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Ventura hummingbirds visit woman for a sugar high
'Magnificent angels' find food source
Photo by Chuck Kirman
Sandy Lizotte said the constant chatter and the noise from the hummingbirds' wings calms her, so she continues to feed the birds daily. Her flock drinks the contents of three to six 1-quart feeders every day, consuming 75 pounds of sugar every month.
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Photo by Chuck Kirman
Five years ago, Sandy Lizotte had six birds visit her feeders regularly. Today, she says she frequently spots more than 60 hummingbirds feeding and hovering.
Known by many as The Ventura Hummingbird Lady, Sandy Lizotte simply refers to herself as a hummingbird hobbyist.
When Lizotte moved into her Ventura Del Sol apartment five years ago, she had six regular customers at her hummingbird feeders. Today, she frequently spots more than 60 of the territorial creatures feeding and hovering.
"It's better than a fireworks show as you watch the hummingbirds dart back and forth," Lizotte said.
Neighbors Fritz and Elizabeth Budworth love the constant show.
"The number of birds busy feeding is a fascinating sight," Fritz said. "We are thrilled to have her as a neighbor, sharing time with us and caring for dozens of hummers."
Lizotte has helped friends and neighbors bond with the hummingbirds by placing feeders in their outstretched hands. When the birds perch and drink from 1 to 2 feet in front of their faces, their jaws drop in disbelief.
"It is even a greater joy when they actually get to feel one land on their finger. I call it a hummingbird high," Lizotte said.
Lizotte spends 30 to 45 minutes a day cleaning and filling her feeders with a formula of 1 cup of sugar to 2 1/2 cups of cold tap water. "I always take extra precaution to make sure the feeders are clean.
"Feeders with milky water and mold will poison a hummingbird in a matter of minutes," Lizotte said. Her flock downs the contents of three to six 1-quart feeders every day, consuming 75 pounds of sugar every month.
Lizotte said the constant chatter and the noise from the hummingbirds' wings calms her, so she continues to feed the birds daily. "We all seem to have some story of bonding with these magnificent little angels."
Posted by sslocal on December 3, 2007 at 1:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
According to hummingbirds.net she is mixing her feed to strong. should be 1 to 4 not 1 to 2.5. But, they are her feeders.
This might cut down on the ammount of suger she uses during the month.
Posted by kelley.t.m on December 3, 2007 at 2:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just the kind of hard-hitting investigative journalism we've come to expect from the Ventura County Star...
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