Artifacts for the Sweet Life

2009-09-16T12:24:00.003-06:00

Hummingbirds, migration, drought, and the importance of feeding hummingbirds in autumn.

Best Hummingbird Nectar Recipe: 1 cup of white cane sugar dissolved in 4 cups water.

This is an important time of year for feeding hummingbirds -- a time that people don't always think about since the summer is coming to an end. With the southern migration of hummingbirds starting, it is very important to have feeders ready with lots of fresh nectar for them to load up on. It not only helps them build up their body weight for their long journey back to their winter homes (the ruby-throated travels all the way back to the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico -- the ultimate snowbird!), it also proves that you will be a dependable feeding station for them next year when they come back North. Hummingbirds come back to the same gardens each year, so why not show them now that you are the best place to spend the summer!

Keep the nectar fresh -- even if you don't see a lot of hummingbirds feeding. The fresher the nectar, the longer they will stay and feed and the more likely they are to come back to you next year. (I recommend changing your nectar every 3-4 days in warm weather...well, in any type of weather, this is really the ideal. One week max in cooler weather.

Lastly, one other comment. Since it has been incredibly dry in some areas this summer, there have not been as many flowers in bloom this year to supply nectar for hummingbirds. Feeders are supplying most of the available nectar in some areas. So, please keep your feeders full of FRESH nectar. They will remember you next year for it!

Below is video of another PARASOL hummingbird feeder this week. They are hungry!

Hamlet the Hummingbird

2009-04-02T10:13:00.007-06:00

To be, or not to be--that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles
And by opposing end them. To die, to sleep--
No more--and by a sleep to say we end
The heartache, and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to. 'Tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wished. To die, to sleep--
To sleep--perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub,
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause. There's the respect
That makes calamity of so long life.

Shakespeare may seem a little heavy-handed, but Hamlet's most famous soliloquy seems to me the perfect description of hummingbirds' sleep - the phenomenal state of torpor.

First, there are a couple physical traits of hummers that you'll need to know to understand the evolutionary brilliance of torpor.

1. Hummingbirds have enormously demanding metabolisms - they must eat from two to three times their body weights every day! Imagine the US deficit counter ticking away our trillions of dollars of debt and this would be similar to a hummingbird's life calorie counter.

2. Hummingbirds don't have the downy feathers common in most other larger birds. Their lack of insulation means hummers lose a large amount of their body heat, needlessly sapping away energy necessary for survival.

To compensate for these challenges, hummingbirds have evolved a special sleep state called torpor, lowering their metabolic rate by as much as 95%! Essentially hummers become hypothermic when they sleep, lowering their internal thermostat to lower their energy consumption. Torpid hummingbirds use 50 times less energy than when they are awake.

When hummingbirds are torpid their body temperature drops so dramatically that for all intents and purposes they appear death-like. Heart rate slows, breathing is shallow, hummers nest motionless like they are frozen in time. Waking up from torpor takes almost a half hour as the hummer slowly starts revving up its engine for another day of foraging. The bird begins to shiver as its heart starts pumping faster, the heat generated by its small vibrating body starting to warm it up.

Through torpor hummingbirds find "what dreams may come" and make it through cold nights to "shuffle off this mortal coil".

"I am the greatest..."

2009-02-19T12:51:00.006-07:00

Look at the determination and fire in this little guy's eyes... the Rufous hummingbird is like a little Muhammad Ali. Not nearly a heavy-weight (Rufous hummers weigh only about 2-3 grams for males, 4-5 grams for females) these tiny tykes can rope-a-dope any other hummer.
Rufous hummingbirds are notoriously nectar-hogs, chasing off much larger hummingbirds from feeders and defending their territory with absolute confidence. You gotta love 'em. They got gumption!
Rufous hummingbirds may just be my favorite species, they have spirit to spare and are a marvel to watch in action! Their name comes from their coloring, rufous means reddish. Most of them have rusty red on their backs and a bright red-yellow iridescent gorget (throat), although there are Rufous that are green-backed too. In sunlight they look like streaks of copper as they fly by - they are gorgeous!
The Rufous migrates from Mexico all the way into Alaska, usually along mountain ranges like the Sierra Madres and Rocky Mountains. By body size, the Rufous has the longest migration of any bird in the world - out traveling larger birds almost 150% more! Since hummingbirds are such small creatures they will break their migration into segments to refill on much needed nectar and insects to make the great distances. This is great for us Rufous fans because it offers the chance to see these out-fighters duke it out at our feeders!
Because the Rufous likes plants usually found at higher mountain elevations and cooler temps the most densely populated area of their northern migration is in the Pacific Northwest. Folks in Portland, Seattle and Vancouver are most familiar with the red-feathered Rufous hummers. Their trip to the Last Frontier often means Rufous will be observed for four to eight weeks this time of year.

The race is on!

2009-02-16T14:37:00.007-07:00

Hummingbird migration is about to hit the United States, so make sure to get your hummingbird feeders out and ready for the hungry travelers!

Hummingbirds are indigenous to the Americas (although they are amazing aviators the oceans are too vast to make it into Asia or Europe and Africa). There are a total of 16 species of hummers in the U.S., some in the western states will winter in Arizona and Southern California. Species that stay in the southwest include: Anna, Costa's, and Allen's hummingbirds. The other 13 species all migrate through our country; 12 on the western side of the Mississippi River and 1 very special bird on the eastern side of the Mississippi River.

