I never had this problem, but some folks in Arizona, Colorado and California often get dozens and dozens of hummingbirds coming to their feeders.

The trick is to have the right number of feeders and to make sure they are the right size for your yard. If you live east of the Rocky Mountains, you will attract Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in the summer. Out west you may see six or seven species in your yard - even more in southeastern Arizona! Did you know that 19 of the 338 species of Hummingbirds have been seen in the United States? The rest are in Central and South America.

You will want to keep the Hummingbird's nectar fresh, so a 12 or 16 ounce feeder is ideal. Since Hummingbirds are very territorial, we suggest that you place two or three feeders in your yard in a shady spot protected from the wind. Once they know the feeders are there, you might want to move them closer to your house for a better view.

To make the nectar, mix one cup of white sugar with four cups of water. Boil for 1-2 minutes and cool. Keep this mixture in a sealed container in your refrigerator and use it to refill the feeders every few days. Do NOT add red food coloring.

If you have a LOT of hummers in your yard you may want 32 ounce feeders. Remember, you do not have to fill them all the way to the top. For any feeder, it is important to clean them in hot water every three days to prevent mold.

Recommended Feeders

Recommended Hummingbird Books

 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds at Feeder

I had a lot of fun recently watching the newly-hatched Ospreys and Swallow-tailed Kites squawking and begging for food here in Naples, Florida. They both use a jumbled pile of sticks as a nest, but somehow they manage!

Perhaps you have a Dove building a nest near your porch - or you found a Robin's nest in the tree out back. Maybe you were lucky enough to find the woven hanging nest of a Baltimore Oriole.

This is a good time of year to go birding with your ears. You might discover hidden nests with birds begging for food. Listen carefully at the woodpecker hole as mom brings back lunch to the kids! If you find a nest can you identify it? These resources may help:

A Guide to Eggs, Nests & Nestlings

Thayer's Birds of North America
This amazing computer program covers 985 birds and includes 1,400 bird songs and 6,000 photos, including 542 photos of eggs and nests from the Chicago Academy of Sciences. 

 Barred Owl Fledglings