Page 15 - fall 2018

14 Friends oF red rock canyon Friends oF red rock canyon 15

The following is taken directly from the brochure “Hummingbirds 101” published by the International
Hummingbird Society on how to properly clean and fill hummingbird feeders.

Type: The best feeder is one you are able and will- so (more often if temperatures exceed 90 F.),
Freshness: Change the mixture every 4 days or
“Lunch on the Wing” - James Resch that attracts ants. appears cloudy or if you see mold.
ing to clean. If the feeder ports are above the pool of
liquid there is less tendency to drip, a messy problem
because it will ferment. Change it immediately if it
Size: Use a feeder whose size
Maintenance: Feeders must be
matches your population. Don’t fill it
cleaned between refillings; don’t
up if all the nectar isn’t being used.
“top off” without cleaning. Use mild
Several small feeders are better than
detergent and water, and rinse thor-
one large feeder and will support
oughly. At least once a month, soak
By Kristi Weeks
more hummers, helping deal with
to sterilize the feeder, and, of-course,
territoriality.
rinse very thoroughly. Some feed-
Recipe: Dissolve one cup white in diluted (1 tbsp/cup) bleach solution
granulated sugar (cane preferred, ers can be sterilized by cleaning in a
ccording to the Southern Nevada Conser- sentatives from the Red Rock Audubon Society, beet is OK) in 4 cups of water. dishwasher.
Avancy (SNC), six species of hummingbirds BLM and SNC to discuss the future of the feeders. Do not use any other sugar – not Black Chinned Hummingbird Location: Place feeders out of the
frequent Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Should the feeders be removed and have the hum- turbinado, brown sugar, etc. – never By Kristi WeeksC reach of cats or at least four feet
Area. They include the black-chinned, Anna’s, mingbirds rely solely on native plants and flowers? use honey or artificial sweeteners. above ground and in the shade if pos-
Costa’s, broad- It was decided to Spring water is best, but most tap water is OK; don’t sible. Never place a feeder near a nest, for doing so
tailed, Rufous, keep the feeders use distilled water. No red food coloring! Store un- may invite predation.
and calliope and a volunteer
hummingbird. hummingbird team used mixture in a refrigerator up to a week.
Up until last was created. Prior
year, a Bureau to joining the team,
Volunteers dedicated to the preservation of Red Rock Canyon
of Land Man- volunteers were Fall Events at Red Rock Canyon
agement (BLM) required to attend a
biologist and class led by Doug
volunteers ran Chang, President First and third Mondays - Light Trail Maintenance
a program to of the Red Rock
capture and band Audubon Society, Second and fourth Mondays - Native Plant Team
hummingbirds on how to properly Second Saturday - Natural Resource Work Day
for data collec- clean and fill the
tion. Five hum- feeders. There are Canyon Cleanup - Work Days vary
mingbird feeders now five active (additional information listed on our website)
were placed hummingbird feeder
Rufous Prism outside of the volunteers who Saturday, October 27
By Chuck De La Torre BLM’s adminis- take turns maintain-
tration building ing four feeders, Friends Volunteer Greg Darrow Make a Difference Day
to attract the hummingbirds for capture. However, two near the Visitor checking the feeder. a volunteer day of giving back
the hummingbird banding program was discontin- Center entrance and By Kristi Weeks
ued when the only authorized/trained BLM staff two in the rear of
person left her position. the Administration Saturday, November 17
building. Friends of Red Rock Canyon
The five hummingbird feeders remained empty
for months. Visitors and staff had enjoyed watch- The Hummingbird Society is a wonderful re- Annual Volunteer Appreciation
ing the hummingbirds flit around the feeders and source for information about hummingbirds. Their
their antics were greatly missed. I met with repre- website is www.hummingbirdsociety.org.

the Rock - Volume 9 Issue 1 FALL 2018