Seems a strange place for a wary fox to sleep, Holly. Was/is he okay?
Love any kind of ocean view. Nice!
****
I'm taking a break after bringing down the shade sails for the season. It feels very brisk out there this morning! I did see a hummer though, so I put out a fresh feeder.
Honestly Robin, I just approximate the sugar/water ratio. It begins with a 50/50 mix. I start out with 1/3 of my heating/mixing container filled with water, heat in the microwave to a rolling boil, then dump in sugar until it's 2/3 full. Stir with a natural wooden spoon until it's dissolved, then add only enough plain cold water to bring it close to ambient outdoor temperature. If it isn't close, they'll wait to drink it until it moderates. I think it's too much for their tiny bodies to handle if it's too drastic a temperature difference.
First choice of feeder (the busiest) is always red glass. A plastic bottom portion seems to be okay...maybe because it's mostly shaded by the top section...I dunno.
Second choice is clear glass with a red bottom section and red accents. Semi-shade is best for these, but the last resort all-plastic feeders really should be in shade all day long. The ones that feed here choose glass in the sun over plastic in the shade anyway, but there you go. I don't buy all-plastic replacements any longer...just glass.
Cheap-o granulated sugar seems to be preferred. I tried the more expensive raw cane sugar as an experiment, but they weren't crazy about it. Their favorite brand this year was
Psst!. Really...that's the name of it!
I have well water and they do fine with it. I have used distilled and they're fine with that too. Water from a rain barrel seems like it would work as well. I have no experience with using city water, but it that's what you have you might experiment with distilled. If nothing else, fill an open jug and let it sit for a day or two before using it for the birds. It seems to me that I read somewhere that some portion of the additives in city (or softened) water may disperse this way, but I have no conclusions based on personal observations.
Add feeders as needed. I start with one when I see the first bird, then put out another when there's several fighting over it. Very soon after that I put out all that I have and see how long it takes for the levels to drop. In my opinion, food should be used in three days or less in hot weather, but I'll usually leave it for a week in cooler, less sunny weather. A lot of that depends on placement; more sun exposure means it'll spoil faster. It will have a distinctive odor if it's spoiled, so do a sniff test every time you clean/fill to help you judge how long each will keep. I'm usually only able to keep up with four feeders at peak. When two get low, I clean and fill. Then I'll do the other two when they get low (or empty
). Here, at peak, that will be two in the morning, and two in the evening...every day. It seems excessive, but I actually prefer it this busy. I don't have to keep track as much...there's more of a regular schedule.
Metal mixing containers, hot food-water in or stirred with plastic, and use of soaps in cleaning do not seem to provide good results. Avoid them if possible. Plastic jugs for make-ahead, refrigerated, one week or less supply of food seems to be okay. Just don't add hot mix to them...cool it first.
There.
Probably way too much info, but I like to be as thorough as possible!
****
Now I'm off to plant out those leftovers! Thank goodness...today I won't feel melted or broiled when I come in.
