Expert: Roger Lederer - 6/12/2004

Question
We have had Hummers coming to the same place for years. We recently installed misters along our porch where the feeders hang thinking that the little guys would like the water spray in hot weather as well as we do but they will not go (or I should say do not like to)
go through the spray unless they are really hungry. I am afraid that we will lose them, but we went to quite a bit of expense to install this system. Tried putting the feeders in a different spot away from the spray but that did not seem to work either. Will they eventually overcome this fear or what do you suggest.
Thanks

Answer
They might overcome this fear, but my guess is that they will not. I think you should move the feeder even farther away from the spray and see what happens. Birds do not cool themselves with water spray as their feathers protect them against water spray and they have no sweat glands. It's simply a nuisance or hazard to them. Dripping water, on the other hand, is attractive to birds. Roger Lederer. See www.ornithology.com for more info on wild birds.