I think so. But they get nasty pretty quick when it gets hot out, excluding algae.

I think sun hastens algae growth.

I haven't seen any hummers here yet. It's still early for us, and I don't have flowers or feeders for food, but twice in the past couple of days I've heard that distinctive whirr of hummingbird wings nearby. I don't normally hang a feeder but I do have one...thinkin' I'll give it a try.

Must be the "weeds."

A few hummers are always here over winter and a bunch of new ones showing up.
Have several feeders out and about . These little guys keep the grocery list with sugar. And by the way plain sugar for 10 lbs is $9-$1o.oo. Store brans to C&H.
There's one Lil gal that follows me around the garden . Always beeping …

That's amazing, Bea!

I put out my 2 feeders about 10 days ago. I had been "hearing" them fly about so finally put the feeders up. By that afternoon there was traffic at the feeders.
I have found they like all different kinds of flowers. Even zinnias. I usually have coleus and let them flower..those are popular with them also. Salvias are a favorite too.

Good to know, Lizzie, wasn't sure they were here yet. I think I've been hearing them, but haven't seen any because none of my nectar flowers are blooming yet. Really need to remember to pick up sugar!!

I got into a discussion with a lady on this facebook group I'm in, that insists it's not necessary to change out the hummingbird food. I told her she should either do it right or not do it at all because the mold that develops kills, but she said she'd been doing it that way for fifteen years without any problems. But, then she went as far as to say the sugar is a preservative.

I replied, with that, they won't need to embalm me when I die with all the sodas I drink.

Does she also think the earth is flat?

Probably!

How sad. Not for her, but for the hummers. Ask her if she wants to drink out of a moldy cup? After a time, fermentation can occur, creating alcohol. Hummers aren't able to drive each other home.

She seemed uninterested in anything I had to say.

Could just be a dumb bot that was told to argue with people.

Possibly. Hopefully. But, some people do seem set in their ways.

Had my first confirmed sighting yesterday at a feeder. Today I caught one flying away from the general direction of the other feeder.

At least one of the little buggers has figured out the directions to free food.

I have had my feeders out for a week now but still no sign of hummingbirds yet. Just took a look at the 2023 migration map and apparently someone in northern Ontario has spotted a ruby-throat (town is west of my location). I am amazed by the number of ruby-throats that have been spotted along the east coast of the USA and Canada. Seems like ruby throats outnumber other species of hummers. Maybe they know somehow that there aren't enough flowers yet (only pulmonaria and some daffodils) to sustain them. I have even got cotton placed out for the females to use in the nest after watching Olive the hummingbird on the Allen live cam. She made herself a really comfy nest using cotton. I am really anxious to welcome them back.


https://www.google.com/maps/d/...

I haven't seen a hummer since Tuesday. I have no theory about why.

He has arrived safe and sound in northern Ontario Canada. Just saw Mr. ruby-throat who I will name Englebert Hummingbird checking out the feeders which were empty. Had put them out a while ago and the juice dripped out bit by bit so now the work starts for me -- keeping feeders clean and filled. All he has to do is eat and wait for the lady hummers.. I am so happy to see him again.

I'm glad you've got your male hummer back, the females will definitely be there with him. I've yet to see a hummer in my backyard even though they've been reported even north of my area, but then I haven't been outside looking all that much either. The feeder and plants are there for them.

Edit: And within 30 minutes of posting that, I went out the back and there was a male hummer checking out the plants still in their store-bought containers!

Well, Englebert Hummingbird is back and so is the SNOW. The weather dude forcast rain last evening but this A.M. I got up expecting not to be able to get into the garden because it would be wet but, on opening up the curtains was shocked to see snow and it is still snowing right now. Poor little bird has to go into his state of torpor I guess. There probably wouldn't be any flying to my feeders and definitely not to the pulmonarias which are the only plants in bloom in my garden at this point in time.