[obol] hummingbird care
- From: Dan Gleason <dan-gleason@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: baro@xxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 28 Jul 2016 11:54:09 -0700
6. Don't use too weak a solution, we use 3:1.
Response:
I would like to encourage everyone to use a sugar solution that is 1 part sugar
to 4 parts water. This ratio most closely mimics the concentration of sugar
found in the nectar of hummingbird flowers. A stronger concentration of sugar
can put a hummingbird at risk of dehydration. Unfortunately, many people
believe that a higher concentration, especially in cold weather, will give the
hummingbirds more energy and they think it works because the birds may come to
the feeder more frequently. The more frequent visits are because the bird is
dehydrated and seeking more water. They normally get all of their water from
nectars and other food sources. As the contration of sugars is increased, more
water is pulled from the tissues and eventually the hummingbird must seek water
and come to the feeders for liquid. But, it is like us drinking salt water -
the more we drink the more thirsty we become. For hummingbirds, as sugar
increases, so does the incidence of dehydration. Suggestions of sugar
concentrations of 2:1 or even 1:1 are sometimes made, but please don't do this.
Stay with 1:4 throughout the year. A ratio of 3:1 can be tolerated, moreso by
Rufous than Anna's, but is still higher tthan natural sources. Best to stay
with 1:4.
Red is not necessary and may pose a risk by concentrating the dye in such a
small body, and minerals, proteins, etc. should never be added. They will
obtain more than enough from their normal diet of small insects, spiders and
their eggs (and plenty of these are still available and fed upon in the
winter).
I would also add than you should use only pure, white table sugar. This is a
pure form of sucrose; exactly the sugar found in hummingbird flower nectar.
Don't use most organic sugars. Nothing wrong with organic except that most
brands are not as highly processed. For us that's no problem, but that pale
brown color you see is molassas and that is something that hummingbirds cannot
digest. Far better to give them the pure sugar they would naturally obtain from
flowers. If one of your concerns is GMO, it is my understanding that this is
only an issue with beet sugar, not cane sugar.
Unfortunately, honey is also sometimes suggested as a "natural" food. NEVER do
this. Honey as a product made by bees and hummingbirds never go to bee hives to
feed on it. They will never encounter honey in nature. Honey in a feeder can,
unfortunately, often be a death sentence to hummingbnirds. It is a combination
of many different sugars, most of which a hummingbird cannot digest. Also,
honey often contains fungal spores, some of which can infect the hummingbird.
You may have seen a hummingbird unable to retract its tongue and thus unable to
feed. This is often the result of a fungal infection on the tongue and the
source can be honey in a feeder.
Dan Gleason
Dan Gleason
Owner, Wild Birds Unlimited of Eugene
Ornithology Instructor, University of Oregon
dan-gleason@xxxxxxxxxxx
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