I've been searching around on the internet looking for what people can do to help hummingbirds through the cold weather. I tried to post this earlier, but it keeps rejecting my message and putting all sorts of weird junk at the beginning of each paragraph. I am retyping in a different window and hoping it will work. It looks like you're going to have to copy and paste the URL's yourself. It won't take my link info and rejects my post. If you only do one, do the one called "A Warm Drink." This can be found at http://www.hummingbirdworld.com/h/stories-1.htm You'll get someone's personal story on the benefits of warm nectar. Just scroll down to the fourth story, "A Warm Drink." I

You can also take a look at my two earlier posts--one today in response to hummer_beginner under "Freeze," and a much earlier one called "Freezing point of 4:1 sugar solution." Both have links on this subject.

Here's a scientific abstract at http://www.springerlink.com/content/cg094avrf5h4vkgp/. If I'm reading it right, it looks like cold nectar versus warm nectar takes quite a bit more energy for the bird to process. If, as this article suggests, warming the nectar allows them to use significantly less energy, then it seems like a good idea to me.

Did you also see ctnchpr's post "Hot cup o' Joe" ? Even though it wouldn't directly warm them at night, I would argue that the warm nectar might help keep their body temperature up during the day so that they wouldn't have to burn as many calories to stay warm. That way, when they go to sleep and go into a torpor, they might have more reserves to survive the night. I can't speak from my own experience, but it seems like warming the nectar would be helpful, and certainly wouldn't hurt.

This article talks about a Broad-billed hummingbird that was in serious trouble due to the cold, but improved when given warm nectar: http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/observ/BBHU.html

Just google under "Hummingbirds 'warm nectar' " and you'll find quite a few references on this subject. Some are by banders and wildlife rehabilitators and look pretty believable to me.

As I write this and glance out the window, a light snow is falling and there is a bit of dusting on the ground! I'm glad my hummers aren't here yet or I'd be worrying too.

I'd say do it. Warm that nectar!

I can't believe this weather, I'm also in Austin and not expecting this! I've refilled all of my feeders today and put two new ones up under the eve's to provide protection (I looked out at one point and there was a hummer STANDING on another one on the one feeder that was there earlier) and just made a fresh batch of warm to put out. I think the low is 30 tonight and then tomorrow will get back to 50 followed by 80 the next day! If anyone knows of any other protective measures to take I would love to hear them.

well, i put a different feeder out (upside down bottle shape with the red/yellow flowers at bottom) with some warm nectar, but the hummers kept going back to the hummzinger (saucer-shaped) one with the cold nectar. go figure! the saucer feeder has always been their favorite anyway.. so i guess the warm nectar didn't impress them enough to leave it! the one that has been sitting at the feeder for long periods of time looks really small & fat, i don't know if it's a young one (seems a bit early for babies?) or if it's just all bunched up from the cold. it seems to be a big better.. doesn't seem to be
shaking or whatever it was doing before (it looked kind of like it was drunk).

i wonder if anyone's ever made a 'hummer house'... like a little box you can hang from a hook, that is padded, that you could put next to your feeder (or maybe put a feeder inside)? do you think they would go in there and hang out? i'm guessing not.. as they like to have a clear view. but if it was cold enough...?

btw the chill has also brought out lots of blue jays & cardinals.... cool!

anyway thanks everyone for all your info.. i will check out those links. looking forward to more comments,, and good luck to everyone further north.

I have another thought on this whole freezing hummingbird issue. I used to work in an aviary, and have some advice should you find a half-frozen hummingbird. I hope this doesn't happen, but if you see a bird lying on the ground, apparently dead, don't assume that it is. In these cold temperatures, it may be in a deep torpor, and will die without your intervention.

My suggestion is to hold it in your hands and bring it inside. Open your hands a little and blow warm breath onto it repeatedly. After you've done this for a minute or two, get some warm sugar water and dip the bird's bill into it. If it is torpid, and not dead, it may begin to revive. The first sign of life will be the tongue flicking out feebly. Keep blowing warm breath on it, and holding the nectar to the bill and it should improve rapidly. I have seen birds that looked completely dead be revived in this way. I have seen others do it, and I've done it myself on more than one occasion.

After reviving the bird, we used to temporarily put it in a warm cage with a feeder before returning it to the exhibit. I don't know if most people would have a cage to put it in, so I guess you'd just have to put it outside again and hope for the best.

I hope no one needs this advice, but I thought I'd mention it.

It is good to warm your feeder mix lots of people do it in the fall when they still have hummer and it is still cold. One other thing that some people do put up a makeshift form of heat around the feeder or form or build some kind of shield around it. Some form of light bulb that would put out a good deal of heat. I dont have hummers yet but have worried about the areas that do have hummers, it has been down in the low 20s here , but sound like at least in texas it is in the 30s, high 30s hopefully. Dont fret too much though , do what you can, but this happens every year, its part of nature.

rembetika

OK Ive got the info you need. Ive just talked to an official bander in Lou.[Nancy Newfield] and this is what she gave me : You need 150watt weather proof bulbs. look for 150PAR/38/FL. Do not use indoor flood lamp. they will shatter under heat and moisture. They recommend handyman type lamp fixture available at any hardware store for $6 or $7. This fixture has a squeeze grip wire handle which opens when squeezed to allow to be clipped to any rod, wire, post railing. In the norther states when it is around 0 degrees they use these and have them 8" to 10" from the feeder. Hummers sometimes like to sit on these fixtures. They said this would give the hummers enough heat to make it through these cold nights. Maybe this will help you and anyone else who cares enough to want to do something to help their hummers.

hummersteve, that's very similar to what I posted back on April 2nd. Unfortunately, I'm not sure too many people were paying attention. They may not have really believed the cold weather was coming and that clever measures would need to be taken to keep the feeders and birds warm.

