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From: GC.SUL@forsythe.stanford.edu (MIKE SULLIVAN)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: hummingbird feeders
Message-ID: <2860@lindy.Stanford.EDU>
Date: 24 Apr 89 02:59:46 GMT
Sender: news@lindy.Stanford.EDU (News Service)
Lines: 20

All right, everybody, according to Louise G. Blakey of Los Altos who
has written a book called "Our Hummingbirds", the use of red food
color is NOT RECCOMENDED for the sugar-water solution.  She writes,
"The safety of red food coloring dye is in question."  Hummingbirds
have extremely high metabolisms and even small amounts of certain
substances (including pestcide sprays on plants) can be toxic.
Mrs. Blakey is a local authority of hummingbirds in the Bay Area,
and was one of the first people years ago to successfully
rehabilitate injured hummingbirds.

Also, the Droll Yankee feeder IS good, but it can be difficult to
keep clean.  I ended up buying several narrow, wire brushes, but
they have to be bent to reach into the feeder.  I had problems
keeping it clean even with the vinegar-water soak suggested by the
manufacturers.  Hummingbirds would rather feed from a feedeer with a
tube-type arrangement-the Perkey Pet Four fountains is good but you
have to be sure to pop out the inner disk to clean it properly.

Karen Sullivan
HUMMINGBIRD GARDENS nursery