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1. cjboffoli
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   Posted 3 years ago #         

2. cjboffoli
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   Ooops. Sorry. I guess it is not possible to embed video into the Forums. I thought it was worth a try. Just trying to share a link with high-definition video of hummingbirds shot in my garden in West Seattle this morning. A direct link to the :26 video is here:

   http://www.vimeo.com/2448238

   Posted 3 years ago #         

3. WSB
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   No, right now the embedding only enables the img src html for pix. Maybe I can get that on the HP later - I still have your great hummingbird photo you sent the other day - TR

   Posted 3 years ago #         

4. westseattledood
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   I am very fond of our native hummingbirds. I remember that video earlier in the year of the h-bird nest? Gawd, that was cool.

   So many people assume we have no hummingbirds during the winter. Folks should take a walk through Seward Park in the winter with a pair of binoculars. I always see lots of Anna's over there. And parakeets?

   Noticed earlier at the beach today lots of great birds overwintering. I'm going to go pull out the birding book...I can't remember some of the dimorphic winter plummage! Urgh....

   Posted 3 years ago #         

5. JoB
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   i appear to have hummingbirds overwintering in our yard..

   should i put a feeder out for them? the last forsythia bloom is about gone.

   Posted 3 years ago #         

6. cjboffoli
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   JoB: The hummingbirds over here have been busily working over a large, red (they love red) tropical sage plant I have that blooms through the autumn and early winter. I put the feeder out there as a supplement. I've seen them feeding from both. Because they have such high energy needs the nectar (4 cups of water + 1 cup of sugar and brought to a boil to kill mold, yeast and to evaporate out the chlorine in the water) is very helpful for them. It gives them the extra energy they need to spend time chasing insects (their source of protein and other nutrition).

   Posted 3 years ago #         

7. JanS
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   I've been told that I'm going to inherit the feeders from my neighbors below me, when and if they leave the building for better climes...I'm looking forward to it. The most fun is to see the little buggers against a snowfall backdrop...

   Posted 3 years ago #         

8. Jerald
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   I did some research once and learned that you can increase the sugar/water ratio when the weather gets colder. Some recommendations were extreme (like 50-50), but I usually go to a rounded 1/3 cup when it's near freezing. When we have a cold snap I keep a second feeder inside to swap when the outside one freezes up. I've also wrapped the container in bubble wrap, which helps prevent freezing.

   Posted 3 years ago #         

9. cjboffoli
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   Wow. I'd be really careful with that. All of the research I've read has always stated that 4:1 ratio as being closest to what hummingbirds experience in nature. Too much sugar can cause them serious liver and reproductive problems.

   Posted 3 years ago #         

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