Snow Hummers

[Wags]

There are two or three of these little guys camping out near my feeder this week, trying to get through our unusual cold snap. It hasn't been above freezing for most of the week. I've got two identical feeders, and I keep one in the house thawing. Every hour or so I switch them.



This is the most snow we've had in Portland for quite awhile. For many of you it doesn't look like much but here the city has nearly ground to a halt. Looks like we'll get a rare white Christmas this year.

[mrbigstuff]

I'll assume you mean Portland, OR and if so, that is a lot of snow for out your way.



I... uh... didn't think this was a thread about birds...

[Wags]

Oops, snow hummer indeed. That type would be quite a contrastive experience. Sorry to disappoint you. And, yes, Portland, OR. The other Portland will not be impressed.

[OWC Jamie]

I'd be impressed to see a live hummingbird in Portland, Me. (or SE Mass) in December, snow or not.

I've never had any luck with feeding hummers liquid (have tried that same feeder), they look. Maybe they're spoiled with all the hummer flowers I plant ?
Only pics I have of a hummer is on a telephone line in the A.M. (sunrise) stretching getting ready for a foray. (and through several pieces of dirty window glass) It would be there every morning at sunrise for several weeks. For just a few minutes.

[Wags]

I put out feeders for years and never saw a single hummer. About 3 years ago, after I had given up, I noticed one buzzing around the yard so I tried again. Now there are several who come back every year and try to stake a claim on the feeder. I have no idea how they get through the winter here even during normal weather, but the Audubon says they do. I wonder where they find a natural food source because nothing is blooming. I feel obligated to keep the feeder de-iced now but I'll be glad when the freeze is over. Here's one in the tree out back, from last summer. Might be the same one.

[LyleH]

I'm in the Portland, OR area, too (in Aloha). We have 2 or 3 hummers with us all winter. My hummer feeder is by my garage window (for access to electricity). I have a 65 watt flood lamp that sits below the feeder that keeps the solution luke warm. It is controlled by a timer so normally in the winter it turns on at about 6 am and turns off around dusk. When it is going to be below freezing I leave it on all night.

Because of the current ice/snow buildup on the top of the feeder, I also installed a 65 watt lamp that aims down at the top of the feeder to keep it ice/snow free. Works like a charm. Had both lights on 24 hours a day for about a week now.

You have to be sure the solution doesn't get too hot as the water will evaporate and the solution becomes too strong (sugary).

LyleH

[Wags]

LyleH wrote:
I'm in the Portland, OR area, too (in Aloha). We have 2 or 3 hummers with us all winter. My hummer feeder is by my garage window (for access to electricity). I have a 65 watt flood lamp that sits below the feeder that keeps the solution luke warm. It is controlled by a timer so normally in the winter it turns on at about 6 am and turns off around dusk. When it is going to be below freezing I leave it on all night.

Because of the current ice/snow buildup on the top of the feeder, I also installed a 65 watt lamp that aims down at the top of the feeder to keep it ice/snow free. Works like a charm. Had both lights on 24 hours a day for about a week now.

You have to be sure the solution doesn't get too hot as the water will evaporate and the solution becomes too strong (sugary).

LyleH

That would certainly be easier than my method. There's a porch light a couple feet away but it doesn't generate much heat because its a CFL.

[Undrpsi]

:damnyou:
Hahhah...not the post I expected from the title. I thought you were telling us what your S/O had given you for the holidays...

Sorry...at work and mind in the gutter...

Jay