one quart feeders. I mix my sugar about three to one water to sugar. Hot water from the tap works fine. No dye. In the hieght of summer they drain the entire half gallon every day.

This time of year we get a steady stream of passers-through meandering South. Our native species is the 'black chin' but this time of year we get a few of the less aggressive 'ruby throats'.

One can never see the true irredescence spectacle of these birds unless they are in full sun. The so-called black chin is actually brilliant deep purple in the sun (a small patch under the beak). The females are just a drab grey.

Despite the hundred or so hummers I have in residence here I have yet to find a nest. Guess I'll just have to climb the oak trees. I REALLY want to see a baby humming bird.

As to their nutrition. The books I have say that hummingbirds eat small insects as well as nectar and I figure they will get more bug meals with the energy I provide with the refined carbohydrates I freely supply.