One of the most spectacular migrations in the world, the Ruby-throated hummingbirds make their way across the Gulf of Mexico from South America into and through the United States and Canada.

Every Spring, urged on by instinct, thousands upon thousands of Ruby-throated hummingbirds start appearing in the Gulf States and fill into the mid-Atlantic and mid-western areas of the U.S. They start to be seen in eastern Texas and southern Florida in February (the earliest visitors were seen February 24th last year!)

Here's a small picture of the Ruby-throated hummingbirds migration pattern from 2008 (for a full view visit http://www.hummingbirds.net/map.html). On the map you'll be able to locate the first sitings of hummingbirds in your state - thanks to over 5,000 other hummingbird enthusiasts' like you!

All Creatures Small and Smaller

2009-02-11T13:17:00.005-07:00

When it comes to hummingbirds the old saying "good things come in small packages" perfectly describes the diminutive birds' appeal. Hummingbird size is one of the most amazing qualities of the species, as it's hard to imagine so much ability coming from such a small aviator.

I remember going on school field trips to the zoo and getting to see hummingbird eggs (about the size of my pinkie fingernail) and thinking "they're so teeny!" Learning from the zoologist about their flying backwards, "drinking" from flowers, and of course their stunning plumage it was obvious I was going to love these birds always.

When you think of a hummingbird the picture that probably pops in your head is the Ruby-throated hummingbird. It's the archetypal image, the hummingbird you'll see on most t-shirts, mugs, postage stamps, greeting cards, you name it. The Ruby Throat is the most recognized hummer, especially since for most the U.S. (every state east of the Mississippi River) it is the only hummingbird you'll see flying around.

The Ruby-throated hummingbird is one of sixteen species that breed and live/migrate in the United States, but its migration keeps them on the eastern side of The States. If you live on the western side, there are so many other hummers to acquaint yourself with - and we'll start introducing you to these not-so-known wonders! Watch this blog for more info!

Of course outside the U.S. there are even more spectacular species, especially in South America, all which have mind-boggling characteristics. Here are some more exotic species and some cool fast facts:

The Bee Hummingbird (the smallest BIRD in the world - not just hummingbirds) lives in Cuba and is literally the size of a bumblebee. Small!

The Giant Hummingbird lives in South America and can reach up to 8 inches in size. That's smaller than most songbirds but a true Giant amongst hummers!

The Marvellous Spatuletail from Peru (as seen in the John Gould illustration below) only has four tail feathers. Males have two feathers that swoop to bright violet medallion ends, and they can move these feathers independently!

A moth in hummingbird's clothing

2009-01-29T11:08:00.004-07:00

Nature is full of trickery. There are plants that look like animals, animals that look like plants, and a million different camouflages and patterns to keep predators away. The great impostor in the hummingbird world is the hummingbird moth (also called bee months in Europe where hummingbirds do not live).

If you live in the United States and are amazed to see the tiniest hummingbird in your garden, chances are you're really seeing the hummingbird moth. Often mis-sited as the Bee Hummingbird (the world's smallest bird - found in Cuba only), the hummingbird moth has the look and behaviour to fool the sharpest eye into thinking it's a miniature hummingbird.

One of the tricks of the hummingbird moth, unlike other moths, is that it thrives and feeds in daylight. They live on nectar, similar to hummingbirds, and will hover over the same flowers hummers like (honeysuckle, trumpet vine, lilac, bee balm, etc). They extract the nectar through their proboscis, which combined with their body length and coloring, is easily confused as a beak.

Hummingbird moths have similar colors in their bodies as hummingbirds, but their pattern differences are the dead-giveaway. Moths like the Clearwing Hummingbird Moth (pictured above) have red/brown bands across their abdomens, and there are tufts of hair that look feather like. Hummingbirds don't have stripes like these, instead their color is typically concentrated on their throat, wings, sometimes with solid iridescent color on their back.

Hummingbirds are also much more skittish than their aping moths. Chances are you'll be able to sneak up on a moth but not a true hummer.

Although the idea of "baby" or Bee hummingbirds in your garden maybe exciting, if you do see a hummingbird moth instead don't be disheartened. They are truly fascinating creatures and still fun to watch flitting from flower to flower. And the fact that you're attracting another nectar-loving creature to your yard is a positive! Maybe one morning you'll be happily surprised by a real hummer visit.

BANG #2 - bugging out.

2009-01-22T12:34:00.004-07:00

"Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home

Your house is on fire and your children are gone

All except one, and that's Little Anne

For she has crept under the warming pan."

Quite possibly the most charming insects ever - the ladybug can bring new life to a dying garden.

Last year I was plagued with aphids in my garden. I had bought two burning bushes for my front yard the fall before, excited to have the bright red leaves bring drama and beauty to my yard the next year. Unfortunately I miss interpreted an aphid infestion in Spring last year and my poor burning bushes paid the price.

By June the leaves were getting eaten away, and nearby roses started showing signs of unwelcome munchers too. When all the trees in my neighborhood were turning fiery autumn colors my burning bushes looked like they were burnt. Most the leaves were gone, and the sad spikes of the bushes arms were bare and lonely. It was the saddest sight.

So this year, as part of my BANG initiative (Be A Natural Gardener), I'm bringing in reinforcements! Ladybugs may be portrayed as sweet English ladies in cartoons (I always picture the one from "James and the Giant Peach"), but trust me they are lethal aphid killers! And as a natural and eco-friendly option to pesticide, ladybugs are a welcome addition to my garden plan.

