Dirty Feeder Dangers
"This juvenile male had mold on its chin, perhaps from a dirty feeder. I wish everyone would keep the feeders clean! The mold is a big problem for hummingbirds. If the mold gets wrapped around the hummingbird's bill, it cannot open its bill and, thus, starves to death. A few years ago, a hummer was caught in Rockport, TX with mold wrapped around its bill. It was very weak. The bird bander cleaned the bill off so it could open and be able to get its tongue out to lap up the nectar and get stronger." Deborah Repasz, Houston, Texas