Don't offer red dye to hummingbirds

Use clear nectar in your hummingbird feeder

Decades ago, when hummingbird feeders were made entirely of glass bottles, people sometimes added a little red food coloring to the sugar water to attract the birds' attention. Is it OK to use red dye?

Absolutely not. It's totally unnecessary. In fact, research on humans and rats suggests it actually could be harmful.

Today's hummingbird feeders usually have red bases or red nectar ports. They're meant to simulate the red or orange flowers that produce the nectar that hummingbirds value most. That's sufficient to lure the hummingbirds to the feeder. Dyeing the nectar red doesn't add anything beneficial.

What not to do ...

Manufacturers of some hummingbird products add Red Dye No. 40 ("Allura Red AC"), an azo dye made from coal tar, in their nectar powders or fluid. We do not sell these products at The Bird House. The only hummingbird nectar we offer is one containing pure, clear sucrose powder, which you then mix with water. Sucrose is one of the sugars preferred by hummingbirds.

Red Dye No. 40 is used to color candies, drinks, gums, baking mixes, sauces and a host of other packaged foods consumed by humans. For most people, Red Dye No. 40 causes no ill effects. But that may not be the case with all children. Since 2007, scientists at the University of Southampton in England have linked the dye to an increased risk of childhood problems such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, asthma and allergies. In 2001, researchers at the Department of Veterinary Medicine at Iwate University in Japan reported that low doses of Red Dye No. 40 induced DNA damage in the colons of rats.

What are the implications of these studies for hummingbirds that are fed nectar tinted with red dye? No one knows precisely. However, one thing is certain: Hummingbirds consume more dye compared to their body weight than either humans or rats. If the sugar water was colored with Red Dye No. 40, a hummingbird would be taking in 10 times the daily dosage of dye that it took to cause DNA damage among rats in the Japanese study, according to Sheri Williamson, the author of "Attracting and Feeding Hummingbirds" and "A Field Guide to Hummingbirds of North America."

Birds look for the flower's color, as this feeder demonstrates

Another hummingbird expert, Lanny Chambers of Hummingbirds.net, points out that hummingbirds choose nectar by the color of the flower, not the color of the nectar.

"Red dye is unnecessary and contributes absolutely nothing to the good health of a hummingbird," Mr. Chambers says. "It is at best useless. Why take the chance?"

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology strongly recommends against using red dye in feeders.

"There is no research that proves red dye is safe for hummingbirds, and very compelling anecdotal information from experienced, licensed rehabbers that hummers who have been fed dyed food have higher mortality and suffer tumors of the bill and liver," the Cornell experts said.

They emphasize: "Red coloring for hummingbirds? Just say no."

Deal with those pesky pests

A Song Sparrow parent struggles to feed cowbird chick

When it comes to pests in the yard, it can seem as if all you attract are the critters that you may not want. Many know the frustration of planting vegetable plants and finding them all eaten thanks to the local groundhog. Planting new perennials almost ensures the arrival of hungry rabbits.

Starlings and grackles are at the top of the list for birds not wanted. Starlings can eat a suet cake in about two days, depriving woodpeckers from eating. Upside-down feeders starlings down. Starlings cannot cling and eat upside down for very long but woodpeckers and nuthatches sure can. You also can try suet feeders in a cage which keep starlings at bay.

Grackles love shelled sunflower seeds and shelled peanuts. Feeders that have cages around them keep starlings and grackles from reaching the seeds but smaller birds dine in relative peace. Neither starlings nor grackles like safflower; try switching to just safflower.

As parasitic nesters, Brown-headed Cowbirds lay their eggs in other birds' nests, alleviating themselves of any parental duties. This may result in the original birds' chicks either being kicked out of the nest or not getting enough food since cowbird chicks are bigger and aggressive. It can be very taxing for a small warbler or Chipping Sparrow to feed a chick that can grow two to three times bigger than the "parent." Eliminate white millet from ground or platform feeders to keep cowbirds away.

Keeping cats out of the backyard should be easy--keep them indoors! If you have roving cats taking out birds, try orange peels. I understand that if you grate or grind up orange peels, you can sprinkle them in the area you want cat-free. It does not take much and you need to do it a few times a year. You can store the grated peels in the freezer until needed.

Birding trip on May 31 in Monroe County

Join the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society in searching for warblers and other nesting species during a trip to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and the Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, May 31. 

Meet at 6:30 a.m. at the Kmart parking lot in Wind Gap, just north of the Route 512 exit off Route 33. Be sure to bring binoculars and a field guide. Wear appropriate footgear. Pack refreshments or a light lunch. Terry Masters will lead the trip. For details call 610-248-8275.

