Bat House Forum

[Markcuda]

I saw my first one today.
I live in Clinton,Illinois, about the center of the state.
We cater to the little critters, last year we only had about 4, that was the most we saw at one time.
Lets see, we got 12 feeders up for them.
Probably way to many for the few that we get.
Any way, just wanted to see how many other peeps try to attract them.

[Terry Lobdell]

None here yet at my house, but I did see on facebook someone up in Erie saw one..........I should put out more feeders! This year I want to put out grape jelly and oranges for baltimore orioles!

[Markcuda]

Terry, I just put out my oriole feeders today, I painted them orange a week ago with two coats of good paint.
They can be seen now at 3 miles up
I have been trying to get orioles for a few years now but have not been successful
I hope the paint will be the answer.

[cloudman75]

I do. They have been here a few weeks now. I am on my second feeder prepared for them. I use sugar and water no red color.
As soon as the storm blows over tomorrow, I'll put the feeder back up. I am in metro Atlanta GA. about 20 miles west of downtown.

Frank

[Terry Lobdell]

Funny, I saw this post and also saw my first humming bird later this afternoon! I immediately cleaned and filled my feeder!

[Markcuda]

Frank, I also mix my sugar water.
1 cup of sugar to 64 ounces of water.
I boil it for about 3/4 minutes, then let it room temperature cool then put it into the refrigerator.
I don't use any dye either.
I try and spoil the little fellas

[William Bagwell]

<waves wildly> We do! We do!

Only have three feeders since this is only our second year. Funny story what prompted us to get a feeder. Have had hummers for years since there are many plants around that attract them but since we do not feed any other birds they got left out too. Until we bought a fruit picker...

Little wire basket looking doo-hickey on a long poll. The tips of the tines (painted yellow BTW) were just a bit sharp so my wife got some plastic tubing (like for the bubbler on a fish tank) and cut it in to short pieces and slid one over the end of each tine. Picker was laying on a bench in front of the house last spring and as we walked by a humming bird was trying to figure out how to get nectar out of it.

We were like "AWWWwwww HOW CUTE!" and the rest is history. Had three feeders by summers end. Only one up at the moment because we have only seen males so far this year. Going to put the other two a lot further away this year so one 'bully' can not guard more than one feeder.

William

[Markcuda]

I have been in Wisconsin for about 5 days now, helping my parents get stuff done and the wife just called from Illinois saying she has seen a male oriale two times now in the last two days
There is a God

[Markcuda]

I am real disappointed about my hummers.
So far this year, I have only seen one at my feeders
And that is about one time a week, hell, I got 11 feeders out and change the sugar water every 5 or so days.

[flyin-lowe]

I had seen a few hummers around my flowers so last week I got my feeder out and cleaned it and filled it. The next day it was tore out of the ground and the lid is now gone. I had this happen twice last year and it was a raccoon. I set a trap the next day and had a large (angry) raccoon caught. He won't be a problem anymore and now I have to get a new feeder. I was watering the flowers last night and a ruby throat flew within a foot of me and fed on some of the flowers and didn't mind me there a bit.

[Joe Spencer]

I have them but haven't had time yet for my feeder this year unfortunately or actually the caring of it. One of the most important things you need to do is change the liquid more frequently during warmer days times. It is quickly turned rancid by the sun/heat. It also lessens bacteria buildup. Clean and wash it out thoroughly or if it can be taken apart and is dishwasher safe wash it in there. Steer clear from feeders which are hard to clean.