The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #117366 Message #2623249
Posted By: Janie
02-May-09 - 04:36 PM
Thread Name: BS: Birdwatching 2009
Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
Saw three common grackles in the yard three mornings ago. Haven't seen them since.
Questions re: humming birds and feeders that I wonder if some one can answer. At the old place, I had lots of hummers because I had lots of flowers that attracted them, but I've never put up a hummingbird feeder before. Here, I am just starting to garden and don't have anything planted, much less in bloom to attract them. I saw one hummer a week or so ago checking out some bright fucshia azaleas, but apparently azaleas are not big nectar plants. It zoomed in, then zoomed away and I haven't seen another hummer since. Last weekend I bought and set up a hummingbird feeder. From the level of the liquid, it does not appear it has been visited by any hummers, at least not yet.
Here are my questions: 1. Do I need to empty, clean and refill the feeder at regular intervals, since it is not being drained? If so, what interval? 2. Any advice on location to increase the chance of attracting hummers? Right now, the feeder is suspended from a pole that is shaded and immediately adjacent to the open, exterior side of my carport, on the which I use as a covered patio. This is on the north side of the house.
Continuing saga on the cat situation. I live one block from the county line in a town that is mostly in the neighboring county. An officer with Orange Co. Animal Control left me a voice mail a day or so ago saying I would have to contact the local Police Dept, which I did. They have put my name on a waiting list to have them set box traps. I did learn that people are supposed to keep their animals in their own yards, and I can trap any animal I want on my own property. I'll price Havahart traps tomorrow to see if I ought to go ahead and buy my own traps.