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From: kelly@nntp-server.caltech.edu (Fishhead)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Hummingbird comments...
Message-ID: <1991Jan9.190750.594@morrow.stanford.edu>
Date: 9 Jan 91 19:07:50 GMT
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Item: rec.birds 23441,  9 Jan 91,  36 lines.    (2 items left)


I tried emailing this but it bounced, its a response to the previous
gripe about hummingbird "article".

I read the posting in rec.birds and couldn't help but wonder if you were
referring to my brief quote about hummers being found down during frosts
and that they might not be dead but might be ina state of torpor...

If so, i really do not remember recommending any commercial food, preservative,
dye or anything. I believe i did mention the 'HumPowerFood' which is
a protein suppliment that may be added when extra nutrition is necessary. This
is not a commercial mix, nor is it being sold to be used to feed downed
hummers, but can be used if you're in a pinch and desperate, if you make it
up ina gruel solution consistency. Its a duplicate of the recipe the
San Diego Zoological Gardens pioneered for their walk through hummingbird
exhibit, and they still use the same recipe as well as fruit flies and other
insect suppliments as well as all the plants they can cultivate. Project
wildlife uses it in a gruel mixture, with and as a suppliment to their
other recipes.

Aside from that, i completely agree 100% with everything you said, and support
it, i hope i didn't confuse you by thinking i was supporting dyes
preservatives, or *any* commercial mix, especially junk like Natural
Springs Nectar which has a sugar content of 41-48%, the 20-25% you mentioned
is what it should be, any more, as you know, can damage the hummer's liver,
as well as make it an addict of the feeder which means it neglects its other
food sources leading to one sick bird.

Anyhow, I hope i cleared that all up, i wasn't sure if you were commenting
about my "article" or not...
Kelly

Hi Kelly.  No, I was responding to a much previous article found in
rec.birds where the poster had mentioned using commercial brands of
instant nectar.

I believe Woodsworld is on the right track with their special
protein supplement.  I am leery of reccomending it to the general
public as you can definately cause a lot of harm if it is used
incorrectly.  Louise Blakey in Los Altos (who was one of the first
people to successfully rehabilitate an injured hummingbird in teh
Bay Area) in her book "Our Hummingbirds" mentions using a protein
supplement if the weather is freezing and all the natural insect
populations eliminated.  However, she cautions people to change this
mixture at least once a day as it spoils quickly.

I had an aviary up at our La Honda property and was taking
hummingbirds from Wildlife Rescue that were strong enough to fly but
not quite ready to be released.  (These were the ones that had been
HAND FED every 20 minutes during the day with a special protein
"goopP.  When they could fly and feed themselves they were send up
to me.) Anyway, as I had the nursery that propagated hummingbird
plants, I had many different types and shapes of flowers to switch
in and out of the aviary so the birds could learn to successfully
feed before being released.  Anyway, as they were not getting any
insects in the aviary, Pat Gonzales of Wildlife Rescue gave me
frozed jars of her special protein mix to thaw and place in syringes
in the aviary for the hummers to feed from.  I don't know exactly
what was in it-I do know it had tubifex worms ground up.  I needed
to change this mix at least TWICE a day or more if it was really
hot.

What I learned from this whole experience was that the average
person is better off trying to find an expert rather that attempting
to rehabilitate an injured hummer himself.  I did have several birds
in a state of torpor in the morning (had run out of food thatnight I
guess)  I was successful in warming them in my hands a few minutes
and then getting them to take some sugar water out of a syringe.
They perked up remarkabley fast, i put them back in the aviary and
they were able to feed successfully from the syringe of protein
goop.

Hope that was all clear.  I don't want to steer people out of trying
to help an injured hummer, but make the point that if it can't fly
and feed itself, it needs to be hand fed every 20 minutes with a
specialized diet.

Have you used the special powder sold by Woodsworld?  What does it
say about changing it or spoilage?

Karen Sullivan, formerly of Hummingbird Gardens Nursery

Donna, I hope you see this.  Tried to reply to you but we were
having problems with this account.  We moved from La Honda up to
Kelseyville in August.  I brought all my stock plants but don't know
if I really want to start the Nursery again yet.  Have a new baby
and things to do with this property.  The Nursery was a lot of fun,
but too much work for one person and I could not keep up with all
the correspondence.  If you are interested, the June Sunset of 90
had a picture of part of my garden in their Salvia article