As an extra bonus, I grew up believing that when a ladybug lands on you it'll bring you good luck. Bringing a batch of ladybugs into your garden will definitely up the odds for a lucky 2009!

Start the year off with a BANG!

2009-01-08T15:50:00.007-07:00

I've decided to put my money where my mouth is this year and help my little corner of the planet thrive. This is the year I'm going to Be A Natural Gardener.

BANG - is a new idea I've had, yet an old idea to many conservationists. Being a Natural Gardener is recycling, reusing, reducing, reimagining, recreating. It's using ordinary objects in extraordinary ways and rethinking the part you play in the environment around you. It can be personal & political, local & global, absolutely practical & totally crazy. It's the KISS (keep it simple, stupid) principle for your backyard.

I can't wait to start BANGing out the old and unnecessary in my life, and as Lau-tzu says "a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step".

So here's BANG Step 1.

START COLLECTING RAINFALL.

My best friend started using a rain barrel last year, and the water she's saved for watering her backyard garden has been incredible! During a heavy rain her barrel would fill up in just minutes, as the rain falling on the entire area of her roof would get funneled down drains and downspouts. Only about 1/4 inch of rainfall can be collected to a little over 200 gallons of water! Not too shabby! Bonus: rain water is soft water. Soft water is the best for plants, as the oxygen levels are better and there's no chlorine or other nasty chemicals necessary in tap/drinking water. For an HGTV how-to check out this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGFDlkJOdaM

In this time of economic topsy-turvy it's only fitting to really consider what you're putting your time/money/energy into and if it's paying off in the fullest way environmentally, morally, ethically, and especially FINANCIALLY. It's never been trendier to be a spendthrift (Suze Orman tells me this all the time) so I'm cutting back and cutting out the things that are wasting my resources.

If you want to try to BANG, I lend you my full support. Check back here for more ideas on how to BANG, and use BANG as a special savings code (1/2 off shipping) on your next SweetBeak.com order!

Out with the Old and In with the New... or not

2008-12-31T16:22:00.003-07:00

I'm thinking about New Year's Eve plans tonight and I can't let the opportunity to tell you about one of the best things I ever did for myself pass by. It changed my life, and I hope it'll change yours too!

Back in college my best friend and I made a pact to abolish New Year's Resolutions. It started out more a joke than anything, as we talked about all our failed resolutions (especially the dreaded "lose some weight" or "exercise regularly"). We talked about all the guilt and frustration that we inflicted upon ourselves, all for the sake of "starting out the New Year right". So we decided to ditch the masochistic practice of New Year's Resolutions - we would have New Year's REVOLUTIONS instead!

The idea is simple. Instead of dwelling on your vices and bad habits, telling yourself you'll change when you know you won't, put your energy towards the positive things in your life! Don't look at the bad, look at all that good in you that doesn't get the kudos you deserve! My first New Year's Revolutions list looked something like this:

1. Cultivate creativity 2. Be as generous with love for myself as others 3. Laugh out loud as much as I can 4. Visit more dive bars to meet really interesting people (remember this list was made in college...) 5. Relax and let things happen.

What a phenomenal year it turned out to be! When I looked back at my list I remembered taking more risks, being more honest and open, really enjoying parts of my personality that I am proud of! I didn't have the "wow, I really let myself down" feelings I had had for years and years before. I encourage you to look into what makes you happy and follow in your own footsteps to make 2009 an exceptional year.

If you need a little nudge, make the same New Year's Revolution pact with your best friend, sister, husband, neighbor, you name it. Just try to eliminate negative words like: No, Quit, Stop, or Diet and use happy words like: Enjoy, Rest, Giggle, or Indulge. Once you get the hang of it you'll wonder why you ever fretted over gym memberships.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

2008-11-14T06:52:00.007-07:00

I'm watching the first snow of the season fall, and as the yard and trees are getting dusted with pretty light white I'm thinking about the next weeks ahead. Soon it'll be Thanksgiving, then Christmas, then New Year's. I love this time of year. Being with my family for the big meals, staying in with my husband to watch old movies On Demand, getting to a lot of the projects indoors that I've been putting off for years.

Winter months always make me nostalgic. There's nothing better than putting on a vinyl record, making some tea, and doing an "arts & craft" project. Remember kindergarten when you'd have "arts & crafts"? Nothing better.

And in the cold months ahead, a great project you can do for birds and with your kids is the classic Pine Cone Bird feeder. If you haven't made one of these lately, treat yourself. It'll take you back to your six-year-old-self.

Start by collecting fallen pine cones (go to a pine forest and forage - or pickup the pine cones in your own yard if you have them - you could buy them prepackaged in stores but I think that's a waste of money and a waste of an opportunity to be outside!) It doesn't matter exactly what type of pine cones you start with, but I think cones that are open offer more "grip" and better nooks for birdseed.

Tie a length of string to the top of your pine cones (varying lengths to hang from a tree, porch, or pergola). If you use jute or hemp your feeders will look rustic, use narrow satin ribbon for a rich and decorative look (my fabric store sells 15 yards for only 50 cents per roll - in lots of pretty colors!) Next, break out some peanut butter (chunky or smooth) and push into the pine cone crevices. It doesn't need to be neat, I like the look of the pine cone tips coming through the seed, but the more peanut butter you use the more sticking surface you'll have.

Once your pine cone is coated roll it in a plate of birdseed. You can use any type of seed, millet is a classic but sunflower seeds make a pretty contrast too.

