Male humingbird with light on red gorget chance to watch. A Dozen Do’s and Don’ts • DO hang feeders April 1 until December 15. • DO keep feeders clean, fresh. Change syrup (four parts water, one part white granulated cane sugar) every two or three days. • DO wash feeders with each filling, using hot water and bottle brush. For heavy soil, use soapy water; then rinse, rinse, rinse. • DO use cotton swabs or pipe cleaners to clean crevices. • DO use denture cleanser to effervesce tiny feeder parts like bee guards. • DO use moat-type ant guards. They contain only water, not pesticides, and
last for years, saving you money. • DON’T use pesticides. Hummers’ diet is 60% protein from tiny flying insects. Kill bugs and you kill hummers’ food supply. • DON’T use ant guards that contain pesticides or say “Keep out of the reach of children.” • DON’T use red dye or commercial nectars that include red dye. Dye may harm birds’ kidneys. • DON’T use commercially prepared nectars that include additives; they can be harmful to birds and waste your money. • DON’T use molasses, honey, brown sugar or artificial sweeteners. • DON’T hang feeders in direct sun or within reach of frogs or cats.
Ten Top Hummer Plants • Wild columbine • Coral bells • Flame honeysuckle • Scarlet runner bean • Zinnias • Hostas • Rose of Sharon • Butterfly bush • Bee balm • Sage species Sharon Sorenson and her husband, Charles, settled in St. Philip in 1966 and continue to improve their certified backyard habitat that to date has hosted 160 species of birds and 46 species of butterflies. She can be contacted at: forthebirdscolumn@yahoo.com