Somewhere, probably buried in an unpacked box, I have a one-sheet flyer on
how to identify female and juvenile hummers. Does anyone know where to get
that? I know there are tips on the web, but this one sheet could be left
by the window and was very helpful.

After having my hummingbird feeder up for about two weeks (dutifully
keeping the food changed regularly), the level suddenly started to go down
a couple of days ago. Today we got a look at the little bugger. Sure
enough ... green back, fine stripes on the head, no tail markings I could
see, no eye markings, everything else indistinct. I even got to stand
about four feet from it while it hovered over my fountain.

It didn't take nearly as long to get somebody to my feeder. It's been up
since last weekend and this morning I saw house finches at it.

People who don't have any easy way to create moving water might be
interested in this device I have
installed: http://www.the-mkt-edge.com/house/birdbath.jpg I have it up on
a stool to keep the dogs away.

It uses quite a bit of water, so I have to refill it every morning to get
the fountain up and out of the shadow of the pot. Part of that is from the
spray blowing over the side, so I'm thinking of changing to a wider, more
shallow container, and anchoring it in the middle. But otherwise I love
it, as do the birds. Being totally solar, it only runs when sun is on it,
even slowing down when a cloud passes. But the birds don't seem to forget
where it is.

In the past, I have hung a dripping hose over a garbage can lid and the
birds liked that just fine. But here I have no hose connection in the back
yard, nor a power source for an electric pump. So I settled for this. It
has taken some adjusting to get in in a spot where it isn't in shadow from
the house in the morning or from other objects as the sun goes down in the
evening.

I bought it here:
<http://www.gaiam.com/retail/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=gai&category%5Fname=l3%5FSolarFountainPumpsKits&product%5Fid=14%2D0336>

The one shown here is the new version. I seem to have gotten the last one
of the old version. It's on sale now for $42, regularly $50.

Mary Ann Chapman
(Ballard) Seattle WA