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From: phz@cadence.com (Pete Zakel)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Humming bird feeder  and ...
Message-ID: <9007250227.AA11682@cds709.noble.com>
Date: 25 Jul 90 02:27:24 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Lines: 31

>Now if I can only get rid of the ants!

My feeders hang from clothesline strung between two poles, and I coat the
line with salad oil to discourage ants.  It's messy, but it works.  I only
coat it near the ends so the hummers can still sit on the line comfortably.

Another option is to spray the poles with ant spray (which I have done when
they get too bad, but I don't like to unless I have to), or just tolerate
the ants.  I don't know if the ants discourage the hummers, I just don't
like getting them all over me when I have to add more sugar water.  I've
noticed that the hornets who used to visit my old feeder discourage them
a bit, but I changed to a different type of feeder that makes it very
difficult for the hornets to access the water -- and also has four "flowers"
per feeder so even if a hornet is there, the hummer can still safely feed.

Of course, I miss the hornet fights I used to get with the old feeder -- one
hornet would grab the other, they'd both fall to the ground, then the quickest
one to recover would scoot up to grab a little more nectar before the other
caught up and grabbed him (her?) again.  Almost as interesting as watching
the hummers chase each other around!

-Pete Zakel
 (phz@cadence.com or ..!{hpda,versatc,apollo,ucbcad,uunet}!cadence!phz)

P.S. Someone asked about oriole feeders: they are available from Perky-Pet,
who also make the best hummingbird feeders (IMHO).  I don't have the address
available, but you should be able to take it from any Perky-Pet feeder
package you find in your neighborhood grocery store (they'll send a catalogue
of their products that you can order direct from them -- including nectar
mix, they have one mix that has added vitamins and minerals and less food
coloring, replacement bee guards, etc., etc.).