If you are worried about squirrels raiding your new Pine Cone Bird feeder, add a couple tablespoons of cayenne pepper to the birdseed before rolling your pine cones. Squirrels hate pepper and they should leave your feeder "For the Birds"!

Time to come in from the cold

2008-10-23T16:09:00.009-06:00

It's that time of year when first-freezes will do a number on your hummingbird feeders - so when weather is unpredictable and temperatures drop suddenly, it's time to put your feeders in winter storage.

Glass and ceramic hummingbird feeders (and seed feeders for songbirds) need to be stored indoors or in your garage during freezing weather. Since hummingbird feeders are filled with liquid nectar, freezing temperatures will cause the nectar to expand and possibly crack or damage your feeders. Sometimes there are hairline cracks that can snap a glass piece in two when frozen nectar expands.

Any exposed terra cotta in your hummingbird and songbird feeders can absorb moisture which can also freeze and break your ceramic pieces. I learned the hard way last year when I kept a ceramic bird bath out in my yard all winter and had shards of ceramic on my porch after a big freeze. Whoops!

Even hummingbird feeders that are plastic are best stored for winter. The freezing nectar can warp plastic, and hard freezes can break plastic pieces. UV light weakens plastic, and remnant nectar can grow some nasty bacteria that adheres and corrodes plastic. You can actually ruin and destroy your plastic feeders by leaving old nectar in storage. If there's snow on the ground and ice on the drive you won't be seeing hummingbirds anyway. Best to just put your feeders away for next season!

It always helps your hummingbird plants if you winterize your garden - lay down some fresh mulch to add nutrients to the soil, and add compost materials to your beds. Throughout winter remember to water plants if you don't snow or rain for a couple weeks - plastic rain gauges near your plants are a great way to monitor the actual water your plants receive. In desperately dry climates you can add polymers to the soil that swell when water is plentiful and then slowly distribute the moisture into the soil. Lots of nurseries and gardening catalogs sell these and they are great to use in xeric gardens year-round!

Flying in the fast lane

2008-10-19T16:31:00.015-06:00

There's no question - one of the coolest facts about hummingbirds is that they can fly forward, backward, sideways and upside down! A hummingbird can hover over a feeder or flower while drinking nectar seemingly suspended in space. Zipping in and out, hummingbirds are the ace-fliers of the bird world. No other bird can fly like a hummer can... but how?

There are two physiological characteristics of the hummingbird that allow it to do their spectacular aerial maneuvers: 1. the hummingbird's pectoral muscles account for 30% of their body weight and 2. the hummingbird can move it's wings in a circular motion.

Pectoral muscles in birds are best known as the breast - and in most breeds the pectoral percentage is about 15-25% of the bird's total weight. Human pectoral muscles are much less developed than birds' - our main muscle groups are in our quadriceps (our legs and buttocks - which is why we walk and don't fly). Even the bulked up physiques of body builders don't hold a candle to the "pec power" of birds. Arnold Schwartzenegger at his chest-popping Mr. Universe best had pectoral muscles at least 7 times weaker than a hummingbird! So much for the Governator...

Since hummingbirds can move their wings in a circle, they are able to get lift and thrust in both directions of their wings. Average birds flap their wings to get lift (upward motion) and thrust (forward motion). Hummingbirds rotate their wings to get lift both upward and downward and thrust both forward and backward. To hover, hummingbirds move their wings in a figure eight movement - the same way you'd move your arms while treading water.

As if their normal flying feats weren't enough, hummingbirds can also fly upside down! To evade other flying predators like hawks and owls the hummingbird can fly short distances completely inverted. Fast thinking and fast acting are the key to the hummingbird's success in out-maneuvering much larger and fiercer birds.

Hummingbirds are definitely built for speed, and the smaller the species the faster their wing beats actually are. Magnificent hummingbirds (E. Fulgen or Rivoli's hummingbird) fly the slowest of all hummingbirds, with 10-15 wing beats per second. Ruby-throat and Rufous hummingbirds average around 53 wing beats per second. The Bumblebee hummingbird (Atthis Heliosa) is the world's smallest bird and their wing beats are more than 80 per second! Hummingbirds fly around 27 miles per hour, but have been clocked at doing up to 45-50 MPH. That's twice as fast as the fastest human can run.

"Fall" in love with mulching

2008-10-10T09:42:00.023-06:00

I'm looking out my living room window and see treetops touched with gold, flaming orange, russet and burgundy. Autumn is my favorite time of year - the chill in the air, getting my sweaters out from storage, a hot chai tea at the last farmer's market of the year. I get invigorated taking my beagle, Chester, out for his walk... seeing nature turn itself toward the next season. Fall happens so beautifully, colors lingering and then fading.

I'm more aware of my connection with the plants around me in Fall - Spring always comes as a surprise ("Hey look! the trees have budded this weekend!") and Summer I'm busy "doing" instead of "looking". I get a chance to slow down and appreciate what's around. But before I snuggle up with my down blanket and a j.d. salinger novel, I know I need to prepare my garden for the cold weather that's coming.

Preparing your garden for winter will help your hummingbird plants survive harsh weather, and keeps the work you'll do in spring down to a minimum. One of the best and least expensive things to do now is to mulch, mulch, mulch!

Mulching brings organic material into your soil and the extra nutrients will feed your hummingbird plants throughout the cold and frozen months.You don't have to look far to find organic mulch - it's what's falling from your trees right now! Harvest the falling leaves from the trees in your yard for inexpensive and quick composting material to add to your flowerbeds. Handheld mulchers will make short work of a pile of leaves, and you won't be bagging up trash bag after trash bag of recyclable material to go to a landfill.

