Judy-



We've also had this happen, although this is the first year to have this
occur. My guess has been that the babies (I know we've had some at the
feeder) are dislodging them. I've found a little bit of down on a couple of
the 'yellow flowers', making me think the babies are still learning to use
the feeder. Maybe their shorter beak becomes stuck, or they just move
around too much? I'm not at all sure, but that's been my guess. Let me
know what you hear!



Pat Quyle Grainger

paq at olypen.com

Port Townsend



From: tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Judy
Clinesmith
Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2012 4:32 PM
To: Tweeters
Subject: [Tweeters] Hummingbird Feeder Question



We are hoping for an answer to a puzzling quesion. We live in a wooded area
near Deception Pass. We have a standard hummingbird feeder with the red base
and little yellow plastic flowers over the feeding holes. We hang the feeder
about 5' high, from a tree, over an area of brush and native rose bushes.
Several times a week, when we go out in the morning to see if the feeder
needs to be refilled, we will find that one or more of the little yellow
flowers is missing. Usually we find them on the ground near the feeder, in
the underbrush. We have never seen any critter actually dislodging them.
Has anyone else had this problem? Does anyone know what might be detaching
the flowers and dropping them?



Thanks for your help.



Judy Clinesmith

Anacortes WA

jaclinesmith at fidalgo.net