I got this cute little hummingbird feeder at a thrift shop several weeks ago and finally got around to cooking up a batch of nectar for it. I like this one because it's small and has only one feeding hole. I positioned it so I could see the frequent visitors quite easily. I got this photo with my iPhone last night while I was sitting on the balcony with Webster after a long day of weed trimming. It's not very sharp because a lot of quality was lost because I was zoomed all the way in. I'll take my SLR outside with me and see if I can get something sharper later in the week. I love these wee birds that have migrated to New Jersey for the summer. My red geranium has big buds that will be open soon and they will love it. They have been buzzing around my lamb's ears too because their tiny flowers have deep throats. Enjoy your Sunday.
Nectar recipe: one cup of sugar with four cups of water. Stir to dissolve sugar, bring to a boil on the stove, cook for 2 minutes to slow down the fermentation and cool. Store excess in refrigerator.
The average ruby-throated hummingbird weighs 3 grams. In comparison, a nickel weighs 4.5 grams. More fun facts here.
I found two photos online. The first is for my female ruby-throated hummingbird shown more clearly than in my blurry photo. The second is an antique print of the male found @ Natural History's blog.
The average ruby-throated hummingbird weighs 3 grams. In comparison, a nickel weighs 4.5 grams. More fun facts here.
3 comments:
Do you suppose the males of this species were given the beautiful ruby throat as a colorful way to attract the females?
Another tip, if I may, is that the water needs to be changed frequently, say every 2 or 3 days. Mine seems to get cloudy fairly quickly; I think it has something to do with the heat it receives from the hot sun--unless someone has a better idea.
Feeders are great but everyone should know they do NOT belong in the direct sun. The sugar continues to ferment in heat, which is dangerous for the hummies. Also it goes without saying any liquid that gets too hot can burn tongues. Especially tiny ones. So, not good. Please put all hummy feeders in shady spots. :)
Thanks for tip about sugar fermentation, but it may be difficult for this condo-urban-dweller to find a shady spot where I can enjoy seeing them feed.
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