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Post by johntampa on Aug 8, 2009 10:59:38 GMT -5
At last saw my first Ruby-Throated Hummingbird in the back yard. Time was 8:40AM..Great! hope that this is the beginning for my yard. Dont know if it was a male or female...
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Post by johntampa on Aug 9, 2009 11:38:16 GMT -5
Again today had a hummer feeding at my plants. This was about 12:04PM around my feeder. I see a suggestion to change the amount of sugar to one cup to three cups of water to draw them to the feeder. Will see what this does.
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Post by Steve Backes on Aug 9, 2009 12:54:21 GMT -5
John,
The increased percentage of sugar probably won't help out your current situation. It may... but it may not. One reason people are currently seeing birds going to flowers but not feeders is likely because they're seeing young birds who don't recognize the feeder as food. It's got to try the feeder before it will realize that it's food. My guess is that if they try the feeder, they will return to it whichever concentration that you're using. Although, they will continue to try everything around until there is a reduction in available food or an increase in competition for food.
The 3:1 mix is most effective in cases when it may freeze or where there is the potential for a "better" source nearby. If you're competing with a neighbor's feeder or if there is a very good source of flowers nearby the increase in sugar percentage may be enough to attract birds away from the other sources.
Feeder design may play into the how quickly a young bird discovers feeders. I've recently acquired a dish type feeder that I've put in a spot where a feeders been hanging that has been attracting young birds. Since hanging the new feeder, I've not seen any birds using it even though they've hovered around it. I think it looks less like a flower than the old feeder and the birds aren't sure where to feed. I'm sure they'll eventually figure it out and then it may become a preferred feeder. In the mean time, I'm putting one of the old style feeders nearby.
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Post by johntampa on Aug 13, 2009 17:26:22 GMT -5
Steve, thanks! I now have two types of feeders up. Have two hummers doing both flowers and the feeder. The feeders are new to the yard, and I think placement matters..might be wrong, but, at least seeing some birds.
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