It seems like the summer just started, and already, the flowers are starting to fade. All this hot weather has surely left its mark on the Green Mountains, which have been scorching in the sun for the past few weeks. Even the birds seem to be taking a vacation from the heat; they appear for their morning feeding, and then retreat to the cool branches of bushes and trees until twilight falls on the Valley.
The backyard, however, is still abuzz with a steady hum of activity: Ruby-throated hummingbirds feast on the blossoms of bee-balm and hostas as they come to the end of their season, house finches and sunshine yellow goldfinches bob around the tube feeders and noisy swallows swoop through the sky. This is without a doubt one of my favourite times of the year in Vermont. No matter where you look, you can always be sure that a surprise will await you!
One thing to be sure to remember in a heat spell like this is to make sure that your hummingbird feeders are in tip-top condition. The heat makes sugar water go bad faster, and promotes the growth of mildew and fungus that can harm hummingbirds. Wash your feeders thoroughly with a mild dish soap and let them air dry before setting them out. In addition, take a cotton swab and clean the portals on your feeders, to wipe away any sugar residue and bacteria. Change the nectar in your feeders every three to four days for optimal freshness.
Have you had any exciting sightings lately? Is there a question that you want to ask? If so, please feel free to contact me at watch.the.birds.vt@gmail.com and I will be sure to send a prompt reply. Also, check us out on the web at www.watchthebirdsvermont.blogspot.com!
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