Since we started putting out hummingbird feeders about 7 years ago, the number of birds buzzing around here (and we do mean "buzzing") have really grown. From what we've read, for every 1 hummingbird you see there are really 4 in the area. (click on any picture to enlarge)
By that reasoning, we have over 100! So we put out two feeders (quart of sugar water) that they consume every day. We used to buy it pre-made, but couldn't keep it in stock, so we now make it ourselves: 1 part sugar to 4 parts cool water. They only weigh an ounce, but they drink twice that each day. Nector (and sugar water) are just energy drinks for them. Thier real meals each day soft-bodied insects and spiders. They really like fruit flies.
After and during rain storms, the feeder is especially busy as they can't fly as well with wet feathers. On a really hot day when I've just refilled the feeder with refrigerated feed, they must send out a signal to the others that says: "Ice cold refreshments now being served!" because they all come in at once!
This was a once in al lifetime shot of a hummer watching a butterlfy! "Come here often?" she seems to be asking. I was inches from them taking these pictures. the detail close up is pretty cool. (Click to enlarge this one espcially!) We usually spend a few minutes each evening just sitting on the porch listening to them chittering to each other. If you've never seen and heard them up close , it's a real treat. I tried to upload some video with no luck... so will have to wait til next year - so sorry!
One day I came out to find a small male hummer lying on his side next to Jim's Tahoe on the driveway. I figured he'd hit the dark glass and died. So I picked him up to bury him and held him in my hand. As I looked at him, his little eyes came open to look at me! He WASN'T DEAD afterall! It was a hot day and he was probably really dehydrated. So I took him inside to give him a little drink. I held him in the sink and let little drops of our purified water trickle over his beak... he began to come out of it! Then he started to drink... and then tried to fly! Eeeks!! I didn't want him flying around the house, I might never catch him! So I cupped my hands and headed out the door. I opened my hands and he turned to look at me with those little eyes, as if to say, "Thanks for saving me!" and he took off to one of the crab apple trees next to the house!
Later that month I found a baby hummer being attacked by an aggressive male on the feeder. He looked hurt and for an hour didn't move from the feeder. So I went out to investigate. Poor little thing looked exhausted. So I again thought I'd better try to help. Jim and I both took turns feeding him every hour all evening. By 10 pm, he wouldn't eat anymore, so we did what we'd read and placed him in a box, but we added a tiny tree branch to sit on, which he did. He was still alive the next morning, but unwiling to eat much. So we decided to put him outside in the flowerbox to see if he'd be OK. Poor little thing didn't make it past 3o minutes. :(http://www.hummingbirds.net/ This link has some amzazing info about hummingbirds.
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