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Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Durned if you do.

I am a lover of all things bird.  Crows, ravens, starlings, sparrows, chickens, Guinea hens (so far), emus; but - most especially - hummingbirds.  They are miracles.  They are true shining gems.  I cannot get enough of them.  And, apparently, I am killing them. 

Good grief.  I have been going merrily along, using my red nectar concentrate in my two feeders.  Then I get the news:  studies have found that red food coloring can damage their hard-working little hearts!  As soon as I got home yesterday, I went out and retrieved both feeders and emptied them in my compost heap.  Of course, as soon as I did that, I regretted it.  Would some other critter think there's a great sweet snack in there and more damage would be done?

Of course, you may think I am being a little coy about this -- since I seem to think nothing of vanquishing rats and hornets by any means at my disposal.  I have a startling announcement:  I am not perfect.  There.  It's out.  I choose to group all things living into two (three) categories -- One:  Everything/One I Love.  Two:  Those Few Things/Ones I Hate.  Three:  Those Things/Ones I Fear.  I am not apologizing for my wishy-washy-ness.  I have enough trouble dealing with my recycling - and the onus of 'stuff' and 'too much stuff'. 

Ooookay.  Back to the subject.  I thoroughly cleaned both feeders and put some simple syrup (extra light that I had made to can peaches) in them and trotted them outside.  Then I worried that they would be too cold, as it had been stored in the fridge, so I brought them back in the house and let them sit on the counter until they reached room temperature.  (Swatting a few flies in the process - Flies fall under Category Two).  Then I decided that the older one wasn't bright enough (how could they FIND it?), so I hunted up a vibrant red ribbon (hoping that the dye wouldn't run off and into the feeder if it rained - lord help me), tied it on and put them back on their outside hangers.

Glinda (okay - it's a male Ruby-Throated Hummer, but the name has stuck) found the glammed-up old one and took a sip.  He didn't fall from the sky.

I hope I can sleep after all this angst.

21 comments:

Carolyn said...

I think YOU need to indulge in a cool, red libation my dearest.

DFW said...

Oh my, this is something I might have done! Glad Glinda is OK.

Michelle said...

I never know that .We have two feeders. They will be changed out.

petey said...

funny. I never did use food coloring...but all my hummers disappeared. We live in an avian fly zone so we get everything passing thru, even trumpeter swans. I am like the motel 6. They come, eat, and leave. At least now i know they didn't come, eat and die! :)

Susan said...

And I DID!

Susan said...

Welcome, DFW! I just zipped over to your blog - I love it and will be a regular reader.

Susan said...

I tell you, it's hard to keep up on all this - although I should have known about the red dye stuff.

Susan said...

I am so glad to see I didn't kill off Glinda (at least). I get so much enjoyment out of watching them - and having them whiz by my head while I'm gardening.

Sylvie said...

I had a feeder with a red top and would make a sugar/water concentrate....they came back year and year and were there when I left.

Jenyfer Matthews said...

My step-mother never used red dye. She just mixes up a clear sugar water solution and pours it in her feeders - one feeder has a red bottom and the other is glass and copper. The birds drain each feeder a couple of times a day.

If anyone is missing birds this year, my dad told me that the early spring storms blew a lot of migrating birds off course. They may be elsewhere this year and probably haven't died from red dye overdose :)

Candy C. said...

I'm glad you changed out the red stuff in favor of something more natural. I have even given up M&M's and H.V. Ranch Dressing because of the artificial colors, and neither one was easy! LOL!!

Susan said...

And you somehow never imparted this wisdom to me while you were here????

Susan said...

Well, that's a relief. I was starting to feel like Typhoid Mary.

Susan said...

Candy, wouldn't you think that I would make the connection without having to read it? Hopefully, not too much damage has been done.

tom | tall clover farm said...

Susan, not to worry, I suspect the tossed red dye sugar water will be consumed by ants who likely thrive on it. ;-)
Here's another tip for you. I planted monarda last year or beebalm as some call it, and the hummingbirds are nuts over the stuff. Every morning I dodge the little guys and gals when walking through the garden where monarda are planted, especially the red variety Jacob Kline: http://www.abnativeplants.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=plants.plantdetail&plant_id=63

Susan said...

Tom, yes, THEM - ;7) I will check the monarda and see how it will do in my zone. I had planted beebalm but it was eaten by something/someone. My plan for 2013 is to work on a pollinator garden. Thank you for the information!

Susan said...

Was that a trick question? :-} The monarda/bee balm that I had planted (and that was eaten - if not by deer, then what??) was the red variety. I will have to just plant more!

Erin said...

Don't worry too much, yes the migration is off a bit I heard... I usually have 7-8 hummers every morning and I have never even had a feeder I just plant for them, but I've only seen a couple this year, very odd. Another thought though... you need an armadillo feeder with dangerous dye LOL

Erin said...

Oh, by far their favorites here seem to be my sages and a few are perennial for you so give them a try!

Chicken Mama said...

Also, you should never wash out hummingbird feeders with soap. If there's even a smidgen of it left, it can kill them, too! (I know, I know - SO much to remember!) Bird experts recommend washing with vinegar and water. Ever since I heard that, I've been using that combo . . . and for cleaning up after the dogs & cats, too, once I learned that you shouldn't use Pine-Sol around the four-leggeds (ESP. cats)!

SweetLand Farm said...

I had no idea about the red food coloring for Hummingbirds. I love to watch them. So amazing indeed. I will not put that stuff out again! Thanks!