One possible way to lessen the combat might be to add feeders. By spreading the feeders around your space, you might help create separate territories. We have three different male territories in our yard, helped along by hanging the feeders 50-70 ft. apart. Each male displays in his area. Some confrontations and chases are still part of the action, or they wouldn't live up to their reputation as feisty Rufous Hummers. (We now have six feeders up, so that nearby hummers can storm them after sunset.)

Good birding, Bob
----- Original Message -----
From: MurrayH at aol.com
To: dawnsdog at rainierconnect.com
Cc: Tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2008 8:29 PM
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Hummers fighting question


Dawn-- I'm assuming they are rufous- they are notoriously confrontational. I once saw 2 males in Madera Canyon (AZ) almost annihilate each other.. . . so far, we have had only females at our feeder and haven't seen any displaying males. I wonder why you have the males and we only have females??? Maybe we could swap some dates of male/female arrivals? Murray
P.S. Are we about 15 miles north of you? M.


(Mrs.) Murray Hansen
Graham, WA
MurrayH at aol.com





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