I feel a little like one of those global warming "alarmists" that no one was listening to years ago--except in reverse, with the threat being colder temperatures! You're like Al Gore (I hope!). Smile.

Anyway, it looks like you finally got the word out about the lamp. Lord knows, I tried. This link that I posted a few days ago (and below) also suggests some sort of plumber's tape, but I'm thinking that would just keep the nectar warm and not the hummers. The lamp might be better.

Here is a link that might be useful: Methods to keep feeders warm

Wow,, this is such great information you guys. I will look into all this further. The cold snap already happened, so will save that info for next time.
And thanks for the great link Kristin, and please do keep posting things even when you think no one sees... I only got back on here recently, so haven't seen any posts for a long time. In central TX we usually get a cold snap with freezing rain/snow/ice that lasts about one day (believe it or not!) .. but usually in Feb or March-- kind of unusual to have it in April. So, I don't know if this does or doesn't have anything to do with global warming... although obviously GW is happening and I do believe in general the temps are becoming more erratic because of it. But right now I am actually loving the cold more than words can say, because of the long, long summers here with the tormenting, endless glare of the sun, and relentless mosquitoes... all of which is getting worse every year. Our summers are lasting longer and now they seem to peak (just when you think it can't get any worse) in September, and drag on into October! And the damn skeeters aren't gone til December usually, so you can't even enjoy being outside til then.
Anyway.. I might be enjoying it but I have not seen any hummers yet today..
I hope they are OK. which leads me to ask, to all you bird experts out there, where DO birds (hummers or other) go to get warm? Do they just huddle up on a branch or in their nest? Do they go inside an old trunk? I'm still wondering about this.
As for the lamp idea you both were talking about, so basically you just warm the feeder, and they will sit on the feeder to stay warm? You don't have to necessarily provide any shelter (like a box)...?

rembetika,

I just found this forum yesterday while trying to find info on what, if anything, I could do for the hummers during this strange weather. I ended up not doing anything during the day. Late yesterday evening, I brought the feeders into the house so they'd be warm this morning to help "kick start" the little ones. I put them back out at 6:30 this morning. Not a minute too soon. While I was hanging the last one, a hummer came by and told me to hurry up! Within about 10 minutes there were at least 20 of them buzzing around. From what I could see, they all seemed to be doing well. I posted 3 pictures from late yesterday in the thread "Have a picture of your Hummer?"

Duane

Kristin

Looks like you beat me to the lamp idea , but as long as the word gets out to help people , thats whats important. I just waited to long to look for the answer. But the lamp is most likely the best answer, if I had the problem I would use it also, lucky I dont have the problem , maybe not.

Hooray!! I just saw one!! guess they're OK... pretty amazing, since temps went down to freezing last night. they must have that natural anti-freeze in their system that some critters have. I'm going to go put a lamp out there right now and see if they like it.
Thanks again to BOTH of you (you first, Kristin.. ;) ) for the tips.

OK.. it's not supposed to freeze again, but for now, I set up a ladder with a clamp lamp and a 75-w bulb (which seems plenty hot- we don't have anything higher anyway).. about a foot away from the feeders. I'm going to check in a while to see how warm they are, but I'm interested to see if they like it and will want to hang out there to warm up. I've only seen one today.. haven't seen the other one that seemed fatter or smaller.. the one that seemed to be really cold & just sat at the feeder for long periods of time, and appeared to be wobbling or shaking... hopefully that one made it.
But I will get the proper equipment (outdoor 150w bulb) & have it ready for next year.

One question though, will the bright light shining in their face bother them?

Steve, you're right about getting the word out about the lamp idea. The important thing is that the info got out there. I'm glad you posted what you did, and it deserved to be posted everywhere, repeatedly by you, me, or anyone. It's just that I had tried to put the word out early and help people prepare for the cold, but wondered if anyone was listening. When you posted what you did, I was both happy you were getting the word out, but also must admit to feeling jealous that people were finally going to pay attention to your post, but didn't seem to have heard mine. Does that make any sense? A stupid sentiment, perhaps, but human just the same.

Thanks, rembetika, for the encouraging words about posting. I was so worried when I saw the preliminary reports predicting a long cold spell, that I immediately went to work looking for info about freezing points of nectar, and how to keep feeders warm and trying to pass it along. I kept clacking away at the keyboard, but had this growing, unnerving feeling that people weren't reading what I was writing. It reminds me when I was a young adult travelling in a plane with my aunt and uncle. We were flying over Cape Cod, and I kept saying to my aunt and uncle "Look, there's Cape Cod. Cape Cod! See it? Cape Cod. Isn't that wonderful? Cape Cod." No response. They ignored me. A minute later, as if I'd never said anything, my uncle said to my aunt "Look, Joan, there's Cape Cod! Fortunately, for my sanity, my aunt did step in and say, "Henry, Kristin has been saying that for the past few minutes." I don't know why she didn't acknowledge it when I said it the first time, but at least a piece of her had been listening. As for my uncle, though, who can say where his head was. I couldn't help but laugh at myself when you wrote "you first, Kristin." It shouldn't really have mattered, but somehow it did. I know it's silly, but your words made everything feel right again. Thanks!