The
Ultimate Hummingbird Feeder |
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Photo of an Allen's Hummingbird
by Dr. Bruce Odou |
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| I
asked Bob Pogue and Dave Brandt from Wild Birds Unlimited in
Mission Viejo to give me information on what to look for when
buying a hummingbird feeder and how to properly maintain it.
Here is their information: |
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| Many customers ask
us if we carry a hummingbird feeder at Wild Birds Unlimited
that is easy to use. They have difficulties using hummingbird
feeders because the feeders they usually buy are so difficult
to fill and clean. We have an easy answer for them — use
a "pan style" feeder. This is a non-gravity fed feeder
with a bottom pan that holds the nectar. This style feeder is
easy to clean and it does not drip. |
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Features
of the "Pan-Style" feeder: |
• Easy
to fill (the top pops right off)
• Easy to clean (when the
top is removed, the entire bottom is easily accessed)
• It has perches so the
bird can perch while feeding (using less energy as they feed)
• It is bright red and
consequently attracts the birds faster & more often
• It has 6 ports which
creates an interesting draw for the hummers since they think
each port is a different "flower" and therefore
go from one port to another.
• It is durable. (Though
it is considered to be top shelf dishwasher safe, we do not
recommend it. Instead we suggest that you use an enzyme to
clean the feeder; this is much safer for the birds.)
• It is part of a "mold"
which means that no small parts will break off, get lost,
or need to be replaced. The feeder top is one piece and the
bottom is one piece.
• The feeder has a lifetime guarantee
from Wild Birds Unlimited. If it breaks due to any
manufacturer defects, just bring it back to our st ore and
we will replace the defective parts or replace the feeder.
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| Wild Birds Unlimited
sells more"pan-style" feeders than all of the other
feeders they carry combined. |
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| Tips
on Nectar: |
We
recommend Best 1 Hummingbird nectar.
It is CLEAR. do not use nectar containing red coloring; research
shows that the red food coloring has caused birth defects
in hummingbird babies. Best 1 nectar is not just sugar in
a jar. It contains both sucrose and dextrose and is very finely
ground up. This nectar mix is so fine that you do not have
to boil it. Just use hot tap water and stir it with a metal
spoon. Never use a wooden spoon because wood gets food particles
embedded in it no matter how hard you try to clean it. |
You
can store Best 1 Nectar in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.
This way, you will not have to mix up more nectar every time
you fill your feeder. |
We
recommend that you clean and refill your hummingbird feeders
based on the outside temperature: |
60-70
degrees:
clean & refill every 4-5 days
70-80 degrees: clean &
refill every 3-4 days
80 degrees & hotter: clean
& refill every 2 days
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| Happy
Birding! |
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