Hummingbirds!
Welcome to my hummingbird photolog!
First day hummingbird feeder
After walking to the Farmer’s Co-op to buy a Perky-Pet Hummingbird Feeder, I went online to watch videos on the placement and cleaning of the pinch-waist glass feeder I had chosen. Since we’re having such an early spring followed by a mild winter (or no winter at all, really) I thought perhaps migration could be earlier than usual and looked at the company’s hummingbird migration map online. However, I found a bunch of maps online including this ruby-throated hummingbird map to be more helpful. It looks like they’re coming through the Ozarks right about now!
Here is a look at the feeder from the window – I believe I need to adjust the height so it hangs a bit lower, maybe? Haven’t seen any hummingbirds yet, but when I do, I’ll post pictures here! Hummingbirds, lizards, raccoon, opossums, and other wildlife are all part of our plan to practice creating native habitat. In this case, for example, learning to maintain a hummingbird feeder is just half of it – to be really sustainable, I need to also plant different flowers that will sustain the hummingbirds on more than just the sugar water from the feeder. This is all practice for living well our dream 🙂
I have a lot to learn about humingbirds. Like *slaps head* I just read, after filling the feeder with straight-up sugar from Ozark Natural Foods (no food coloring) that white cane sugar is best, and that the iron in turbinado sugar will poison them? Is this true?! I believe we used turbinado but I’ll have to ask Ryan about that…
UPDATE April 12th, 2012:
Aspects Hummzinger High View Feeder
No, we are not using turbinado but basic cane sugar. The Perky Pet feeder pictured here actually leaked, one of the plastic flowers was falling off, and mold grew within 5 days on the inside of the glass but I didn’t have the special tube brush to clean it. I returned that feeder and ordered this Hummzinger High View feeder from Amazon.com. We’re waiting for it to arrive in the mail, which I think just might be today!
I believe white sugar cane is best. You can add red color to the water, as hummingbirds like color. You can also buy a small bunch of impatients ( annual flowers) from your local farmers market if available and plant them around your feeder. They love the variety of colors and nector.:)
Thanks mom! Actually, everyone might consider these links about adding red dye to the nectar:
http://www.hummingbirds.net/dye.html
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/hummingbird/msg0618481024707.html?10
http://www.worldofhummingbirds.com/nectar.php
I forget what native plants are recommended to attract hummingbirds here but I’ll look it up on our Wiki again. Do you get hummingbirds there yet?
It’s refined cane sugar, not turbinado! It’s organic, but still normal sugar. I don’t think it’s bleached, but it shouldn’t give them any problems.
~Ryan