Date: 1/20/25 7:27 pm From: Susan Campbell <susan...> Subject: SPECIAL NOTE About Sugar Water Feeders!
All,
For those who are maintaining sugar water feeders, the next few days—especially the mornings will require some real vigilance. The 4:1 mix for hummingbirds will begin to freeze at about 27o. So that will be a concern at the coast as well as inland.
Monitoring your feeder will be very important if you have a hummingbird visiting. Especially if it is a Ruby-throated! These little birds are not as hardy as the westerners. Same goes for those with warblers, orioles and tanagers. They really will benefit from our help during this significant cold- and for some- snowy weather.
If you have been in touch with me about having a winter hummer, then you should have received winter feeding tips. Hopefully those with heated feeders will arise to find thier feeders thawed. But I would advise all to be awake, up and checking on your feeder at dawn (just before 7AM) to be certain the birds have sugar water for that important first meal of the day.
Let me know ASAP if you need tips: I have several tested methods for keeping feeders thawed. The simplest is to rotate a thawed feeder from indoors when the one outside begins to freeze. Of course, that strategy does require being an early riser and then at home to do so until the mercury rises....
I will be right there myself given we have been maintaining two Perky Pets that have not only regular Chickadees, Brown-headed Nuthatches and House Finches drinking from them but also a Northern Parula. That little bird is also eating suet but it really seems to love our sugar water. My heat lamp is ready to go first thing in the morning!
One last thing-- if you have a hummer or oriole feeder up in hopes of attracting someone special, it is not too late! You could have a bird find you in the next couple days.
