Feeders & Things
Mark's Hummingbirds
To borrow a line from the Hippocratic Oath:
"FIRST, DO NO HARM"
Here are a few Do's & Don'ts on feeders & other things:
Feeders
First, remember that it is a commitment to keep the feeder filled and free from dangerous bacteria that could kill the little birds you are trying to help. All in all though, it is not labor intensive and can be handled with a few minutes every 2-3 days. If you decide to maintain a feeder or two, take a look at hummingbirds.net for a comprehensive discussion.
Do----Keep them shaded if possible.....the expanding gas (air) from the sun's heat will cause most bottle-type feeders to leak. The sun can also make the nectar scalding hot and injure the birds.
Do----Allow the nectar to warm to room temperature, if stored in the fridge, before hanging the feeder....this will prevent leaking as it warms up.
Do----Try to fill/clean the feeders well after dark or well before dawn (an hour at least)...avoid near dawn & near dusk, the heaviest usage times.
Do----Use hot water when cleaning the feeder, and RINSE, RINSE, RINSE.
Do----Be alert for signs of black mold forming in the reservoir.....a little sand and hot water shaken in it can help remove the mold....remember that you have left the feeder out too long that time.
Do----Soak your feeders once a month for an hour in 1/4 cup bleach to a gallon of hot water...then RINSE, RINSE, RINSE, RINSE.
Do----Make your own nectar...cheap and easy, one part regular cane sugar to 4 parts water, bring water to a boil for a minute or two stir in sugar until dissolved, store unused portion in fridge.
Don't----put more in the feeder than will be used in 2 to 3 days
If it gets cloudy at all, it's spoiled and may harm the birds.....you have left it out too long.
Don't----EVER use honey (this can kill them) or other sweeteners.....just plain sugar and NO dyes/food color, they aren't needed.
Other Things
Do----Examine your trees & bushes before pruning and yard work....our black-chinned nest was hidden in a rose branch, intruding on our front porch, that I was going to hack off.
Do---- look at Project Wildlife if you find what you think is a hummingbird in distress (or any wild animal for that matter). It will tell you how to determine if it is in distress and give emergency directions on what to do.
Do----Limit your use of pesticides
Here in Arizona you may have to use some......we have palmetto bugs....which is the uppity way of saying "cockroaches big enough to saddle" as well as fire ants.....but be careful and judicious. Hummingbirds eat lots of insects and spiders as well as visiting lots of flowers. Wholesale use of pesticides will almost guarantee harm to them. When you weigh 1/10th of an ounce it doesn't take much toxic material to harm or kill you. Incidentally, the pesky cobwebs that tend to form on our stucco house have all but disappeared since we began putting up our feeders thanks to the hummers. I did coat the very base of a bush my black-chinned mom built her nest in after seeing a special about fire ants raiding bird's nests at night to devour their nestlings. My judgment call I guess.