WESTERN HUMMINGBIRDS VOL.8

This guy wouldn't sit still for me, he was too busy running off the other hummers from the feeder.

See, there he goes.

He is gorgeous duc!

I just went outside to photograph my hummers and noticed they were having trouble drinking the sugar water from the feeder. Come to find out, both of the (filled full) feeders were frozen solid. This is the first time in the 7 years we've lived here that this has happened.

My hubbie and I came up with this solution-a plastic bottle with the bottom cut out over the top and a cold can insulator from the Dollar Store with that bottom cut out. Hopefully this will work if I bring the feeders in at night.

Great idea duc! I hope your garden will be ok. 'frozen solid' isn't good for zone 8b :(

Hi Duc,
Having to deal with this problem for a few years I found that
the lower area where the birds feed freezes up quickly and even though
the fluid in the bottle is not frozen the narrow passage in the plastic is.
I had to construct a heat source underneath,
I posted a link somewhere up above on this page to a fella who used an
aluminum baking pan.
I considered that for this years design.
An aluminum pie plate upside down and covered with aluminum foil
and a long wire holding both the feeder and a trouble light that was
wrapped inside the aluminum foil.
Added a tree to make things festive.
and (oh goodie) made a drawing to show that (upload after this)

I used old wire hangers that I saved to make a long wire
that bent to hold the feeder and bend back to sort of center
the trouble light under.
the way the hook at the bottom helps the pie plate to stay up

after the wire is formed the aluminum foil goes on first and then
the pie plate to wrap over that and once the trouble light is hooked
and turned on then fold the aluminum foil over the trouble light and
I used garden wire to keep it in place.

As soon as I came in and took the screen out of the window
the hummers were on it--
(drapes are reflected in the window)

and with the window open
and flash used.

Forgot one instruction.
I didn't make the hook at the bottom until after the centering and threading of
the aluminum foil then pie pan, then make hook with a horizontal leg at the end
as not to poke the pie plate again.
Last year I made a heat source with an old desk lamp that is the kind that has
metal arms and joints and articulates and had it lamp down and rested the feeder on
foil and screen on top of the light which was facing verticle. Too many ties to hold the
feeder when you had to fill and clean. Hopefully this years design makes that easier.

Also have this kind of hummingbird feeder and was going
to put a light source underneath it but noticed that this one
did not freeze as fast as the other kind (barrel). There is no
small plastic passage and the liquid takes longer.
Yesterday however, everything froze except for the one on
a heat source.

Silhouette

G morning 12*F out and as an experiment to see how cold
the contraption would handle left one of the feeders attached
last night and it froze up. (I also cover the glass)
That means more heat if these temps persist-- weatherpeople say
a day or two more ..... but winter is just beginning.
So in the twenties this works but below that constant observation
(while I'm around) and switching is necessary.
The lamp last year was better at lower temps.
At one point thought of electric heat cables for water pipes but
never pursued the project.
And that flat model may have to be heated, in a week will have more
time to play.
Have a wonderful day.
(World domination is put on hold due to the coldsnap
I think he whispered his name to me, something long and confusing
so he said just call him wee-tsee)

This mornings flash pic. Saw him on the wire and clicking fast not
rasping -- fast paced clicks that grew faster as I approached with
a feeder I wasn't going to put on but felt the need to.
He let me hook the thing a foot away and under him and kept clicking
and did a lift and turn around.
Hope he lets the others have some nectar.

Dirt, that's mighty cold for you to be out taking photos. We're at 23 degrees today and I'm anxious for summer already!! Thanks for your suggestions on keeping the sugar water warm. Your pictures are so cute. Have you seen any hummers sitting in the little Christmas tree-what a cute picture that would make! Love that last photo with the flash-it really shows the pretty colors of our birds.

I think my birds are getting grumpier every day-maybe the cold is affecting them like it is me.

This one sure showed his personality.

Great pictures, Duc.
They both have emperor swagger in them.

Now that the feeders are close to the window its going to
be hard to get good pictures. Too many reflections and bad angles
but I want them to survive this wave of cold weather and this winter--

The little hummers have come up to the red bulbs and examined them for
food but not landed on the tree. That would be a cool photo.

Already "wee-tsee" has moved from the arbor to a honeysuckle vine
to better watch the feeders. Didn't have the time to play outside but
did put up a heat lamp that I had from a few years ago over two of the
other feeders. The problem with the heat lamp is if I am away and the
weather warms quickly the lamp melts the plastic.
Right now the hummers are enjoying the nectar and the warmth,
one a small petite female just sat and sipped and like a tea setting --
sipped and had better manners than me.
So if you see less pictures from me its not from trying its just a small
loss in order to make them happy.

