Hummingbirds

[Lylabean]

My folks have noticed more hummingbirds in the past few weeks than they've seen in a while...this article from the Clarion Ledger (http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050920/NEWS0110/50920012/1260) talks about they are migrating and how food is scarce.

My mom said she went to pick up some more hummingbird nectar and all they had left were hummingbird cakes...the woman at the store said she had a ton of hummingbird food just a few days ago.

I haven't noticed any around us but will put up a feeder..When we were in Oak Grove we had a feeder but only 1 or 2 hummingbirds but this year they seem to need the feeders more than ever.

Lynn

[reality]

Yes, I have noticed more than usual at my parents house. I also have a co-worker who lives in Trailwood in Petal, and he said he has anywhere from 6-12 at a time just about every day now since the storm.

[wilebill]

I noticed the hummingbirds right after the storm. We used to put up feeders all the time several years ago but quit. It looked like they were desperate for food, and I figured most of what they had been visiting were wiped out, so we shared some of our sugar with them by mixing it with water and putting it in a feeder.

That's all you have to do is mix sugar and water.

[Ted]

.... all you have to do is mix sugar and water.Yep. Four cups of water and one cup of sugar. Bring the water to a boil and stir in the sugar. Continue to boil for one minute. The boiling serves two purposes - makes the sugar dissolve quicker and it sterilizes the solution. Refrigerate any portion of the solution that isn't used immediately - bacteria and fungi and all kinds of nasty microbal beasties love sugar. If it turns cloudy, dump it.
Don't add any red food coloring; it's not necessary and there is evidence that some some compounds used in food colorings are harmful to the birdies.

It'sa shame hummingbirds don't eat love bugs.:)

Hmmmmmm....On second thought.....a portion of hummingbirds' diet is, indeed, small insects. They must have proteins, lipids, trace minerals and such - just like the rest of us. Now I'm wondering........:). If I Google up something, I'll post it.

[wilebill]

Thanks for posting the recipe. I didn't want to pull a "Randy Swan" and start giving out recipes without knowing the correct proportions. :)

AFAIK, nothing eats love bugs. I don't think there's any animal with so little self-respect to do so.

I tried making some love bug soup but it was hard to keep the auto paint chips out of it.

[Lylabean]

Thanks for posting the recipe. I didn't want to pull a "Randy Swan" and start giving out recipes without knowing the correct proportions. :)



:-D LOL!! Makes me laugh on this Monday morning...hehe Thanks..

Speaking of Love Bugs, I found this on snopes.com (http://www.snopes.com/critters/lurkers/lovebugs.htm#add). Apparently there are plenty of rumors about these critters.

Lynn

[Ted]

Thanks for posting the recipe.You're welcome.
I didn't want to pull a "Randy Swan" and start giving out recipes without knowing the correct proportions. :):grin: heh heh heh I saw that one, too.
Four drops of unscented, liquid, laundry type chlorine bleach per gallon of water. Mix well and let it stand for 30 minutes before use is sufficient for nearly any microbal beastie that we'll ever encounter. But it tastes like a swimming pool.:mad:

AFAIK, nothing eats love bugs. I don't think there's any animal with so little self-respect to do so.:) Well, spiders and dragonflies eat 'em. One of the welders at work claims that his chickens chase 'em down and eat 'em.

I tried making some love bug soup but it was hard to keep the auto paint chips out of it. :grin: heh heh heh
Probably best to leave 'em for the spiders, dragonflies and chickens.
Then.......whup up a big 'ole pot of spider, dragonfly and chicken Gumbo.
Mmmmmm....Boy!!! Yummy!!!
Heh heh heh