Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!prls!pyramid!zona
From: zona@pyrps5 (Zona Walcott - lang group)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Humming bird feeder  and ...
Keywords: hummingbirds, bird feeder, orioles
Message-ID: <120206@pyramid.pyramid.com>
Date: 17 Jul 90 19:55:05 GMT
Sender: daemon@pyramid.pyramid.com
Distribution: na
Lines: 34


    Just thought I'd let you know  of the interesting things
    happening in my front yard in Santa Clara, California.

    I have a hummingbird feeder and a "regular" bird seed feeder.
    Mostly house finches  and English sparrows  visit the seed feeder.
    Occasionally, a mockingbird will visit it too. The towhees will feed
    off the ground what the others have thrown down.

    Most interesting is the  hummingbird feeder though.  I do have
    hummingbirds using it. They are mainly Anna's.  However, and now
    comes the fun part.  The house finches and English Sparrows have
    discovered how to perch on it and drink from it too.  They look
    rather silly, hanging on and almost toppling from it drinking.
    But even more fun  ... a couple of weeks ago, some Hooded orioles
    discovered it too.  There are about 3 of them I think.  They look
    even sillier perched on the hummingbird feeder drinking from it!
    (They are almost as big as the feeder!)  The hummingbirds  at first
    didn't seem to mind the small finches and would come right up to the
    feeder to drink when the  finchs were there.    The orioles at first
    gave them problems.  Now, the hummers come right up to the feeder
    when an oriole is perched there and drink from another perch!
    (Oh yes, the orioles will occasionally  try to eat some seeds from
    the finch feeder though I don't know if they really get any!)

    My question is will it do these birds (the ones unexpected at the
    hummer feeder) any  harm if they drink the stuff.  (It's 1/4 cup
    white sugar to 1 cup water.)

    and ...
    does anyone else have non-hummers visiting their hummer feeder?

     thanks,
      Zona