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Yeah I love how they haven't come to the conclusion they have certain "flowers" that will never run out of nectar and will fiercely defend those feeders no matt

Yeah I love how they haven't come to the conclusion they have certain "flowers" that will never run out of nectar and will fiercely defend those feeders no matter how much you fill them up. Maybe they do realize that, but they just don't like sharing anyways.

wiredfool 11y ago
There is a point though, around dusk, when they stop fighting and just feed. I've seen 12-16 birds perched on my 8 spot feeder, with birds sharing spots, taking turns, just sucking it down as fast as they can. There was usually a cloud of others waiting for a turn, so there really was no way for any group to defend the feeder. I joked that 3 hummingbirds can eat in peace, but only if there are 5 others fighting nearby.
- yareally 11y ago
  That's interesting though they sometimes cooperate. Only time I really see them do that here is when it's the offspring of one. Perhaps it has to do with the species of hummingbird? The ones where I am are all Ruby Throated ones. http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ruby-throated_Hummingbird/id http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ruby-throated_Hummingbird...
  - wiredfool 11y ago
    We've got Rufous and Anna's hummingbirds. I think the cooperation comes almost as a phase transition, when the density of hummingbirds gets high enough, there's less of an advantage to chasing off a rival because there's always another bird to grab the spare feeding spot. So the most aggressive ones 'boil off' and the less aggressive ones 'solidify' around the feeder. There's still competition for the favored perches a little ways back from the feeder, but that's where the density is lower.
    - yareally 11y ago
      Make sense. Guessing you're also lucky enough to have some all year round too, which would be nice. We never get more than a handful here, so can't say for sure if they'd act the same in that situation or not. I must not be on a large migration path, though I think some pass through from previously migrations at times. I'm guessing someone else has documented ruby throated behavior, so I'll have to Google around and find out.
      - wiredfool 11y ago
        A few overwintered last year, I noticed them during a particularly cold snap when they were looking for that endless flower that they had seen earlier in the year. https://twitter.com/wiredfool/status/538947277004341251 https://twitter.com/wiredfool/status/538947277004341251
        yareally 11y ago
        Nice of you to put out a feeder for it. I would feel bad as well if I didn't and saw one here, lol.
deleted 11y ago
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wiredfool 11y ago

There is a point though, around dusk, when they stop fighting and just feed. I've seen 12-16 birds perched on my 8 spot feeder, with birds sharing spots, taking turns, just sucking it down as fast as they can. There was usually a cloud of others waiting for a turn, so there really was no way for any group to defend the feeder. I joked that 3 hummingbirds can eat in peace, but only if there are 5 others fighting nearby.

yareally 11y ago
That's interesting though they sometimes cooperate. Only time I really see them do that here is when it's the offspring of one. Perhaps it has to do with the species of hummingbird? The ones where I am are all Ruby Throated ones. http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ruby-throated_Hummingbird/id http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ruby-throated_Hummingbird...
- wiredfool 11y ago
  We've got Rufous and Anna's hummingbirds. I think the cooperation comes almost as a phase transition, when the density of hummingbirds gets high enough, there's less of an advantage to chasing off a rival because there's always another bird to grab the spare feeding spot. So the most aggressive ones 'boil off' and the less aggressive ones 'solidify' around the feeder. There's still competition for the favored perches a little ways back from the feeder, but that's where the density is lower.
  - yareally 11y ago
    Make sense. Guessing you're also lucky enough to have some all year round too, which would be nice. We never get more than a handful here, so can't say for sure if they'd act the same in that situation or not. I must not be on a large migration path, though I think some pass through from previously migrations at times. I'm guessing someone else has documented ruby throated behavior, so I'll have to Google around and find out.
    - wiredfool 11y ago
      A few overwintered last year, I noticed them during a particularly cold snap when they were looking for that endless flower that they had seen earlier in the year. https://twitter.com/wiredfool/status/538947277004341251 https://twitter.com/wiredfool/status/538947277004341251
      - yareally 11y ago
        Nice of you to put out a feeder for it. I would feel bad as well if I didn't and saw one here, lol.

deleted 11y ago

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