Lehigh Valley bird sightings for May 23

Swainson's Warbler

Here are the Lehigh Valley bird sightings for the week ended May 23. The list was compiled by Dave DeReamus, of the Eastern PA Birdline, which is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society.

Bear Swamp, Northampton County
Gray-cheeked Thrush, 2 on May 19 and May 20.
Swainson's Warbler, 1 on May 18 and May 19.
Also seen: Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Acadian Flycatcher, Swainson's Thrush and Tennessee Warbler.

Beltzville State Park, Carbon County
Red-throated Loon, 3 on May 16.
Philadelphia Vireo, 1 on May 17.

Leaser Lake, Lehigh County
Red-throated Loon, 1 from May 16 to May 18.
Also seen: Red-breasted Merganser.

Swainson's Thrush

Lehigh Furnace Gap, Lehigh County
Olive-sided Flycatcher, 1 on May 21.
Alder Flycatcher, 1 on May 21.
Also seen: Black-billed and Yellow-billed cuckoos, and Hooded, Cape May, Tennessee and Bay-breasted warblers.

Fogelsville, Lehigh County
Dunlin, 1 on May 16 and May 17 at the Nestle Way retention pond.

Peace Valley Park, Bucks County
Mourning Warbler, 1 on May 15.
Prothonotary Warbler, continued during the past week.
Also seen: Common Merganser, Common Loon, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Black-billed Cuckoo, Blue-headed Vireo and Swainson's Thrush.

To report bird sightings to Dave DeReamus, send an e-mail to becard@rcn.com with the word "Birdline" in the subject heading.

Birding trip planned for May 25 at Brady's Lake

Join the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society on Sunday, May 25, to search for Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Alder Flycatchers and a variety of warblers during a walk at Brady's Lake in Monroe County.

Meet at 6:30 a.m. at the Kmart parking lot in Wind Gap, just north of the Route 512 exit off Route 33. Be sure to bring binoculars and a field guide. Wear appropriate footgear. Pack refreshments or a light lunch. Adam Smith will lead the trip. For details call 610-462-2528.

The weather should be ideal for the trip. AccuWeather says we're to look for mostly sunny skies on Sunday with a high temperature climbing into the upper 70 to the lower 80s.

The egg

Robin's eggs

Which came first: the chicken or the egg? The first egg-laying reptiles, distant relatives of birds, showed up about 280 million years ago. The tough leathery eggshell was great—it kept water in and everything else out. The first real birds came along about 150 million years ago. So the answer is, the egg came first.

Eggs are strong. They have to be. They have to support the weight of an adult bird sitting on them. An ostrich egg, for instance, must support the weight of the male ostrich, who can weigh 350 pounds! 

The important thing about egg size is how big is the egg relative to the size of the mother. A mother ostrich weighs 50 times more than the egg. A mother hummingbird weighs 8 times more than her egg. Relatively speaking, hummingbirds have bigger eggs than ostriches! In these terms, the biggest egg of all belongs to the New Zealand Kiwi. The kiwi weighs only 4 times more than her egg. In people terms, that would be like a 60-pound child laying an egg as big as a watermelon!

Hummingbird's eggs

The last step in egg production is the addition of the color. Robins lay eggs with a distinctive blue color; the flightless emu lays dull green eggs that turn a shiny black in a few days. The Northern Flicker lays eggs covered with mysterious-looking brown scribble marks. Owls, woodpeckers and hummingbirds lay white eggs; blackbirds and gulls, speckled eggs. Blue and green colors come from bile pigments. Reds, blacks and browns come from the breakdown of red-blood cells. Speckled eggs are for camouflage. Owls lay white eggs that show up well in the dark; this may prevent the mother from trampling them accidentally. No one really knows why robins' eggs are blue.

Egg notes:

• Six-year-old Thomas Edison tried sitting on the eggs of the family goose. He thought he could get them to hatch faster. It didn't work.
• Here is an old superstition: "A person who finds an egg with two yolks should make a wish while eating it."
• Ancient Greeks used ash of eggshells mixed with wine as toothpaste.

What should I do if a baby bird falls from its nest?

Many of us see young birds who are unable to fly and seem abandoned by their parents. It's natural for people to become concerned about the welfare of the youngster. There are a few points to keep in mind, though.

Northern Cardinal nestling

First, determine if the baby bird is a nestling or a fledgling. If it has few feathers and cannot hop, walk or grasp your finger with its feet, it is a nestling. That also means that the nest is nearby. If you can find the nest (which may be hidden), try to put the bird back as quickly as possible.