There was an interesting visit from a new hummingbird, an Anna
(another bad picture, sorry)
Looked like a mexican standoff.
The one closer was drawn to the red plates of the "big" birds feeder
and instead of attack, "wee'tsee" just sat and watched. Then they
both I guess for a better term "tasted" the suet on the feeder. I
know hummers eat small insects, could they also get protein from
suet. I really don't know. Stranger phenom has happened like
chickadees sipping nectar which as you know I didn't believe till
I saw it over and over again. They both flew off but it wasn't in
chase mode. I am being drawn into their little world with each
passing day.

Dirt, cute photo! That is certainly unusual. Maybe they were just pecking a bug off of the suet? Or maybe they were just testing it to see if it was any good food. I'm not sure I've ever seen them on my suet.

It's way too cold to stand outside and photograph these little guys. Stay warm and just enjoy your birds-that's what I'm doing.

G'Morn-- have time for this one post.
here's a bad pic of the heat lamp over the two feeders-
too cold all ready, 13*F, and a full red headed hummer
was feeding on it at the crack of dawn.
Got this pic little later, 4 different hummers from what I
can tell visited this thing. I didn't see "wee-tsee" -- I can
spot him already. At least later this week it should warm up
in the 20's and 30's and fairly good chance of snow. I would
rather have snow than this cold stuff.
The suet thing -- maybe it was just curiosity - I see them
examine many things but quickly -- yesterday it was a prolonged
few seconds than the otherwise peck and go. Fun to watch.
You guys stay warm too and your other pics on the daily are fabulous.

Amazing! Thanks so much for keeping the nectar thawed for those beautiful hummers!

GMorn Pelle -- Its always a pleasure to see a few of these wonderful
little creatures have a chance to get through this cold time and of course
winter.
This morning-- 17*F and they are having breakfast.

The chickadees also came up to the other feeder
yesterday. Pretty sneaky and fast. Too fast to
get a pic.
Little warmth with the nectar.

Yikes, that 17 degrees is way too cold for me!! Love the sock on that feeder Dirt!! I sure feel sorry for you and your hummers in that cold. We got a tiny bit of rain overnight so it has warmed up to 38 degrees here.

I'm taking my photos through the windows for a while too.

Another one.

Great pics Dirt and Duc. I haven't been able to any pics of birds today especially hummers. At least they are still
around.

Thankyou CC.
Duc -- yours are so pretty and handsome.
That's a window shot.
I"m never gonna show another picture again.
See how dedicated I am having to walk one
barefoot out there to check on the feeders.
They have me wrapped around their fingers
(if they had even one.)

(and don't worry I'm like your relative who pulls
out the family album even if you saw the same ones
over and over- there will be pictures, bad ones)

edit for bad everything, I hate English, but its the
only one I know.

This message was edited Dec 11, 2009 12:20 PM

Wow 17! Right now our wind chill is 18 and it was much colder earlier. Great job dirt!

Duc, I especially love that second shot!

Dirt, you're doing great. I got to thinking that perhaps you could also put that saucer humzinger in one of those heated bird baths. I think an invention is waiting to be made… you could be RICH!!!! ;)

We're heating up! It's 39 degrees this morning and we're getting some much-needed sprinkles. Pelle and Dirt, hope some of the warmth reaches you too!

This tough little guy was shaking off the drizzles.

More preening.

Nice ones duc! We're much warmer with no wind today.

Beautiful as always. Did you take those inside or outside? It's in the 40's here so, I guess we are
warming up. This is a warmer storm although, I'm still waiting for the STORM!! :(

Now, there's a coincidence duc. We're expecting 39 degrees today as well.

Gorgeous shots.

Let me translate…
102.2

I need some of that…

EEEEEKKKKK 102.2 ...I'd be dead.

Is it a dry or humid heat Margaret?

Mostly dry, Pelle, as the heat trough forms. Then when the heat trough moves east, the temperature decreases, but the humidity skyrockets. Right now, there's such a strong smell of the ocean because the trough has moved inland. All I can say, is thank goodness for hair straighteners. Parts of Perth exceeded the forecast maximum today, with two of the airports going over 40C. We only got to 37.9 (just over 100F) before the welcome sea breeze came in.

I'll take your heat any day Margaret. We have the dry heat here during the summer and I love it.

CC, I took the above photos through the kitchen window.