Other great materials for mulch are tree and bush clippings. Many arborists will gladly donate their yard waste (they have it by the truckload this time of year!) and mulching small branches will give you a more substantial mulch than leaves alone. Beware of pine needles and your hummingbird plants though - pine needles are very acidic and you have to make sure your plants can tolerate a rise in acidity. Mulching helps your garden retain moisture, delivering water to the soil by preventing evaporation. Mulch should be porous, allowing air and water through. If you have hummingbird plants that need extra heat (plants that thrive in full-sun) use decorative rock for mulch. Rocks reflect light and hold heat much more than wood or "soft" mulches.

If you're looking to create new flowerbeds for spring, now is the time to let Mother Nature to do the yard work. Last year I wanted a new patch in my yard to grow pumpkins (I have a great batch of jack-o-lanterns now!). I laid out the area I needed and used layers of newspaper and cardboard weighted down with bricks over the turf I needed to remove. By spring the turf was dead from "suffocation" and lack of light, and the area was easier than pie to rota-till. Since the grass was changed to a soft mulch, I also did not have to amendthe soil much with extra compost and fertilizer!

Look, Mom! A hummingbird!

2008-09-28T15:53:00.008-06:00

What better thing to hear than the excitement in your child's voice the first time they see a hummingbird! Few things in this world are as amazing or capture a child's imagination as much as hummingbirds. They're bright, fast, and have as big of a personality as Big Bird himself.

Getting your kids involved with feeding is a great way to teach them about the magical world of hummingbirds - and helps them understand why being kind to animals is important in creating a healthy world. It helps reinforce the connection between them and the natural world, and brings a little of the enchanted into their lives.

Making nectar with your young ones is fun and involves the kids in the feeding process. You can show them how similar they are to hummers - make a batch of nectar (a simple sugar solution: 4 parts water to 1 part sugar) and then make a batch of Kool-Aid. What do you know... the same treat! Yum!

Get your kids excited for hummingbird migration by giving them a character to identify with. Just like Snow White has the seven dwarfs, or the Little Mermaid had Sebastian the crab, there's helpful and humorous Flit the hummingbird in Disney's "Pocahontas".

The 1995 Disney movie "Pocahontas" tells the story of the real-life Powhatan tribe woman who had an infamous romance with Capt. John Smith. Cartoonist Dave Pruiksma animated the hummingbird companion for Pocahontas, and Flit is a fierce protector of his friend. Flit is funny and lively, and his spirited antics with the raccoon Meeko will endear him to your children. After watching you can talk to your kids about Native-American folklore that taught hummingbirds were messengers, giving guidance and awareness.

If you're lucky enough to live near the Desert Museum in Tucson, Arizona or take a trip to this southwest destination your kids can see hummingbirds up close and personal. Other aviaries include the San Diego and Detroit Zoo where several species of hummingbirds fly free and your kids can learn about hummers' amazing lives and bodies. Of course the best education you can share is what lies in your own backyard, when your child runs in the house shouting "Come quick! There's a hummingbird outside"!

Attack of the Squirrels

2008-09-24T09:05:00.007-06:00

My dad calls them "fuzzy tailed rats" and although plenty of people enjoy squirrels in their yards, bird-watchers and bird FEEDERS especially get irked with rodent inhabitants. I'm all for squirrels in nature, but I have to admit I have a "not in my backyard" policy on the seed thieves. They taunt my beagle with antagonistic chirps, they do a number on my insulation when they nest in my roof, and they've wreaked havoc on my bird feeders for years. Well not anymore!

There are some great products out there to keep squirrels off your seed feeders, and Squirrel Baffles are one of the best! If your seed feeder is suspended on a pole there are baffles that attach below the feeder that are cone-shaped that squirrels can't climb up. Don't underestimate their ability to jump and attack your feeder from the air though. Squirrels are kamikazes when it comes to free food so make sure your feeder is well away from trees they can climb and launch off of!

For seed feeders that hang from trees, patios, or other shade giving structures there are baffles that hang above the feeder. These Squirrel Guards & Baffles swing and wobble when the squirrels try to land or climb on them - but you have to make sure the baffle is large enough in diameter so squirrels have nothing to hang onto. 20" diameter is the best. I've been surprised many a time to see a squirrel holding on by their farthest toe to a baffle while stretching with all their might to get seed out of my feeders. You'd think Cirque du Soleil would recruit such acrobats!

Squirrel Baffles are great physical blockers (and they help protect your feeder from rain, snow & hail) but when it comes to the "Battle of the Bandits" sometimes chemical warfare is required.

I don't advocate anything toxic or detrimental to the environment - but holistically adding heat to the seed! Squirrels are mammals, and as such they have mouths much like ours. They can taste sweet, sour, salty, bitter... and hot! Coat your bird seed liberally in cayenne pepper before refilling your seed feeders and squirrels will take a bite and be running for water! Birds have completely different digestive systems, and they are not one bit affected by the spicy pepper. It's safe, it's cheap, and it works!

At www.SweetBeak.com have our songbird seed feeders on sale through October. Now is a great time to get those seed feeders out for birds heading south, and with a few squirrel tricks you'll be able to keep your food for hungry aviators! If you're an "early bird" shopper, stock up for the holidays!

