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Narrator: Living in the Ozarks gives Deanne and Gary DeJarnette lots of chances for wildlife-watching.
And of out of their 300-plus acres, this might be their favorite viewing spot: right outside the kitchen window.
(hummingbirds buzzing)
Narrator: Hear that? That’s the sound of a hummingbird swarm.
Deanne: When they’re thick like they are this morning, there’s just a swarm of birds everywhere.
Yep, storm’s movin’ in, so they’re more active.
They always feed more during the storm.
Narrator: Most people think it’s pretty neat to see just one or two of the tiny birds up close,
but we’re talking 50, 60, maybe a hundred hummingbirds buzzing over this cluster of feeders.
Gary: About 15 years ago we started feeding the little hummers, just kinda’ got outta’ hand.
Deanne: Yep, just with one feeder, and I don’t know why they’ve chosen us to have this big a group here.
Gary: I don’t know, they just like us.
Narrator: They must, since they keep coming back.
So Deanne and Gary have accommodated the growing number of birds over the years with a steady supply of sugar water.
Since the couple works from home, they have the time to maintain the feeders,
but it’s a daily commitment.
It means cleaning the feeders several times a day; an absolute must, according to Deanne.
The hummingbirds go through a LOT of food; sometimes, up to 4, yes, 4 gallons a day.
Deanne: The mixture is one part sugar to four parts water.
We don’t cook it, I just use hot tap water with my sugar 'till the sugar’s dissolved,
then I add cold water.
It’d be way too expensive to buy premixed; it’s bad enough buying sugar!
Deanne: Ok, we better get these birds fed. Gary: Yep, they're pretty hungry.
Deanne: First thing in the morning, I’ve gotta fill feeders.
By lunchtime, I’ll need to fill them again–fill some, anyway.
Then toward evening, they feed real heavy right before dark,
and so I always make sure the feeders have food in them right before it gets dark.
Narrator: Then it starts all over again the next morning, but the Dejarnettes say it’s worth it.
Deanne: They’re just a joy to watch.
If you just want to rest for a while, you can always come outside for a while and sit and watch the birds
and it calms you down, relaxes you.
We just enjoy taking care of them while they spend their summer with us.
Narrator: By September, the hummingbirds leave their favorite Ozark feeding spot and fly south,
but Deanne and Gary know they’ll be back.
Gary: We enjoy the birds.
We’re glad to see ‘em go, but we’re glad to see them come back in the spring again.
Deanne: By February, I’m missing them and anxious for them to come back again and visit me.