[obol] Re: hummer tongue
- From: "Robert O'Brien" <baro@xxxxxxx>
- To: "ewolf97@xxxxxxxxx" <ewolf97@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2017 09:54:01 -0700
On Friday, April 28, 2017, Robert O'Brien <baro@xxxxxxx> wrote:
I've always made the solution by pouring boiling water over the sugar in
a pyrex container, stirring to dissolve & then pouring that quickly into
the feeder. That takes awhile to cool. Not sure when the feeder drops
below 160. Could measure i guess. Or microwave the feeder if not metal
and it fits? Bob obrien
PS. Thanks for the info.
Microwave the feeder/solution that is. But NOT to boil.
On Friday, April 28, 2017, Elise W <ewolf97@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
A bird's tongue can definitely be damaged by hitting a window, generally
this is from them biting the tongue during the impact. However, a hummer's
tongue is split on the end. New research using advanced video now shows how
the hummer tongue actually works.
https://phys.org/news/2011-05-hummingbird-tongue-video.html
If someone unfamiliar with hummer anatomy assessed a bird and thought
it's split tongue was a fracture, that would be a mistake. As the tongue
already has a split. The swelling of the tongue may or may not have been
resolved through time and care. Dosing a hummer with medications is
extraordinarily difficult.
Swelling could have resulted from: fungal infection (mold easily grows
in the sugar water we feed, water that looks milky or has transparent
threads are a key sign); bacterial infection (birds are brought into close
contact with each other at the feeder, so their poop is shared with others
on their feet... Infections historically found in only some species (like
house finch eye disease) is now spreading to other species like goldfinch);
or biting the tongue upon impact in a window strike.
Regardless, keeping the feeders clean (warm weather means once a week
minimum). Cleaning: wash with soapy water, rinse, bleach with 5-10%
solution, then wash again with soapy water as bleach leaves a residue that
could easily kill your hummers. Rinse multiple times. You can also choose
to use very hot (160 degree) water (boil it) and dip the whole feeder into
this. Boiling water kills almost everything - viruses, bacteria, molds,
fungi, parasites - while bleach is mainly effective for bacteria only.
Elise Wolf
Native Bird Care
Sisters, OR
541-728-8208
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