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From: john@nmt.edu (John Shipman)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Bird feeding and migration
Summary: replies to Sandra Macika and also to Pete Zakel
Message-ID: <1990Sep8.172536.11672@nmt.edu>
Date: 8 Sep 90 17:25:36 GMT
References: <9009072212.AA07107@cds709.noble.com>
Organization: Zoological Data Processing
Lines: 48

Sandra Macika (sandra@pyrtech.pyramid.com) writes:
+--
| I tried using warm water once and the birds did not drink
| it. The feeder stayed out there full for a long time until
| I finally refilled it using cold water.
+--

I hadn't noticed this, because I usually mix a large batch
of solution with warm water and then refrigerate it.

Pete Zakel (phz@cadence.com) writes:
+--
| It's always the same feeders, in the same locations, with
| only the contents changing.  The two feeders always have
| slightly different contents (I switch between all three
| Perky-Pet nectars and the two feeders always each have a
| different nectar).  The "Light" nectar is *always* consumed
| faster, no matter which of the two feeders contains it.
+--

I didn't realize Perky-Pet had three different formulations.
What are the differences?

+--
| Since the feeders and locations remain constant, I conclude
| the difference must be in the nectar.
+--

A reasonable conclusion.  But is the difference in the
composition of the nectar, or in the concentration?  A
number of people I've talked to tell me that hummers
prefer stronger solutions.  Perhaps Perky-Pet's formula
is simply sweeter.

In an earlier posting, Mr. Zakel asserted:
+--
| undissolved sugar in the nectar is very bad for hummers
| for the same reason honey is bad -- can cause infection
| on a hummer's tongue which frequently means death...
+--

I would still like to see some reasonable support for this
assertion.  Perky-Pet might be pushing this point of view
as a scare tactic to sell more of their expensive stuff,
so I wouldn't believe their literature.
-- 
John Shipman/Zoological Data Processing/Socorro, NM/john@jupiter.nmt.edu
``Let's go outside and commiserate with nature.''  --Dave Farber