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I am not sure that the hummingbirds can eat something as large or as hardshelled as an ant. They certainly do not seem to eat the ants that were climbing the feeders.
While I agree the feeders are more for us than the birds, I also supply them with lots of flowers to get natural nectors as well.
Rob Woods
Georgefield
Jim Wolford <jimwolford@eastlink.ca> wrote:
Another well-known foraging method for hummingbirds is to hover close to the
sap-dripping holes from yellow-bellied sapsuckers and to feed on the insects
attracted to the sap (as well as on the sap itself?). Jim in Wolfville
----------
From: David&Jane Schlosberg
Reply-To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2007 12:16:25 -0300
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Subject: RE: [NatureNS] ants invading hummingbird feeders
Hi, Jean. I was concerned about the ants because they consumed so much of
the syrup. A third of my container was gone in a couple of days, when no
hummers were about. Also, we've really been overrun with these small ants
this summer, and I don't feel that I want to feed them. You've given me a
new perspective on the situation, though. Drat! Everything's always more
complex than it appears!
Thanks.
Jane
-----Original Message-----
From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca
[mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca]On Behalf Of Jean Timpa
Sent: Friday, August 17, 2007 7:21 PM
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Subject: [NatureNS] ants invading hummingbird feeders
I don't maintain hummingbird feeders, so I am not quite sure why
there is such a fuss about the ants? Do they actually clog the openings to
the feeder? I can see that it would not be so much fun to try to handle
feeders with ants on them when replenishing the freshly made syrup. My
curiosity about this is that hummingbirds do require a certain amount of
protein in their diet, and I would think that the presence of the ants so
close
to their source of sugar syrup would be helpful to them and give them a far
better chance at a balanced diet. Surely this is how hummies capture small
insects, as they invade natural flowers for nectar. Are these syrup feeders
really for the hummingbirds or for us? Jean Timpa in Wolfville
---------------------------------
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<div>I am not sure that the hummingbirds can eat something as large or as hardshelled as an ant. They certainly do not seem to eat the ants that were climbing the feeders.</div> <div> </div> <div>While I agree the feeders are more for us than the birds, I also supply them with lots of flowers to get natural nectors as well.</div> <div> </div> <div>Rob Woods</div> <div>Georgefield<BR><BR><B><I>Jim Wolford <jimwolford@eastlink.ca></I></B> wrote:</div> <BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">Another well-known foraging method for hummingbirds is to hover close to the<BR>sap-dripping holes from yellow-bellied sapsuckers and to feed on the insects<BR>attracted to the sap (as well as on the sap itself?). Jim in Wolfville<BR>----------<BR>From: David&Jane Schlosberg <DSCHLOSB-G@NS.SYMPATICO.CA><BR>Reply-To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca<BR>Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2007 12:16:25 -0300<BR>To:
naturens@chebucto.ns.ca<BR>Subject: RE: [NatureNS] ants invading hummingbird feeders<BR><BR>Hi, Jean. I was concerned about the ants because they consumed so much of<BR>the syrup. A third of my container was gone in a couple of days, when no<BR>hummers were about. Also, we've really been overrun with these small ants<BR>this summer, and I don't feel that I want to feed them. You've given me a<BR>new perspective on the situation, though. Drat! Everything's always more<BR>complex than it appears!<BR>Thanks.<BR>Jane<BR><BR>-----Original Message-----<BR>From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca<BR>[mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca]On Behalf Of Jean Timpa<BR>Sent: Friday, August 17, 2007 7:21 PM<BR>To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca<BR>Subject: [NatureNS] ants invading hummingbird feeders<BR><BR><BR>I don't maintain hummingbird feeders, so I am not quite sure why<BR>there is such a fuss about the ants? Do they actually clog the openings to<BR>the feeder? I can see that it would not be
so much fun to try to handle<BR>feeders with ants on them when replenishing the freshly made syrup. My<BR>curiosity about this is that hummingbirds do require a certain amount of<BR>protein in their diet, and I would think that the presence of the ants so<BR>close<BR>to their source of sugar syrup would be helpful to them and give them a far<BR>better chance at a balanced diet. Surely this is how hummies capture small<BR>insects, as they invade natural flowers for nectar. Are these syrup feeders<BR>really for the hummingbirds or for us? Jean Timpa in Wolfville<BR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><p> 
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