DuckMeRunnin
member
Reged: 12/17/05
Posts: 2739
Loc: Missouri
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A little while ago, I was walking toward the garden. I was still in the shade and about to enter the sunlit area.
I saw a few swarms of gnat size bugs, and a young hummingbird appeared and hovered near them. It proceeded to pluck them out of the air like an old lady would pick blackberries. It would eat several, fly to a limb, wipe its beak, and go back for more.
I watched this from about twenty feet and got a first hand look. I had no idea they did this, but it makes sense. They have to get in shape to migrate, and a strictly nectar diet ain't cuttin' it.
It was cool as hell to see, so spare me the flying old lady comments. 
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hucklburry
member
Reged: 12/15/05
Posts: 948
Loc: Daniel Boone's Neighborhood
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They are doing a piss poor job of controlling the gnat population, maybe we should put out less feeders?
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Deadeye
member
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 963
Loc: Perry,Clarksville,Hillsboro Ca...
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Dam downy woodpeckers are using my hummer feeders like crazy.
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Jig & Ellie are my green headed corn grinder finders
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67Firebird
Former political advocate
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 9172
Loc: Russellville, Mo
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I didn't know that either. The only thing I've seen eating those swarms has been bats, when I was night fishing from a gravel bar. They would do crazy figure-8 flyin' through the big swarms. 
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sptsman
member
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 6194
Loc: Missouri
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My hummingbird feeders are on the porch and about 25'-30' from a crab apple tree they use for cover and probably nest in. As I sit on my porch swing, only a few feet from the feeders, I can watch them eating insects around and on the crab apple tree, between drinks from the feeder. When I first saw it a few years ago, I had to look up what they eat and was surprised to learn they ate the bugs for their protein requirements.
Now that the dog days of summer are here the feeders are in full use. They empty three a week now...
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"Hunts are best measured by the endurance of the memories they produce..."
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sptsman
member
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 6194
Loc: Missouri
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Burning through a little under a gallon a day now. I have 4 el-cheapo feeders and they are under full assault by about 30-40 hummingbirds. They are roosting in the crab apple tree about 10-15 yards away and the large pin oaks about 50 yards away. Early mornings and later in the evenings they look like a swarm of bees... 
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"Hunts are best measured by the endurance of the memories they produce..."
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sptsman
member
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 6194
Loc: Missouri
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The little bastages must be getting ready to bolt. They are in a feeding frenzy the last several days... I thought we would lose some over the weekend but they all seem to still be here. 
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"Hunts are best measured by the endurance of the memories they produce..."
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67Firebird
Former political advocate
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 9172
Loc: Russellville, Mo
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We've had about six regulars here, and they haven't slowed down at all. They've still been buzzing past my window every day.
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sptsman
member
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 6194
Loc: Missouri
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Welp, this little cool snap over the weekend musta done it. I haven't sat and watched too long but it looks like most, if not all of them have headed south.
Might get a few migrate through, so I'll keep the feeders up a few weeks then put 'em away 'til spring...
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"Hunts are best measured by the endurance of the memories they produce..."
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HAUS
member for now
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 4054
Loc: Paradise
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last time I saw an eagle down here was in June. Just heard one awhile ago down on the river. they are starting to stay longer and come back sooner each year. i'm pretty sure we have some that stay year round.
just hope the hummingbirds don't run them off 
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Never kick a fresh turd on a hot day..
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