ckreef Posted May 23, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2016 My humming bird population has doubled, 2 males have been joined by 2 females. Very nice. . I was able to get a matching replacement feeder this weekend. Strangely they don't like the new feeder as well as the old. Maybe it's the new plastic. They eat from it but definitely seem to prefer the old one. No worries once my population gets around 20 they won't be so picky - LOL . Something you might be interested in ...... . A few years ago me and my son did a sugar content test. Regular strength, extra heavy on the sugar and extra light on the sugar. The conclusion we came to is the sugar strength definitely effects how fast they drink it down. Extra heavy on the sugar and they drink it slower. Make a light batch and they'll drink the feeder dry really fast. Needless to say I now make the batches a little heavy on the sugar content. Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacKenzie Posted May 23, 2016 Report Share Posted May 23, 2016 I have read is a bird book that the mix should be 1:4 sugar to water and you can feed more sugar at the start of the season before there is lots of feed from the flowers. Higher concentrations are hard on their livers and should only be done at the start of the season. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckreef Posted May 23, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2016 Will definitely keep that in mind - TY Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony b Posted May 23, 2016 Report Share Posted May 23, 2016 Both good to know. A friend and I were sitting on the deck Saturday evening and I saw my first hummingbird of the season. It flew within a few feet of us and then darted into the trees. It had a green body with a red breast. Stunning. Need to dig out my feeder from wherever it's stashed in the garage - or get a new one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacKenzie Posted May 23, 2016 Report Share Posted May 23, 2016 So you have a male hummingbird, they always show up first for me, then maybe a or later the females arrive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon B. Posted May 24, 2016 Report Share Posted May 24, 2016 On 5/23/2016 at 0:31 PM, MacKenzie said: I have read is a bird book that the mix should be 1:4 sugar to water and you can feed more sugar at the start of the season before there is lots of feed from the flowers. Higher concentrations are hard on their livers and should only be done at the start of the season. I have the same problem with mixed drinks. 1:4 Booze to water...............................any stronger and it is hard on my liver!!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacKenzie Posted May 24, 2016 Report Share Posted May 24, 2016 That's the spirit, Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckreef Posted May 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2016 Tadpoles galore. We found some eggs last time we cleaned the filter (sorry no picture). We looked them up and they were toad eggs, which makes sense because we have a few toads running around the garden. Anyway here are a few of the tadpoles from those eggs. Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CeramicChef Posted May 25, 2016 Report Share Posted May 25, 2016 Progress! I really liked frogs in my yard. Enjoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony b Posted May 25, 2016 Report Share Posted May 25, 2016 Perfect!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacKenzie Posted May 26, 2016 Report Share Posted May 26, 2016 Wait until they all start croaking.:) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckreef Posted May 26, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2016 Wait until they all start croaking. We already had 3 croaking in the garden. So loud you need ear plugs. So loud it drowned our my music and I play really loud crazy rock/rap. I made those statements literally not figuratively. Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckreef Posted May 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2016 Another guest at Reef's Herb Garden. While Mrs skreef was taking this picture I was busy going "Soilent Green" on the tadpoles - LOL. Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacKenzie Posted May 29, 2016 Report Share Posted May 29, 2016 Beautiful shot, SK. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckreef Posted May 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2016 Our first pond flower. Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony b Posted May 29, 2016 Report Share Posted May 29, 2016 Excellent photograph! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CeramicChef Posted May 29, 2016 Report Share Posted May 29, 2016 @ckreef - that's just beautiful! Keep us posted. I'm living vicariously through you and Susan in this deal. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacKenzie Posted May 29, 2016 Report Share Posted May 29, 2016 Beautiful pond flower. :):):) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cschaaf Posted May 29, 2016 Report Share Posted May 29, 2016 Love the pictures! There must be a dragonfly boom this year. We have at least a dozen that have been sticking around our yard for about two weeks. I hope they stick around all summer and eat the skeeters and gnats. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckreef Posted May 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2016 Love the pictures! There must be a dragonfly boom this year. We have at least a dozen that have been sticking around our yard for about two weeks. I hope they stick around all summer and eat the skeeters and gnats. I love the dragonflies too. The little ones hang out in the garden all day. As dusk approaches the big ones start flying/eating overhead. As it gets darker a few bats come out to eat. I've often thought about putting up some bat houses to try and get a bigger bat population. Bats are ferocious bug eaters and basically won't mess with you. Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
