The hummingbird feeder is back …….
I have finally found a good place for the hummingbird feeder where you can watch. It is close to the large bird bath so click on the livestream bird bath cam to watch. Unfortunately, we have only seen 4 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in our yard this year. And only 1 seems to be coming to this feeder. It is either a female or a juvenile. We do have at least 1 male in adult plumage – which of course includes that dazzling red throat. But he has yet to come to the feeder. I do have flowers scattered throughout the gardens for them: Monarda, Crocosmia, and Butterfly Weed are some of the varieties and this male is buzzing around them most of each day.
One of the problems with where I placed the feeder is the large number of House Finches we have this year and who congregate for communal baths all day long. They like to sit on top of the shepherd’s crook holding that feeder. Hummingbirds are often fearless and take no guff from anyone, but they seem uneasy with that many finches. But this 1 hummingbird has persevered – especially in the mornings.
It is still quite hot and humid here – this has been one of the hottest summers I have experienced in the almost 20 years we have lived here. And this heat has been tough on everyone since about mid-June. Normally out here, it is August we all dread. Right now, I am changing the sugar water in this feeder every day. It is in afternoon sun and even though I do boil the water, I think fermentation is likely and that is not good at all for hummingbirds. If you do have feeders and it is in the mid-high 90’s where you live, and your feeder is in the sun, consider changing the water daily until the temperatures are back down in the 80’s. No one wants drunken hummingbirds in their garden! And too much fermentation is fatal to them.