Don't worry about "leaving your scent." Parent songbirds have a poor sense of smell and will not abandon the baby because we picked it up.

If the little bird has feathers and is capable of hopping or flitting and can hold onto your finger or a twig, it is a fledgling and most likely has left the nest. While quite cute and fluffy with a tiny stub of a tail, it may seem to "need us." However, a fledgling needs a special diet and needs to learn about behavior and vocalization from its parents--things we cannot provide.

American Robin fledgling

Fortunately, the majority of "abandoned" baby birds are perfectly healthy fledglings. Their parents are nearby and looking out for them. The parents may be looking out for four or five young scattered around the yard but they will return and care for the one you have found shortly after you leave.

When fledglings leave their nest, they rarely return so even if you see the nest and return the bird to it, the fledgling will hop right out. The best thing to do to keep the baby out of harm's way is to place it on a branch of a nearby bush or tree. The bird will produce sounds the parents recognize, and they'll soon return to care for it.

Lehigh Valley bird sightings for May 16

Yellow-breasted Chat

Here are the Lehigh Valley bird sightings for the week ended May 16. The list was compiled by Dave DeReamus, of the Eastern PA Birdline, which is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society.

Upper Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County
Warbler, 20 different species along National Park Drive.
Gray-cheeked Thrush, 1 on May 10 along Fox Gap Road.
American Bittern, 1 on May 10 along School Road.
Also seen: Common Nighthawk.

Lake Minsi, Northampton County
Red-breasted Merganser, 1 on May 10.

Bear Swamp, Northampton County
Orange-crowned Warbler, 1 on May 9.
Mourning Warbler, 1 on May 10.

Plainfield Township Recreation Trail, Northampton County
Warbler, 21 different species.

Lower Nazareth Township, Northampton County
(at a flooded field along Route 191 north of Route 946)
Bonaparte's Gull, 1 on May 10.
Wilson's Snipe, 1 on May 10.
Dunlin, 1 on May 9.

Black-billed Cuckoo

Green Pond, Northampton County
White-rumped Sandpiper, 1 on May 14.
Also seen: Greater and Lesser yellowlegs, and Solitary, Spotted and Least sandpipers.

Bethlehem, Northampton County
Peregrine Falcon, 2 during the past week.

Moore Township, Northampton County
American Pipit, 26 on May 10 along Schlegel Road.

Beltzville State Park, Carbon County
Olive-sided Flycatcher, 1 on May 9.

Leaser Lake, Lehigh County
Red-breasted Merganser, 1 on May 12.
Black-crowned Night Heron, 1 on May 10.
Yellow-breasted Chat, 1 on May 11.
Also seen: Horned Grebe, Black-billed and Yellow-billed cuckoos, and 21 different species of warblers.

Greater Yellowlegs

Haafsville, Lehigh County
Semipalmated Plover, Greater and Lesser yellowlegs, and Solitary and Least sandpipers.

Jordan Creek Parkway, Lehigh County
Kirtland's Warbler, 1 on May 10 (probable sighting; heard only. Bird was never positively identified.)

Walking Purchase Park, Lehigh County
Warblers, 15 species.

Peace Valley Park, Bucks County
Ruddy Duck, 1 on May 10.
Double-crested Cormorant, 93 on May 9.
Prothonotary Warbler, 2 seen during the past week.
Also seen: Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Common Nighthawk, Eastern Wood Pewee, Winter Wren, Cerulean Warbler, and 23 additional warbler species.

Also seen at several sites during the past week: Cliff and Bank swallows, Swainson's Thrush, Orchard Oriole.

To report bird sightings to Dave DeReamus, send an e-mail to becard@rcn.com with the word "Birdline" in the subject heading.

Many species of birds are arriving daily in the Lehigh Valley and neighboring areas. Looking for a good location to watch them? Find a favorite place by reading the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society's updated guidebook "Birds of the Lehigh Valley and Vicinity." The guidebook identifies 56 different locations in Lehigh, Northampton, Bucks, Montgomery and Carbon counties. Each site contains a description of the terrain, the kinds of birds you're apt to see, and driving directions. Many of the sites have colored maps to enable you to find parking, trails and outlooks. The book is available for sale at The Bird House.

New Product: Suet Palace

Do you love offering suet to birds but find that pesky starlings and squirrels gobble up the food, leaving smaller birds with nothing for them? The Suet Palace is a great solution to the problem.

The Suet Palace holds two back-to-back suet compartments enclosed by a metal mesh cage. The 1½-inch opening in the mesh is large enough for chickadees, nuthatches, wrens and Downy Woodpeckers to enter and leave comfortably. But the cage makes the suet off-limits to larger birds or squirrels.

