Exploring Nature: T idbits
Time for a tidbits column. Here are a few factoids and cryptic comments from the fascinating world of nature: Hummingbirds are gone from our area, but one question is worth answering before they return next spring — how do you keep bees away from your hummingbird feeder?
Generally, if you have the type of feeder with a dish below and feeding ports on top, bees won’t be able to reach the liquid. Of course, there might be spills that make some sugar water available. So, if bees persist in buzzing around your feeder, consider putting out a very shallow dish of sugar water some distance from your main feeding area.
Looking for a good birding festival to attend? Let me recommend the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival set for Nov. 6 - 10 in Harlingen. Ken Kaufman, noted author and illustrator, will be the keynote speaker. (When I go to this festival, I generally stay at the Alamo Inn in Alamo and drive over to Harlingen.)
Some of the bird rarities spotted at last year’s festival were American flamingo, burrowing owl, red-billed pigeon, white-throated swift and rose-throated becard.
By the way, a Colorado couple recently had a unique complaint — too many hummingbirds. It seems the couple in Ophir, Colo., planted many flowers to attract hummers and also put out 14 quart-sized sugar-water feeders. They were overwhelmed with the response. They attracted six species of hummers and went through two gallons of sugar-water every day.
They complained of becoming “servants to the hummers” and felt they could not leave their place for more than one night or the birds would go hungry.
Which leads me to a final tidbit of wisdom — watch out what you wish for.
