It took me all summer to get a decent photo of one of my hummers. They are persistent, territorial, finicky, aggressive little buggers but they are fun to have around. We have a love/hate relationship...I do hate the upkeep of feeders, they spoil so quickly in the sweltering NC heat. I recommend putting them in a shady area, if possible. When I put out a new batch, I add ice cubes in with the syrup, I know they melt quickly but every little bit helps. You need to keep your feeders clean, spoiled food can make your little guys sick. I use white distilled vinegar and a toothbrush or bottle brush. Do not use any kind of soap or detergent on your feeders.
Every year, I stand in front of the seed section at my local stores, mouth agape, until it finally breaks its hold on me until I walk off, sucking my teeth with a "tsk, tsk," and shaking my head at the price of pre-made sugar water. It’s as easy as boiling water (4 parts water to 1 part sugar).
Every year, I stand in front of the seed section at my local stores, mouth agape, until it finally breaks its hold on me until I walk off, sucking my teeth with a "tsk, tsk," and shaking my head at the price of pre-made sugar water. It’s as easy as boiling water (4 parts water to 1 part sugar).
Going "Au Natural"
When you make the decision to construct a butterfly garden, you will surely attract hummingbirds. While I can’t imagine someone would not welcome these spirited little visitors, keep a few things in mind when you plant your garden:
Hummingbirds are aggressive, energetic little buggers. I like to have them around, I find them thoroughly entertaining and joyful, but they are testy and possessive over a food source. They don’t understand that their food will be abundant around your house, so if they find a feeder or flower they like, they will fight each other to maintain possession over it. Using water misters and perches will almost guarantee happy hummers. |
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