bradiation

Hi! I'm also a hummingbird biologist, and this is a great (not rude) question! Justifying what we research is something that every scientist should think about and be able to say.

I'd just like to add a few less tangible points. Maybe they will resonate with some people, maybe not. /u/gourmetbiologist has already pointed out the potential economic impact of hummingbird conservation, BUT there's also...

1. Taxonomic importance: The hummingbird group is unique to the New World. It is also incredibly diverse, the 2nd most diverse bird taxon, at ~330-340 species. Most of that biodiversity is in South America (especially Ecuador), but even the comparative handful of species we have the US represent a truly unique product of evolution.

2. Research and Development: Hummingbirds are super unique in their flight and metabolic physiology. Some truly extraordinary research is being done into their flight mechanics that could influence future human flight technology (look into the work of Doug Altshuler) and their diet of sugar-rich resources has implications for diabetes research (see Hargrove 2005).

3. Conservation and connection to wildlife: This is a bit more of a personal anecdote, but after studying hummingbirds for a while now I've found that their potential for "flagship" species, so to speak, for connecting wildlife to everyday normal people is huge. Many, many people love hummingbirds, and connecting those birds to patterns and processes in nature can really expand a person's appreciation for wildlife. People get SO INTO seeing hummingbirds up close when I am banding them, and it's such a great opportunity to connect with people and discuss issues both relating to hummingbirds, or to conservation at a broader scale. That connection, sitting on a porch next to a feeder surrounded by the public, is just something you can't replicate if you're studying a more iconic conservation animal like large mammals.

On a scale of 7-10, how devastated were you that you were not a recurring role as Lassiter's love interest in Psych?

You're welcome! Sorry if I was intruding.

I'm really impressed with the work you're doing. If you're ever looking to do some hummingbird photography in the Rocky Mountains, let me know! I'll be there banding in summers for a few more years until I finish grad school.

HI! I'm just going to repeat what everyone else has said, but with a bit more background. Because I also research hummingbirds! And I find background is always helpful.

Red dye: don't use it. Sugar water is super easy to make at home. Its 4:1 water and sugar. Boil up the water (to kill any bacteria), dump in the sugar and stir. Let it cool and you're good to go! As far as I've read we don't actually know for sure that the red dye is bad. However, we do know that hummingbirds have extremely sensitive kidneys (the organs that filter the body fluids). They're highly specialized to eat basically just nectar and small bugs. They do not do well with anything in their bodies outside of that. So while we may be unsure if red dye is bad, there's a lot of reasons to think it might be, and it completely unnecessary. There's no need for it. Your feeder is red enough to attract them. Don't use it. Be safe, not sorry.

And boiling the water goes with my next point about changing the sugar water. This sugar solution is basically bacteria's dream come true. Sterilizing it before putting it out will help, but when the hummingbirds, or bees, or other birds come by, they will deposit some germs into the feeder tubes. And those bacteria just hit the jackpot! It's heaven for them. So they will inevitably arrive, grow, and spoil your sugar water. So change the water often, and clean the feeders fairly often.

EDIT: Your actual question...sorry. Depends on how hot it is where you live. A good rule of thumb is at least once a week, and shoot for twice, especially if you're in a hot place.

Hi! I'm also a hummingbird biologist, and I'd like to just add a bit to answer this question.

I study population genetics, not hummingbird physiology so maybe there are some studies out there that conclusively make some connection between red dye and hummingbird health. If there are, I haven't found them yet but I've tried.

In my lab, and with other hummingbird researchers I know, we basically explain it like this: Firstly, red dye is not necessary, at all. Yes, hummingbirds like the color red, but the red that is commonly on the feeders themselves is more than enough attractant. Secondly, we do know that hummingbirds are highly specialized (they eat nectar and small insects...that's about it). And we know that their kidneys are a fine-tuned machine and very sensitive to strange things filtering through them. There are probably other similarly sensitive organs in the hummingbird I'm not super familiar with, as it relates to processing food intake, but kidneys is one we bring up a lot. So, basically, we don't know for sure if red dye is bad for hummingbirds, but there's a fair chance that it's less-than-neutral, and it's completely unnecessary to add to your sugar water so....why do it?