Hi All,
For the past 6 years 2 or 3 Anna's have stayed year-round. Yesterday it became clear that the weather was going to become extremely cold. After reading several of the forum's old posts on this topic today, I changed to a 3:1 solution, but with the first real Arctic blast coming down I'm finding that even that mix forms ice crystals within a few hours. The feeder is 4ft from my window in a protected inside corner on the west side of the house (with a magnolia and a Chilean jasmine which have grown happily for 10 years in all kinds of weather).
Late this afternoon after noticing the ice crystals gaining the upper hand I hung a trouble light with a 60 watt bulb below the feeder.
. . . . 2 hours later . . . after the first power outage . . .
My question to you is this: will the light keep the birds feeding past the time when they should go into their torpor? Had I better unplug it for the night?
I think Ill leave it on for now - as the wind chill is putting us at about 11F. Whether the power is on tomorrow is a different question. I do have another feeder ready to put out at 7 if needed.
Thanks,
Molly
For the past 6 years 2 or 3 Anna's have stayed year-round. Yesterday it became clear that the weather was going to become extremely cold. After reading several of the forum's old posts on this topic today, I changed to a 3:1 solution, but with the first real Arctic blast coming down I'm finding that even that mix forms ice crystals within a few hours. The feeder is 4ft from my window in a protected inside corner on the west side of the house (with a magnolia and a Chilean jasmine which have grown happily for 10 years in all kinds of weather).
Late this afternoon after noticing the ice crystals gaining the upper hand I hung a trouble light with a 60 watt bulb below the feeder.
. . . . 2 hours later . . . after the first power outage . . .
My question to you is this: will the light keep the birds feeding past the time when they should go into their torpor? Had I better unplug it for the night?
I think Ill leave it on for now - as the wind chill is putting us at about 11F. Whether the power is on tomorrow is a different question. I do have another feeder ready to put out at 7 if needed.
Thanks,
Molly