One nice feature of the feeder is a metal plate that is placed beneath the suet feeder. The plate prevents squirrels from reaching the suet from below. But if you don't have that problem, you can remove the plate, enabling the larger Red-headed, Red-bellied and Pileated woodpeckers to peck at the suet by clinging from below. They don't mind eating upside down!

The Suet Palace is made entirely of metal. A spring-loaded snap enables you to fill the feeder easily. The diameter of the cage is wide enough to keep the suet far from the reach of squirrels' paws or from the beaks of large pecking birds. With its rust-free metal chain, the feeder can be hung from a tree limb or hook. The roof keeps suet dry in rainy or snowy weather.

The feeder accepts standard-size suet cakes. Because the feeder has two seed compartments, you can select two different kinds of suet to attract the greatest variety of birds.

Products sold at The Bird House may be available for a limited time, so hurry in!

Bird walk on Sunday morning in Plainfield

Looking for a pleasant start to Mother's Day? Take mom on a bird walk Sunday at 7:30 a.m. on the Plainfield Township Trail in Northampton County. It's an easy walk through a variety of habitats during spring migration. 

The trail follows the Little Bushkill Creek along an converted railroad right-of-way. The northern end has been paved with asphalt or covered with finely crushed gravel; the southern end is a little rougher but still popular with walkers and joggers. 

The wooded portions are good places to see woodpeckers, flycatchers and songbirds. Open fields and brushy sections are inhabited by mockingbirds, sparrows, catbirds and kestrels.

Make sure to bring binoculars and a field guide. Wear appropriate footgear. Pack refreshments or a light lunch.

AccuWeather says the day will be sunny, with the temperature starting in the lower 50s and rising to 80 by midday.

Meet at the Park and Ride Lot at William Penn Highway and Route 33 in Bethlehem Township. From there, we'll travel to Plainfield, which is a few miles northeast of Nazareth. Leading the walk will be Dave DeReamus, of the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society and the Eastern PA Birdline. For details, call Dave at 610-252-0893.

The Bird House offers free copies of the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society's brochure, which lists programs and field trips for 2013-2014. Stop in and get a copy so you can plan your schedule for future events.

Lehigh Valley bird sightings for May 9

Blue-headed Vireo

Here are the Lehigh Valley bird sightings for the week ended May 9. The list was compiled by Dave DeReamus, of the Eastern PA Birdline, which is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society.

Lake Minsi, Northampton County
Bonaparte's Gull, 1 on May 1.

Plainfield Township Recreation Trail, Northampton County
Blue-headed Vireo, and Hooded and Worm-eating warblers.

White-eyed Vireo

Jacobsburg State Park, Northampton County
White-eyed Vireo, Lincoln's Sparrow, and Nashville, Blackpoll and Blackburnian warblers.


Green Pond, Northampton County
Ring-necked Duck, Greater Yellowlegs and Solitary Sandpiper.

Bethlehem, Northampton County
Peregrine Falcon, 1 during the past week.

Leaser Lake, Lehigh County
Red-throated Loon, 1 on May 5 and May 6.

Haafsville, Lehigh County
American Bittern, 1 on May 4.

Pool Wildlife Sanctuary, Lehigh County
Swainson's Thrush.

Upper Macungie Township, Lehigh County
Semipalmated Plover, 1 on May 8.
Also seen: Greater and Lesser yellowlegs and Spotted, Solitary and Least sandpipers.

Beltzville State Park, Carbon County
Harris's Sparrow, 1 from May 6 and May 7 at a backyard feeder along Pohopoco Drive.
Bonaparte's Gull, 1 on May 8.
Also seen: Snow Goose, Lesser Scaup, Cliff Swallow, Swainson's Thrush, Lincoln's Sparrow, Indigo Bunting, Bobolink and Wilson's, Nashville, Cape May, Canada and Worm-eating warblers.

Green Lane Reservoir, Montgomery County
(along Church Road)
Bonaparte's Gull, 3 on May 1.
Forster's Tern, 3 on May 1.
Common Raven, 1 on May 5.
Also seen: White-eyed and Yellow-throated vireos.

Peace Valley Park, Bucks County
Red-breasted Merganser, 1 on May 1.
Double-crested Cormorant, 78 on May 1.
Bonaparte's Gull, 16 on May 1.
Laughing Gull, 1 on May 1.
Forster's Tern, 1 on May 1.
Red-headed Woodpecker, 1 seen during the past week.
Prothonotary Warbler, 1 on May 2.
Also seen: Bald Eagle, Bank Swallow, Blackburnian Warbler and Bobolink.

