Mary, I really like that because it is sturdier than the platform feeders that use screening, which often gets nasty and holes from much use. You could clean that in the dishwasher after a good hand wash. I have some small animal cage lids around. What did you use and how did you hook the chain to the lid? Regarding copyright - put a copyright note with your name and date on every photo. That should cause some pause. If I read their policy correctly they are not claiming the right to own your photos, but the right to use your copyrighted materials. From an owner's standpoint that most likely makes no difference, since many of us might want a company to seek permission before use. They won't have to, but at least if you put a copyright mark on your photo you will get credit as it being your photo if they do decide to use it. I am seriously contemplating leaving GW completely because I don't want my emails to get on mailing lists and I don't like the fact that when I log on with my name and password it redirects my information to an unsecure site. iV is also associated with way too many affiliate sites for my liking. Sometimes there comes a point where I am not comfortable using a site that could prove to be a huge annoyance later, when I weigh it against how much I use the site now, which is very little. Also, on the bird forum I found an opt-out link for the site where you can supposedly instruct iV to not sell or give away your email addresses, but we all know how that goes. Sometimes just the act of opting out of something puts your email on the expensive (more valuable) list, as it is a comfirmation that there really is a person behind the email. Most internet security instructions say to igmore opt-outs, but since this opt-out is directly affilated and put out by iV maybe it is safer, but then again maybe not. They ARE mass marketers and information about our usage on the site is their main business. They will track us: what we read, how many times we visit, what we post, and what we buy. Data mining. I get rid of data miner files every week, do I want more on purpose? It all might mean nothing as well. To each his own. Take care, CT

I have a wire that's used in laying concrete around the edge of my shed roof & back stoop. Also, heavy hooks in lots of places out of the rain. I move shepherd crooks to places out of the wind, and we're sure having wind, now, in West Tennessee! However, they just love a normal rain, and come to the feeders in swarms at those times for some reason. Maybe the flower nectar is watered down during a rain. I've seen hummers fairly latching on feeders that are blowing more sideways than hanging down, but I still worry about the little buggers. Your old faithful's will claim the same feeding spot each year, but try to have more than one feeder out in a peaceful spot case of bad weather.

I agree with that totally. There were definitely a lot of hummingbirds here before we put up feeders, every summer. It was because we were seeing so many, but never up close, that we got the feeders. No doubt they would be fine without them, but in trade for coming close enough for us to see them, I'm happy to maintain/fill the feeders. There are where I want to see hummingbirds, and for the first time this year, they are coming "inside" the porch to visit the tiny flowers on potted plants. They've always visited Coleus blooms out in the yard, but never on the front porch while I was sitting there. Wish I knew what they were saying when they stop in mid-air a few feet away, looking directly at me, chittering up a storm. I've also added a lot of Plectranthus 'Mona Lavender' to porch pots this summer, can't say enough about how much they like these flowers! My neighbor a few doors down has a large patch of Zinnias and at any particular moment, there's several flitting around that, sometimes a lot more. If any Lantanas are hardy where you are (or you are into buying them as annuals,) that's what has always attracted them around our yard, even years ago before I started getting rid of grass and adding any other plants.

Unlike the Hourglass shaped with 4 flowers and very large Bee Guards (I think it is a PP), the Hummzinger Fancies seems to have a learning curve. Not only a learning curve, but also I think they have problem seeing and finding the feeding ports. Otherwise there is no reason for hungry birds to come check it very up close and hover right above it and not feed from it. I cut out a couple of yellow flowers and stuck them on top of the feeding ports with scotch tape and guess what? it worked immediately. now, when the regulars check it out, they go to the two ports with yellow paper flowers. But there seem to be quite a lot of hummers in my area and I would like to get all the fly byers. the old feeder did this but I am not sure about the Hummzinger Fancies. I am new at this and have not had the bee problem yet. so I am thinking of painting the flowers yellow with food coloring or something else that is safe and does not smell.