I find that keeping a terrier in your yard works real good.

Dennis Rockwell
Kennewick, WA
dennisrockwell at verizon.net

----- Original Message -----
From: John Hansen
To: JPartlow at aol.com ; tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2009 2:54 PM
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] A solution for hummer predators


Hi, Janet and Tweets:

I read that raw vinegar (white or apple cider) was a cat deterrent.

So I've been trying it and it does seem to work.

I spray full strength vinegar on my porch and 10' around the feeder. I have to do it everyday or so and more if it rains but I haven't seen any cats in the area - although we had several before. It only takes me 5 minutes.

The vinegar doesn't seem to affect the birds at all. We have fox squirrels too but I haven't been watching them to see if it has an effect on them.

We do have a suet feeder and hummingbird feeder up above the porch but the Hummingbirds and orioles aren't here yet.

John Hansen majorhart at sbcglobal.net Saint Joseph MO
----- Original Message -----
From: JPartlow at aol.com
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2009 9:19 AM
Subject: [Tweeters] A solution for hummer predators


Hello to tweets,

We've had large numbers of Rufous hummers in our yard, feeding both at our window feeders, but also at the Red-flowering currant now blooming in the side yard. There's been lots of spectacular sights at the window just 18 inches away, and lots of spectacular fights, too. There's also been 3 different feline predators stalking these hummers and there have been several near misses, but no catches that we've seen so far.
We place our feeders high enough so the felines can't get at the actual feeders, but the hummers tend to like to perch around the deck, and in the bushes, which are often well within reach. The felines also perch on our porch and deck in hopes that they can get a hummer. So here's a new solution we've found: we went to a pet store and bought a product called "Boundary"; it is supposed to create a smell that they don't like.
We sprayed it on the porch, the deck, the wall below the feeders and even a few target bushes. It is working wonderfully. I watched the worst feline invader yesterday as she came into the yard and looked longingly at the porch, but stayed 15 feet away.. There have been no more feline sightings on the deck or porch. I'm happy. And the hummers continue to come...

Janet Partlow
Olympia


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