Several sites reported these birds during the past week: Great Heron, Least and Great-crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Brown Thrasher, Veery, Wood Thrush, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Baltimore and Orchard orioles, and many species of warblers.

To report bird sightings to Dave DeReamus, send an e-mail to becard.rcn.com with the word "Birdline" in the subject heading.

Looking for a place for bird-watching? The Lehigh Valley Audubon Society's updated version of the guidebook "Birds of the Lehigh Valley and Vicinity" identifies 56 different locations in Lehigh, Northampton, Bucks, Montgomery and Carbon counties. Each site contains a description of the terrain, the kinds of birds you're apt to see and driving directions. Many of the sites have color maps to enable you to find parking and locate trails and outlooks. The book is available for sale at The Bird House.

New Product: Roosting platform for robins and swallows

A great way to attract robins or swallows to your backyard is by offering them a place to nest. These birds don't use conventional birdhouses. Instead they prefer open-fronted nesting places. The Robin Roost provides a great alternative to them nesting on the ledges of your porch. (The birds can be a bit messy during construction; they line their nests with mud!)

The Robin Roost is made of durable natural cedar and includes a rust-resistant screw for attaching to a 4-by-4 post; a fence; the side of a shed, garage or other building; or beneath the eaves of a house. It offers protection from the elements and requires no painting or maintenance.

The Robin Roost is a great option for people who live in housing subdivisions with no large trees available for the birds.

In addition to robins and swallows, other birds may enjoy the platform, including song sparrows, catbirds and phoebes.

This is the best time to place a roosting platform in your backyard. Most birds are busy searching for nesting sites. They'll move on to other locations if you don't have a place ready for them to check out.

Products sold at The Bird House may be available for a limited time, so hurry in!

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are stocky, medium-sized songbirds with very large triangular shaped beaks. They are broad-chested  with short necks and a medium length squared off tail. The male is black and white with a brilliant red chevron extending from its neck tapering down the chest. The female is brown and heavily streaked with a bold white stripe over the eyes. Both sexes show white patches on the wings and tail.

As they breed in eastern forests either in conifer or deciduous trees, they may be seen primarily during migration at feeders in backyards. They eat seeds, insects and fruit. At feeders they especially like sunflower seeds.

Listen for their distinctive voices. They sound like American Robins, but listen for an extra sweetness, as if the bird had operatic training; they also make a sharp chink like the squeak of a sneaker.

Lehigh Valley bird sightings for May 3

Here are the Lehigh Valley bird sightings for the week ended May 2. The list was compiled by The Bird House through individual reports to the American Birding Association News website.

Northern Flicker

Bethlehem Township, Northampton County
(at the Bethlehem Boat Club during the April 27 Lehigh Valley Audubon Society walk)
Canada Goose, Wood Duck, Mallard, Common Merganser, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Killdeer, Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Warbling Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Fish Crow, Common Raven, Tree Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, Tufted Titmouse, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, American Robin, European Starling, Northern Parula, White-throated Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, American Goldfinch and Yellow-rumped, Black-and-white, Yellow-throated and Yellow warblers.

Northampton, Northampton County
Redstart, 1 on April 28.

Freemansburg, Northampton County
(along the Lehigh Canal)
Scarlet Tanager, Baltimore Oriole, Veery, Wood Thrush and Spotted Sandpiper, on May 2.

Monocacy Park, Lehigh County
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, 1 female on April 27.

Emmaus, Lehigh County
White-throated Sparrow, 2 on April 28.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, 1 male on May 2.
Black-and-white Warbler, May 2 at the Wildlands Conservancy.

Haafsville, Lehigh County
Belted Kingfisher, 1 on May 1.
Mallard, 2 on May 1.
Green-winged Teal, 3 on May 1.
Wood Duck, 1 on May 1.
Also seen: Killdeer, Greater Yellow-legs.

New Product: Fruit Feeder

Fruit is the preferred food for many species birds. As an excellent source of sugar, fruit is an essential energy source during periods of breeding or migration. At this time of year, fruit is very scarce.

Attract orioles, mockingbirds, catbirds, bluebirds, cardinals and chickadees to your backyard with this Fruit Feeder. Simply spear half of an apple or orange to each of the two perches on the Fruit Feeder. The birds will appreciate the nutrition, even if you offer them fruit that is damaged or slightly overripe.

The product is made of recycled plastic, identical to the material used in outdoor decks, so it will not fade, peel, crack, rot, warp or chip. On top of that, it carries a lifetime guarantee and is American made. 

The feeder is easy to clean and disinfect. It can be hung from a tree limb or a shepherd's hook.

Products sold at The Bird House may be available for a limited time, so hurry in!