hummingbird is guarding the feeder
epw0946
12 years ago
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How'd these big ants get IN the hummingbird feeder?
Comments (4)It's amazing how the biggest bugs can get in the tiniest places. Wonder if it's the same as a mouse...if he can get his head in the rest will follow...lol I HATE ants in my hummer feeders. To help with getting them out...unscrew the bottom...rinse as best as you can and then add a little water with some uncooked rice and shake. That should dislodge most of everything in there. What I do to keep the ants at bay is to spray cooking oil (Pam) on the limb..holder..top of feeder and that seems to keep them away. I have a feeder on a dogwood stem and I can see the ants marching toward the feeder. Spray with Pam and they stop dead in their tracks. It lasts for a pretty good while. Once I see them going to the feeder...more spray. Hope this helps some! Evelyn...See MoreHummingbird Feeders
Comments (5)Susan, Wow! The Hummzinger really IS cool. Haven't seen these in the stores, but really cannot afford them as I like to hang, at least two feeders, and this is just not within my budget, but would definitely purchase this product, if they brought the price down. Punkinhead, (Love your "handle".). What a great idea for ant guards! I have no trees close to my house for observation, so hang my feeders from those "shepherd hooks", and use to spray the poles with Pam, which works, but a bit messy and has to be repeated periodically. Jeanie...See MoreWhat should I look for when purchasing a hummingbird feeder?
Comments (0)Features to Consider When Choosing a Hummingbird Feeder: (in no particular order) Red Color The most attractive color to hummingbirds is red. Look for red in the feeder itself rather than relying on dye to color the sugar solution. Hummingbirds are very inquisitive and even just a little bit of red on the feeder itself is quite sufficient. (See below for more on red dye.) Ant Protection Built in ant moats (check the feeder's packaging) or add-on ant moats solve most of the ants-at/in-the-feeder problem. Bee Guards The most attractive color to bees and wasps is yellow. Newer model feeders from most manufacturers no longer have yellow parts. Look for hummingbird feeders that claim on their packaging that their shape discourages bees from reaching the nectar (usually found with saucer-shaped styles). Built-in Perches Hummingbirds prefer to sit when they feed if they are able to do so. Size of Feeder The smaller the better, until you determine how heavy the hummingbird usage is. Ease of Cleaning There should be no little nooks and crannies in the feeder for mold to lurk. A dishrag, a small bottle brush (an old, clean toothbrush is wonderful!), and a clean pipe cleaner should be sufficient tools for cleaning. Also very helpful are the tiny brushes specifically marketed for cleaning hummingbird feeder ports. Ease and Cleanliness of Use Look for feeders that do not require excessive twisting or snapping to be put together; this reduces the chance of sloshing sticky sugar water all over the feeder. (And your countertop, your shoes, your kitchen floor, your patio...) Rain Guard Some hummingbird feeders with their feeding ports located on top of the solution reservoir may allow rainwater to get into the feeder and dilute (and possibly contaminate) the sugar solution. Check the feeder packaging to see if a particular model is designed to limit this problem. There are also "rain guards" available, metal or plastic disks meant to hang above a feeder, marketed specifically for hummingbird feeders. Wind Resistance Feeders hung in very windy locations may spill and make quite a mess doing so; at least one manufacturer is making a saucer style feeder that can be pole-mounted. Instructions Some feeders have the nectar recipe permanently imprinted onto the feeder itself....See MoreWhere should I put my hummingbird feeder(s)?
Comments (0)How Many Feeders and Where Should I Put Them? Put out as many feeders as you are willing and, most importantly, are able to maintain. (It is even better if you also garden for hummingbirds.) Having more feeders/plants may help lessen the competition amongst hummingbirds, especially if the feeders are hung out of sight from one another (and the gardens are well-spaced). You may want to check this by thinking like a hummingbird... You may not be able to see both feeders from inside your house, but a highly territorial hummingbird will find the perch outside that overlooks both! Experiment with feeder locations; once a hummingbird has discovered that a feeder is a reliable source of food, it will remember exactly where that feeder is. Go ahead and hang a feeder right up close to your house or even on a window. (Just be aware of the potential for window collisions on unprotected, reflective glass and with screened porches and other large screened-in structures.) Hummingbirds are rather fearless, and don't mind being observed close at hand if you don't make any sudden moves. Note: The sugar solution in feeders in full sun may spoil more rapidly than that which is in shaded feeders. Feeder and Feeding Facts ALG and GARDEN WEB. Please reference these sources if you use the above information as presented here in any form or media other than for personal, individual use....See Moreblackbutterflies1974
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