Hurricanes and Hummingbirds

2008-09-15T10:04:00.007-06:00

When it comes to major weather, you're going to have to do some damage control in your garden. Hurricanes can devastate an area, and with the increasing intensity and frequency of tropical storms and hurricanes it's important to think of the bigger picture and how you can help the native birds and animals survive.

One thing that a hurricane always does is destroy all the flowers on the trees and shrubs this time of year. These are very important hummingbird flowers and hummers depend on them in the Gulf Coast in the late summer/early fall for a lot of their sustenance during migration. The salt water from the hurricane storm surges can also kill a lot of the plants that have flowers the hummingbirds feed from.

We have a friend in Houma, Louisiana (right after Hurricane Gustav roared through) that saw the effects this huge storm had on the local hummingbirds.

Our friend always has a lot of hummingbirds this time of year, because the birds are building up their body weights for their flight to Mexico. He came out after Gustav passed to find his garden trashed, and in his cleanup he rehung his hummingbird feeder. Instantly he was besieged by a swarm of hummingbirds trying to feed even before he got the feeder hung up! At one time he had 15 hummingbirds flying around him, sitting on his arms and hands, begging like paupers for the sweet nectar! The hummingbirds were famished. Our friend went and bought two more feeders and each feeder he has in his yard is being drained daily. Maybe a total of 50 hummingbirds are visiting his feeders daily. Because the hummingbirds have had their natural nectar sources demolished during the storm they really depend on "the kindness of strangers".

Just like Gustav blew through Louisiana, Hurricane Ike has ripped through Galveston and Houston, Texas. Both states are vital areas that hummingbirds travel through on their way back South, and there's no time to waste in getting those feeders out into the garden again! Hummingbirds need your help to stay alive in these wind-torn areas, so fill'er up and get'er done!

What your mom never told you about "The Birds & The Bees"

2008-09-08T09:00:00.007-06:00

This isn't the "when a bird and a flower love each other very much" speech... but it is the "there comes a time in every birder's life" one. There are some simple facts about hummingbirds and pollination that you should know, and how bees get involved in the process too. There's no embarrassing diagrams or pamphlets, just some good information and a few things to remember when using a hummingbird feeder.

Some flowers self-pollinate, and some flowers depend on the wind or animals to spread their pollen from one flower to the next. Many flowers that require animals to pollinate (specifically hummingbirds) are bright red and have long tubes that the hummingbird must nuzzle into in order to get nectar. Quite simply, the flowers are red because hummingbird's eyes are particularly sensitive to that color and the long flower tube ensures that the hummingbird's head will touch the flower's stamen where sticky pollen will cling to the hummer's forehead. When the hummingbird moves to the next flower they inadvertently deposit the pollen residue on their head and pollination is complete!

Cartoon depictions of hummingbirds pollinating usually have some showy flower "seducing" the bird to feed from it, and even in nature videos (because hummingbirds fly so quickly), the best way to see their pollination process is through slow-motion. But don't let the camera work fool you into thinking pollination is anything "sexy" or "romantic". Hummingbirds don't know they are pollinating! Birds and insects pollinate flowers involuntarily - they are only in it for the food. Flowers have adapted to encourage visitors to pollinate, and the longer a host flower gets a guest to stick around the better chances pollen will rub off on them. Birds and insects have to WORK and as their reward they get sweet nectar to live on. Nice work if you can get it!

Since insects also pollinate flowers, they too are attracted to the smells and sights of nectar-rich flowers. Bees are the number one pollinators of the insect world, and if you have a hummingbird feeder it's almost guaranteed you'll have some black & yellow visitors! Bees can become pests, and if enough are feeding they can drive hummingbirds away. Remember, they are competing for their dinners and mob rules!

Hummingbird feeders that have feeding ports that mimic natural hummingbird flowers (like the red glass flowers in our bird feeders) typically discourage bees. Only the tiniest can squeeze down the long shafts, and most will give up because they can't fit. Hummingbirds can still use the feeder because their super-long tongues feed from the bottom of the vessel. In other brands and styles where there are open ports or places nectar "drips" out of there is no way to stop bees from accessing the nectar.

They say "the best offense is a good defense" - and if bees are unwelcome at your feeder you're going to need to be a little proactive in getting rid of them. Unlike hummingbirds (which have incredible memory and will visit the same nectar locations year after year), bees are much more nomadic in how they collect nectar. Bee drones go out from the colony and report back with the exact location of food every day. So if some nectar bearing flower is in bloom one week and not the next they don't waste time and energy looking for something that isn't there.

Getting rid of bees is easiest when you MOVE your feeder every day for a week. If you have your feeder hanging in a tree move it to another at least 3 feet away. Then the next day move your feeder to somewhere else. This hide-and-go-seek method really works! Bees lose interest because they think the "flower" is out of season. It's really that simple.

If you have a lot of bees in your area - and they are persistent little buggers - you may have to resort to more creative solutions for your feeders. You can dissuade bees by using bird-friendly options to temporarily reduce the size of the feeding port (remember, bees need to get in flowers to get the nectar and if they can't fit they'll go away). You can use cling film like Saran Wrap or Glad brands to wrap over the flower feeding port, and use a large needle to puncture a hole so the hummer can still get it's tongue down to the nectar but bees can't squeeze through. Only use non-toxic materials, a good rule of thumb is: if you wouldn't put it in your mouth don't put it near hummers!

