Hi Tweets: Happy Solstice to all! It just gets lighter from here, friends!
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At suggestion of an employee at the Seattle Audubon store, I am keeping my hummingbird feeders from freezing with this method:
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I took a string of regular (not LED) mini Xmas lights and wrapped it around the glass bottle, as close to the feeding portals as I could. Then I took a dark-colored sock, cut the toe off and slipped it over the feeder in an effort to keep the heat in and to keep the bird freak-out to minimum. I still keep a pipe cleaner handy to poke ice and slush through the portal tubes, but this makeshift bottle warmer seems to be working. This morning an Anna's was on it as soon as I put it up, even though the lights seemed unusually visible in the dark morning.
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Another idea: Heat tape, the heated pipe-warmers designed for plumbing.
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I hope we can all keep our Anna's hummers alive during this tough weather period!
Best, Liz Brown
Edmonds