At 11:37 PM 3/11/97 -0800, you wrote:
>Ok - I have had my hummingbird feeder up for more than a week and no
>result.
>So, what is the best recipe for feeding hummers at this time of year? Is
>the prepackaged stuff best? If so, which?

No. I've never had, personally, any success using the packaged stuff. It's
cheaper and safer for the birds to use a 4 to 1 solution of sugar water (1
cup sugar to 4 cups water). Don't boil the water as this will reduce the
ratio and can cause kidney damage to the birds. If you have alot of
chlorine in the water, boil it first. I usually just mix mine with bottled
water. Room temp water will dissolve the sugar but if you want to heat it a
bit, use the microwave. It's not necessary to add food coloring as the
feeders have red on them and that will attract the birds.

Also, I've noticed hummers tend to look for feeders in the same location
each year. Perhaps your little guys haven't reached your house yet.

Good luck!

Peggi
Ben & Peggi Rodgers
Aptos, CA (near Santa Cruz)
USA
woodduck at cruzio.com


"A bird does not sing because it has an answer,
It sings because it has a song"