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.