PEGGIE'S FAVORITE MYTHS

MYTH: Hummingbirds migrate on the backs of geese.

This is either just an old wives’ tale or a Native American myth, but it isn’t true. Hummers are excellent flyers. They can easily handle the 500-mile non-stop flight across the Gulf of Mexico.

MYTH: Hummingbirds will not migrate if I don’t take the feeder down.

Again, this is not true. Migration is an instinct triggered by length of day. All migrating birds leave when their “internal clocks” tell them to whether you have feeders out or not. By the way, you should leave your hummingbird feeders up until a week goes by without seeing hummers. This will ensure a constant supply of nectar to help the migrants keep their fat reserves up as they pass through your area from further up north.

MYTH: Birds become dependent on feeders and will starve if I stop feeding them.

Studies have been conducted that indicate that birdfeeder availability during the winter in the colder, northern states probably improves the survival rate of chickadees, but overall, birdfeeding does not affect birds’ survivability. Because birds have wings, they instinctively forage for food visiting many locations during the day searching for different sources. Birds never become dependent on one source and most studies have shown that birds with easy access
to feeders only use them for 20% of their daily rations. If your feeders are empty or you stop feeding, they will seek out other sources. Birds are creatures of habit and remember where they have found food in the past. But because they are creatures of habit, when you start feeding again, it may be awhile before the birds include your yard on their foraging route.

MYTH: In the winter, birds’ feet will stick to metal perches.

Birds do not have sweat glands, so their dry feet will not freeze to metal perches in the winter. I have, however, heard reports (2 in 6+ years) from customers who have birdbaths near feeding stations and they observed birds sticking to metal poles where they had landed to dry off after bathing on sub-zero temperature days.

MYTH: If I find a baby bird, I should not try to return it to its nest because if I touch it my scent will cause the parents to abandon it.

Birds have a very poorly developed sense of smell and their instincts to care for their babies is very powerful. Your scent on the babies or nest will not drive the parents away.

MYTH: Don’t feed peanut butter to the birds. They will choke on it and die.

This probably is not true but I have read at least one report that claimed straight peanut butter could harm birds. I do not feed peanut butter to the birds without mixing it with corn meal to make it less sticky so that there is no chance of a bird choking. For a very special treat loved by all the birds try the following peanut butter recipe!

PEANUT TREAT
1 cup peanut butter 1 cup flour
1 cup shortening 4 cups corn meal
Mix ingredients by hand until consistency of cookie dough. Add more corn meal if too sticky/soft. Add more peanut butter and/or shortening if to dry and crumbly.