One of the worst things you can do is put bee traps in your yard. Bees can be pests to birds and humans (I'm very allergic to stings myself), but they are also a very valuable member of the ecosystem! They account for the most pollination in the U.S., pollinating more species of plants than any other animal. Crops for farming and ranching depend on commercial bee hives, and local beekeepers are popping up more and more as a way to keep plant breeds healthy and strong. Many news reports have been following the decline of bee populations and it could spell disaster if we don't protect these tireless pollinators! Our planet needs every bee we have so "Bee Wise and Bee Friendly"!

What goes up must come down

2008-09-01T15:47:00.007-06:00

Don't put your hummingbird feeders away just yet! Hummingbirds are on their southern migration and need all the help they can get to get back through the Gulf of Mexico to their winter nests. Ruby-Throat hummingbirds are making their trip from Canadian provinces through the eastern U.S. states and Rufous hummingbirds in the Northwest will be heading for warmer climes too.

Don't worry about your hummingbird feeder "tricking" hummers to stay too long. Hummingbirds migrate south because of changes in the amount of daylight, dimming skies signaling the coming of winter. As days grow short again the amazing southern migration starts - a journey that will take hummingbirds thousands of miles. Many hummingbird plants are in full bloom throughout the southern migration, and these natural nectar resources are crucial for the migrant flyers. Keeping your hummingbird feeders full and regularly maintained in the autumn will give more opportunities and a rich feeding ground for hummers to build up much needed energy for their southern migration. Regular "pit stops" along their route are healthy and beneficial, especially to young flyers!

How long to keep your feeder out depends on where you are on the map. Southern migration unfortunately is not nearly as well documented as the spring migration north, and there are no definitive "bookends" to hummingbird migration. Just when you think you've seen the last hummer of the year, a week later one will whiz by. Although the timeline for the southern migration is broad, there are typical months hummingbirds fly through.

If you live in Canada and New England the Ruby Throat hummingbird southern migration has likely already gone by. Male adults start in mid-July heading down the coast, and females and juveniles follow a few short weeks after. Hummers will fly along the eastern coast of the U.S. over the next months, pausing to "fill their tanks" with energy rich nectar. By the end of September most hummingbirds will have made their trip, but keep your feeders out a couple weeks longer to make sure stragglers have food too. When freezing weather comes make sure you store your feeders inside to keep them from cracking.

Hummingbirds will take a longer route to Mexico during their southern migration and travel down the eastern coastline of Texas. This is possibly due to the hurricane season in the Gulf of Mexico, and if you've seen the threat of Hurricane Gustav who could blame them??? It's been said "The South will rise again", and when it comes to hummingbird populations during the southern migration this is certainly the case!

Some familiar faces and a few new ones may pass your way. Hummingbirds have spectacular memories and their migration routes reflect their knowledge of nectar locations. You may see more hummingbirds in the autumn than you did in the spring because of fledged juveniles making the trip for the first time. Successful nesting grows the hummingbird population, and keeping your feeders out throughout the southern migration helps young birds deal with the stress and demands of flying south.

The Southwest has many hummingbird species that live in the area year round rather than migrating North. If you live in the Southwest, like Arizona and southern California, keep your feeders out even during winter! Just like the Blue Hair migration in these areas, hummingbirds will stick out the winter months near golf course lined deserts. Ah, the life of leisure!

Plants hummingbirds can't get enough of

2008-08-28T17:18:00.014-06:00

Labor Day is upon us and what better way to spend the end of the summer season than in the garden? While planting your spring bulbs don't forget to fill out the rest of your yard with favorite hummingbird plants!

There's plenty of warmth and sunshine left before autumn's chilly weather so give your hummingbird plants a head start for next year by planting now. In fact, bushes and perennials planted now can increase their spring growth by up to 50% because they will have established root systems in place before the spring thaw! A few extra months can mean the difference in plants blooming the first spring or not.

Your local nursery or garden center can guide you to specific hummingbird plants that will thrive in your region. Many stores will group hummingbird attracting plants together or have special aisles and signage (look for a hummer silhouette on tags and labels). Knowing your soil type and drainage issues in your garden before buying will help immensely in picking plants well suited to your gardening needs.

Here are some proven winners we've found for hummingbird perennials:

In the Southeast: humidity makes for green, green gardens. Take advantage with the more tropical varieties of hummingbird flowers like the iconic red trumpetvine and hibiscus flowers. Climbing vines like bougainvilla are easily trained and come in bold vibrant colors like shocking pink and fiery fuscia.

In the Northeast: you'll need some hardier breeds like foxglove and bee balm, plants that can take a nor'easter and live to tell the tale. Bee balm is generally resistant to mildew so it proves versatile in summer and winter conditions.

In the West: where water-wise gardening is a must, nothing beats xeric agastache! Agastache is a durable and resistant plant that also happens to be downright gorgeous. These herb plants (called hummingbird mint) have spires of flowers that range from white to the most royal of purples and brilliant oranges and reds.

In the Southwest: use native plants like yucca and agave cactus to create dramatic textures without sending your water bill through the roof. Sages also do well in the high desert, and have wonderful fragrance as an added bonus to their beauty. Pineapple sage is our favorite, just for the fact it's fun to say!

As a reminder for planting perennials; these plants come back year after year so make sure you put them NOW where you'll want them LATER!

