A Crowd Only a Birder Would Love

[Loupey]

Took the family to Hope Lake S.P. this weekend to experience the hand-feeding program of ruby-throated hummingbirds.

Two hours later, we arrive to find a rather odd sight - about 50 people sitting or standing in rough concentric circles all holding up small containers in the air. A bunch of silent people of all walks of life all mimicing the Statue of Liberty

Like slot machines, nobody knew which "feeder" was going to strike it with the hummingbirds. Sometimes, the containers left by people going to the outhouse "hit it"

[Loupey]

As you can imagine, some people lost interest (so to speak).

I don't know whether or not I would recommend it. Depends if you live close by or if the weather cooperates as it did when we went. The action was fairly constant but the numbers seemed somewhat thin. The most I saw at one time was 6.

But you know how it is in Ohio. We get excited over ruby-throateds in even small numbers

Here is the link to the park:

http://www.lakehopestatepark.com/

[mjs1973]

Very cool Loupey. I bet the kids loved it. I think I read about this park in Birds and Blooms a while back. If not, it was a park with a similar program.

On a side note, I saw my first RT Hummer at my feeder this weekend. I have seen others earlier this summer, but this was the first at my feeder. I hope he sticks around long enough for me to get a photo or two.

[quetzal]

Thats pretty cool Loupey. Thats a fun thing to do at a park with the family. I get excited just seeing one hummer at my feeder and this summer I finally saw two.
They're awesome little birds.

[Bevb]

Lol! super series Loupey and an amazing place by the looks of it, love the images you have caught of the people, and images 8 & 9 are terrific.

[Loupey]

Thanks for commenting, Michael, quetzal, and Bev.

It was fun. The drive was pretty and we had a nice BBQ on the way back.

Michael - keep your sugar water fresh and at 4:1 ratio. The ranger told us that the stronger 3:1 ratio is actually harmful to the birds as they cannot process the higher concentration. No dyes nor perfumes should be used.

We too have some frequent visitors at our feeder at home. We get one to come about every 30 minutes. But they don't let us get anywhere near them. They will, however, come and buzz directly over our heads when we are out on the deck only to zoom away if we look up.

[Knight]

Splendid Captures Loupey , must have been quite the experience . I Captured one with my 105 today ill post it up later

[mn shutterbug]

Very interesting. I really like the last 2 shots. You can tell the cute little girl in the second to the last, is just thrilled to have her picture taken with a hummingbird.

[paulnj]

I'm back and busy beyond belief.........

But these are some great images of people I laugh at as a birder

[mobiek]

Great photos of the birds.

[Yarrow]

That looks pretty cool. Great shots. I love the one with the little girl.

[Loupey]

Thanks everyone. The little girl in the last shot is a friend of my daughter who we took with us. Believe it or not, but she had never even seen a hummingbird before (city-folk ). If I remember correctly, she feed three that day.

Thanks for looking!