joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

I recently switched to a signal orifice feeder thinking that the birds would be more predictable and easier to capture.

Typically hummer feeder behavior consists of sipping nectar, backing off a few inches momentarily, and repeating the cycle several times. The idea is to capture them when they are away from the feeder. Not so with the new feeder...the birds would feed without backing off or rarely back off until finished. Based on my experience this is atypical behavior. So my hummer images mostly included the feeders.

So I set up a couple of the old feeders and the first hummer to use it went right to the typical behavior and I was able to capture it away from the feeder.

Back to my old feeders...lesson learned.

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(Download)

flyguy Loc: Las Cruces, New Mexico

A couple of great shots.

flyguy Loc: Las Cruces, New Mexico

Got distracted and posted twice

angler Loc: StHelens England

Excellent pair Joer.

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

kpsk_sony

Best way to get them off the feeder is to jump up and down while waving your arms!!! (I thought everyone knew that!)

Wanderer2 Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains

I sure would need a huge number of single orifice feeders to satisfy the crowd that visits my feeders every day. So I use 8 orifice feeders and often have as many as 6 birds on one feeder. Most do land and sit but a few feed while hovering.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

With that set up, can you capture them without including the feeder?

Wanderer2 Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains

I already have quite a number of hummer photos of various sorts and my purpose with the feeders is to provide nourishment. We have an ununual occurrence this year here where I live, at 7800 ft in the Rocky Mountains, in that there is a complete absence of wildflowers at this point. I haven't seen a single one! By this time most years they are abundant and last spring by this time there were carpets and carpets of yellow wildflower blossoms that provided lots of food for the hummers, and once the blooms were fully out I did not even feel a need to feed them. Very different now.

So my goals are different than yours. However, to answer your question, it is possible to get photos of them without including the feeders if the photographer is in exactly the right position and the angle is just right. But it isn't easy. Also, a small part of the feeder showing can be removed in post processing. And if very lucky and the camera is immediately available, one hovering might be captured. In that case sitting in a good spot with an interesting book to read might be in order!

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Top-level captures 🖤💚❤️💚🖤

J-SPEIGHT Loc: Akron, Ohio

Nice shots Joe

JeffDavidson Loc: Originally Detroit Now Los Angeles