Put out more hummingbird feeders NOW!!!!

The fall migration has begun!!!  I live in central Oklahoma and I have had two Ruby-throated Hummingbird families with me this year. With the two feeders out, and all of the flowers, they were all cozy and had their territories. I looked out the window early yesterday morning to see four male Ruby-throats fighting over one feeder. I had to scramble to get a couple of more feeders out. They don't need to be using all that energy fighting, they need to be fattening up, they have a long way to go.

 Hey, I got THREE out already and my Cannas are coming in!  Two Hummers here so far.  Bubba and Fra.  I'll try to get another this week.

They took me by surprise. I have never had this many hummers come in. There are about 8 new ones added to the 6 I had. It's like a swarm of bees out there.

 We have been hosting a pair of Ruby-throated all summer at our one feeder. However, since I had seen some territorial sparring starting recently, I took your advice and added another feeder this weekend.

Result?? On Labor Day we had as many as 7 Ruby-throated Hummingbiirds flitting around the feeders! Looked like the helicopter display at an airshow!!!

10 minutes ago, a hummingbird came in through the window. I had to catch it and then I took a pic with my point and shoot before I released it back out the window. I looked at the pic and was cursing myself for not getting a better shot when another one came in. A little better, I don't think it would be the same one. They're everywhere, I tell yuh. I think I will leave the window open and see what else I get. Hopefully, not that Red Wasp with the bad attitude..catching and releasing them is a whole different matter..

Hummer #3. This is too funny. I see what they are doing, now, I have watched at least a dozen do this: When the fighting starts, a smart one? will back into the living room through the open window about a foot and hover there, watching the action, until it's safe to go back out.

Occasionally, one will decide to be sneaky and go out a different window. Problem is, the other windows aren't open. Keep in mind, I'm sitting right next to them as they do this. I don't know how but, I have to get some pics of this.

As of yesterday, September 19, the flock of migrating Hummers has moved on. They should be heading to Texas, so, watch out for them. They're a feisty bunch.

 How'd you catch them?

They were dizzying outside but, when they came in, everything changed to slow motion. When one would back into the living room, it would be right beside my head and I would say something to it while it was still at the open window so it would know I was there. They would just look at me and then turn back to watch the action going on outside. It was as if they had all been hand raised. They didn't like or trust each other, though.

Some would just decide to slowly helicopter around the living room and check it out. Because of all the storms and rain we had been having, my windows were dirty enough for them to know it wasn't an open shot to the outside. Some found their way back out and with others, I would just get up and they would fly to a window and buzz there until I corraled them in my hands. I ended up having around a dozen come in. None of them really got excited about it at all.

With the crazy speeds that they were fighting with, I probably saved some from crashing into the window from the outside. Plus, I was shooting video of them.  It was a great day.