They’re back

[Silentrunning]

Jut like clockwork. We celebrate Memorial Day and our hummingbirds return. I curried the horses and put the hair out for them to build their nests. We usually don’t put out much juice for them but the recent dry spell has left most of the flowers wilted to the point that the birds won’t visit them.

 

[alp]

SR: have you got a recipe for the nectar please? Would love to seriously make one. No hummingbirds here, but parrots and finches are possible in the UK.

 

[Mrsclem]

Alp- 1 cup sugar & 4 cups water. Bring to a boil and let cool. No need to add red coloring, its actually bad for the birds.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Alp- 1 cup sugar & 4 cups water. Bring to a boil and let cool. No need to add red coloring, its actually bad for the birds.

Yep. I use the same homemade nectar. I've had quite a few hummingbirds throughout the month. I'll probably bring the feeder in now that the orioles don't seem to be showing up as much. They can eat the oranges, and the hummers will find plenty of nectar from my columbines and other natives as the season goes on.

 

[Silentrunning]

SR: have you got a recipe for the nectar please? Would love to seriously make one. No hummingbirds here, but parrots and finches are possible in the UK.

It is a commercial premixed liquid we get from the local feed store. We use it sparingly because we don’t want the birds to become dependent on it. Right now though, my roses are the only thing in bloom.

 

[alp]

It is a commercial premixed liquid we get from the local feed store. We use it sparingly because we don’t want the birds to become dependent on it. Right now though, my roses are the only thing in bloom.

Yes, good idea!

 

[MaryMary]

Silentrunning, it looks like you need an ant trap!!

I made mine out of the bottom of a water bottle and some string, but I've been wanting to upgrade it to something prettier. I had my eye on a plastic spice jar that has a pretty shape, but I really like that little terra cotta pot one. (Although, on a hot day, I bet the water would evaporate too fast. )

 

[Silentrunning]

Silentrunning, it looks like you need an ant trap!!

I made mine out of the bottom of a water bottle and some string, but I've been wanting to upgrade it to something prettier. I had my eye on a plastic spice jar that has a pretty shape, but I really like that little terra cotta pot one. (Although, on a hot day, I bet the water would evaporate too fast. )


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You’re right. Ants are a constant problem. I guess I’ try to see if I can build one of those traps.

 

[roadrunner]

You’re right. Ants are a constant problem. I guess I’ try to see if I can build one of those traps.

Would just a little bit of grease or even petroleum jelly work if you put a little on the support pole?

 

[Silentrunning]

Would just a little bit of grease or even petroleum jelly work if you put a little on the support pole?

Definitely worth a try.

 

[marlingardener]

We smeared axle grease in a 1" wide band around the feeders' support poles, cleaned the feeders to get rid of the ants, and haven't had any problem since. Now we put the grease on as soon as we put out the feeders.

 

[treeguy]

Alp- 1 cup sugar & 4 cups water. Bring to a boil and let cool. No need to add red coloring, its actually bad for the birds.

Exactly, how is red coloring bad for birds?

 

[DirtMechanic]

Borax and sugar slurry mix at the bottom the the pole will help too.

 

[DirtMechanic]

Exactly, how is red coloring bad for birds?

I have to let this person explain the thoughts. Like they say the feeder is already red. Here, we have red umbrellas too in case a Mr or Mrs Magoo is in our woods and cannot see the feeder. So we do not color nectar because its not necessary on top of the petrochemicals.

 

[treeguy]

Balony. Bologna. No science to it, all opinion of people who are Luddites. Toxic is matter of level, not material. Eat a tablespoon of salt and get back to me. The amount of whatever red colorant in 2 quarts of water with sugar would be ppm, -parts per million, hard to calculate and probably ineffective as a poison at that level. Scare mongers always assume conditions waaaayyy out of proportion to what exists in reality, and use words synonymous they believe are negative. Petrochemicals are the feedstocks of modern life, without which many kinds of things would not exist at prices the common man can afford and replace wood and metal, freeing them for better application.

Like to stay organic? Coal is organic. Have a problem with plastic floating around the oceans? People elect politicians that elect to dispose of trash in the oceans. People is the problem, not plastic, or petrochemicals, or coal, or any material used by society. Want a clean environment? First, kill all the politicians. (Shakespeare, eat your heart out)