A question partially answered.
I've mentioned my hummingbird feeder a few times -- the physics question, the bee buffet, a scramble to keep it liquid during freezing temps.
But I've been wondering, where does all the nectar go? It's been too cold for bees; haven't seen them since the day of that pic. I wondered if any hummingbirds actually winter in New Mexico, so I checked online. Turns out, two species do, although the range shows to be in the southwest corner. (I'm southeast corner.) But I figured, south is south, and maybe a few adventurous individual ventured east. No matter; the nectar disappears, I clean the bottle and put out more.
But today I discovered that some other critters also like hummingbird nectar... sparrows! (Or wrens; I can't tell the difference.) I was passing the front door, on my way to get the vacuum from the workroom, and glanced out the window. There were two sparrows sitting on the base, dipping their heads down as if they were drinking.
Of course I grabbed my camera, but the pictures aren't great -- taken through two dirty panes of glass (storm door, house door) and backlighted against the bright sky -- but I couldn't get outside without scaring them off. However, they do serve to prove what I saw.
Eventually they flew away, and I started my housework. But I passed by the door again about 30 minutes later and saw a sparrow sitting on the dowel rod I put up to hang the warming lamp. He flew to the feeder, and was joined very soon by another sparrow. No idea whether it was the same two as before, or if those two told others who came to check it out. They don't seem to be drinking from the "flowers", but from the rim where there's a little seepage between the top piece and the bottom piece. That... doesn't seem like it would provide much. I'm contemplating using my wire snips to cut a tiny divot in a couple of places around the rim, to allow them (and the bees and wasps) easier access. There's the possibility that it would allow the nectar to actually drip out... but if it doesn't work, I can buy a new one and not modify it. What can I say? If some animal wants what I provide, I want to make it as easy for them as possible.
But I must say, this is a new one on me. I've never heard that other types of birds might like hummingbird nectar. Wild!
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