Hummingbirds in Middletown, NJ

This video is from my own back yard here in Middletown, NJ.

Two years ago I put out the feeder for the first time. That summer I got about one visit every 20 to 40 minutes. Last summer, I got about one visit every five to ten minutes. Who knows what next summer will bring.

The setup here is my Canon Vixia HF11 Camcorder on a tripod. The feeder has the rear "flower" removed so that all visits can be seen. I used a tie clasp condenser microphone that I purchased at Radio Shack, with the sophisticated method of a twist tie to hang it from the feeder. Anyway, it captured the sounds very well.

So, here it is with dead times edited out. I hope you enjoy it. When my Abyssinian cat, Lizzie, hears the buzz of these birds on my television she comes running to watch and paws at the screen.

Enjoy!

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Birds
• Hummingbirds
• Middletown
• New Jersey
• NJ
• jersey shore
• monmouth county

[meliotterbine]

I also live in Middletown and have a hummingbird -- I guess it's only one because I have never seen more than one at the same time. I have 3 feeders hung from my hibiscus plants. It is delightful to watch the hummingbird dart around the the flowers, the feeder and the yard. Do you know where they nest???

[powertube5671]

@meliotterbine I haven't yet found where they nest.

[anivid74]

Thanks for your response. I just put a feeder out. I hope I get some this year.

[powertube5671]

@anivid74 With me it started out with somewhat rare visits. One thing you can do is to mark the current level of the fluid with a Sharpie or equivalent marker on the glass. Then check to see if the level is dropping. The mark is easy to wipe off.

I have seen recs to change the fluid every three days, but I have done OK changing it no less than once per week. If it gets too foggy, it's time to change it. Too much direct sun will spoil the fluid more quickly.

[anivid74]

Where in Middletown are you? I'm in N. Middletown, have feeders out and haven't seen any. Also, what's hanging off the bottom of your feeder? I love your video. Thanks for sharing.

[powertube5671]

@anivid74 The object hanging from the feeder is the microphone that picks up the hummer sounds. Kinda sloppy.

We have a woods behind us.

The nectar is 1 part sugar to 4 parts filtered water. Coloring not used because it is bad for the birds, so I understand. Keep trying. It may take some time. I hang the feeder up at the end of April or beginning of May. We have flower gardens nearby.

We're near the NJ Transit station.

[powertube5671]

Thank you for the comment. I first put it up two years ago. At that time I was getting about 1 visit every 20 to 40 minutes. Last year it was about 10 to 20 minutes. This year they seem to be visiting the feeder every 10-15 seconds and sometimes in multiples.

I tried getting a still shot using my DSLR and flash with 300 mm lens only with moderate success. I was thinking of getting a window mounted feeder.

[sheribalex79]

What a wonderful video. I tried photographing a Ruby Throated Hummingbird yesterday but they are so small and so fast the photo wasn't clear.