Hummingbird feeder alert: birds can't drink frozen juice

Saturday, January 13, 2024

By Gordon Snyder

I’m a hummingbird fan. I love watching and photographing them.

We have had feeders in the front and back yards for years. When it’s very cold like now, our resident hummers are dependent on us keeping their feeders thawed out. They can’t drink frozen juice.


Photo by Gordon Snyder
As soon as I hung this thawed feeder, I got a quick "Thank You Look” from this Anna's Hummingbird.

Notice the feathers are fluffed to make the warmest down coat. He was even flying around the feeder all puffed up to stay warm as possible.

Heated hummingbird feeder
Photo by Gordon Snyder
Next, I set up a heated hummingbird feeder and within seconds a Boss was guarding it selfishly.

All our hummingbird feeders were frozen solid from this cold front. To thaw them out, put them in a sink or container because they will leak sugar water as they warm.

As the warmed feeders were rehung, they were in high demand. But as usual, the hummers began setting territories. Our Anna’s Hummingbirds don’t share…

Thaw feeders in a sink because they will leak suger water as they warm.
Photo by Gordon Snyder
After thawing out and setting up a couple more feeders, the Anna's managed to share. But only between flights chasing each other away from “their” feeder. Then, during the chase, another one snuck in and filled its belly.

Please, it’s going to be cold for the next several days and nights. If you have hummingbird feeders, bring them inside at night. Then, put them outside in the morning.

The hummers will be waiting for you. You will bring joy to them and yourself.


7 comments:

Anonymous,  January 13, 2024 at 9:07 AM  

Wonderful, thank you Gordon! I brought my feeders in last night and left in sink as directed, good plan. It delighted me yesterday to take hummers fresh warm sugar water.

Anonymous,  January 13, 2024 at 10:45 AM  

It's so cold its not enough just to put it out in the morning, you have to change it again mid day please! Please don't leave frozen sugar water out.

Eileen January 13, 2024 at 10:48 AM  

It is so cold its not enough just to put the feeder out in the morning, you have to change it mid day or even three times on a day like this!

Anonymous,  January 13, 2024 at 2:58 PM  
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DKH January 13, 2024 at 4:22 PM  

Hummingbirds get up early-like 5:00am

If you can get a hummingbird heater (wild Birds Unlimited have them) that is best.
Shining an incandescent light on the feeder may work. Hand warmers taped to the feeder will help for a while.
They really need our help right now.
--Christine Southwick

Eileen January 13, 2024 at 4:50 PM  

Yes its a good investment to buy the humming bird heaters they work well but needed additional help during this cold spell of bringing in the feeder and then switching it out or heating it up every 4 hours or so. The hummers get up early but not before 7 AM :-) Thank you for helping the hummers!

Just My Opinion January 13, 2024 at 7:10 PM  

I was at Wild Birds Unlimited in LFP today (Saturday) and I think I heard them say they sold 130 heated hummingbird feeders yesterday! We to need to remember water! for all the other birds

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