Know your zone. Many a gardener has been seduced by a plant's beauty regardless of the little plastic spike that warns against it. If the temperature in your area drops below zero, don't buy a plant that can only survive between 20-40 degrees. You'll just set yourself up for heartache. Despite the best intentions, big box stores often carry plants not suited to your region. Heed the information on the pot or label before buying your plants. Zone 5-8 is NOT the same as zone 3-8!
Find out how big your plants will get. Everyone loves a full garden but overcrowding your space may choke out a plant you love with something else that spreads. Don't plan your garden for the first year, plan it for the fifth year of growth. You'll be sure to have plenty of room for your plants and some extra space to experiment with more plants in the future.
Plant for all seasons. We all get excited about seeing those May flowers come in, but there are eleven more months in a year so use them all. Late summer and fall bloomers will keep your garden fresh looking while you enjoy outdoor activities. Also keep in mind winter interest, even dormant plants can look lovely in the snow.
Vary the heights and colors of your plants to keep things visually interesting. Garden design is an expression of your personality so have fun with it. Whether a formal garden plan or a free-spirited mix of species "let your inner garden out"!

"Going Green" with your hummingbird feeders

2008-05-28T10:46:00.005-06:00

Everywhere you turn people are talking about "Going Green" and being eco-responsible. In this time of climate crisis, we all need to do our part to help reduce the strain on the Earth's resources. Changing your old lightbulbs to compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs), drinking filtered water in reusable instead of disposable bottles, ride-sharing and carpooling are all wonderful ways to help reduce energy and resource waste.

It's easy to talk the talk, but what about walking the walk? You're probably doing a lot of things right in your garden - helping to build a healthy environment for you, your friends, your family. Xeriscaping, water conservation, composting and mulching all make your garden more beautiful and efficient, but what about your accessories and garden decor? Even something as simple as the hummingbird feeders you use in your yard can impact the environment.

Here are a few factors to consider when you visit online stores or your local garden centers:

1. Pick feeders that are made from recycled materials. Typically hummingbird feeders are made in glass, ceramic, plastic or metal. Recycled versions are usually heavier and more durable than first-production, non-recycled feeders. Using post-consumer materials keeps valuable resources out of landfills, and less trash means more opportunities for growth.

2. Pick feeders that will last more than one or two seasons. Recycled glass feeders are better options than plastic styles. Plastic will discolor over time, and bacteria can adhere to and even breakdown the feeder - making it unusable. Instead of replacing plastic feeders, use recycled glass feeders that will keep their bright colors and shapes for years to come. You'll save production, packaging, and shipping impacts by only buying lasting products.

3. Pick feeders that are made by people, not machines. Feeders made by artisans not only have craftsmanship and artistry but help support families and not big-box stores and suppliers. Mass produced and production molded feeders don't improve anyone's life. We're in this together - and it's important to make connections with people and companies that value the person and not just the product.

Making a positive change in your life can make a positive change in the world.

Hummingbird Nectar Recipe

2008-05-27T12:07:00.006-06:00

Hummingbird nectar is not as difficult as a lot of companies make it out to be. When it comes to buying hummingbird nectar don't believe the hype! You don't have to have "extra protein" or "electrolytes" or "flavors" in your nectar - those are gimmicks that waste your time and money! Hummingbird nectar is really a simple sugar solution, and the best way to make it at home is with your own table sugar.

Nectar Recipe: 4 parts water to 1 part sugar.

Table sugar is the closest thing to the nectar found in hummingbirds' favorite flowers, and you'll get the best results from using our simple nectar recipe. FDA approved, your table sugar doesn't have any extra coloring, additives, or preservatives and if it's good enough for people you can be sure it'll be good enough for your hummingbirds! Although you can use any type of sugar, plain white granulated sugar (cane or beet) works the best. Raw sugar you may have problems with dissolving all the sugar and brown sugars contain molasses that will increase bacterial growth. Plain tap water is okay for your nectar, but if you live in an area where you use well water you will need to boil the water before adding the sugar! Trace amounts of fluoride, chlorine, or other tap minerals won't hurt your hummingbirds, but if concerned filter the water ahead of time.

Please remember: experts DO NOT recommend adding any food coloring to your nectar!!! Hummingbirds feed from all colors of flowers, not just red flowers. They go to nectar sources that give them the most bang for their buck - and if a white flower has better nectar than a red flower they'll go to the white instead. Bright colors do attract hummingbirds, but the red food coloring people add to their feeders can build up in the hummer's liver and be harmful. If you want to add the color red to get hummingbirds to your feeder, use a red ribbon by the hook or something like a red shade or ant-moat. Never-ever use red food coloring!

Other tips to keep your hummingbirds happy are:

Change your hummingbird nectar regularly (3-5 days in cool weather, 1-2 days in hot weather). The fresher your nectar the more hummingbirds will seek it out. Old nectar can grow bacteria or ferment (becoming alcohol) and your birds will stop feeding from it.

Make batches of nectar and keep excess stored in your refrigerator for up to two weeks. This'll save you time and energy in mixing up the nectar, and you'll have plenty on hand to refill feeders frequently. High volume areas you may go through a gallon of nectar in a few days!

Sweeten the deal If your hummingbirds are getting lured from your feeders, get them back by upping the ante and sweetening your nectar. Hummingbirds like a good deal as much as anyone, and a change to 3 part water to 1 part sugar recipe will get them back to using your feeders as their main meal.

Bees will scare hummingbirds away so if you have uninvited guests at your feeder you need to systematically move it. Bees send out scouts to find nectar, and once the hive knows your location you'll need to keep changing addresses to lose them. Move your feeder at least 3 feet everyday, and the bee scouts will lose the whereabouts. Luckily, your hummingbirds have amazing memory and will still know your feeder's vicinity (the smart little things)!